Building Advocacy and Community
Advocacy is about more than speaking up. It’s about recognizing issues, understanding who can make change, connecting with others, and developing strategies that turn concerns into action.
On September 23 and 24, 2026, the Ohio Statewide Independent Living Council brought together 20 participants for a two-day Advocacy & Leadership Retreat.
The retreat was designed for people with disabilities, advocates, emerging leaders, and members of the Independent Living Network to build practical advocacy skills, strengthen relationships, and explore opportunities for ongoing disability-led leadership.
Through presentations, small-group discussions, hands-on exercises, and peer learning, participants explored how individual experiences can inform broader advocacy efforts.
Purpose of the Retreat: Strengthen advocacy knowledge and leadership skills while creating connections and exploring how Ohio’s Independent Living Network can support ongoing development of disability advocates.
20
Retreat Attendees
100%
Made Meaningful Connections
90%
Interested in future leadership opportunity
Over two days, participants explored advocacy fundamentals, the power of lived experience, and how individual challenges can reveal broader community barriers.
- Introduction to advocacy and systems change
- Your Story Is an Advocacy Tool
- Turning personal experiences into advocacy issues
- From My Problem to Our Problem
- Developing messages, solutions, and next steps
- Connecting with fellow advocates
The second day focused on understanding influence, developing advocacy networks, and exploring what emerging disability leaders need to succeed.
- Understanding different types of power and influence
- Power mapping and identifying decision-makers
- Finding mentors and building relationships
- Mapping personal and community networks
- Identifying future leadership development needs
- Exploring opportunities for continued engagement
A personal experience can be the beginning of systems change
One of the central exercises asked participants to think about something they experienced and explore whether it reflected a larger issue affecting other people with disabilities.
From “my problem” to “our problem.”
Participants practiced connecting individual experiences to broader issues, identifying shared concerns, and considering how collective action could create change.
Advocacy is stronger when people work together
The retreat placed significant emphasis on relationships, peer connections, mentorship, and the power of organizing around shared goals.
Participants identified people and organizations in their networks, explored how relationships can influence decisions, and considered who they wanted to connect with or help develop as future advocates.
Peer Relationships
Building connections with people who share experiences and interests.
Mentoring
Learning from experienced advocates and supporting emerging leaders.
Coalition Building
Identifying allies and organizations that can help advance shared goals.
Collective Action
Bringing voices together around issues that affect the disability community.
Outcomes from Participants
Ten of the 20 retreat participants completed the post-event evaluation. Their responses provide insight into what the retreat meant to those who responded and their interest in future advocacy opportunities.
Interest in future opportunities
Building the next generation of disability leaders.
The retreat provides a foundation for considering how Ohio’s Independent Living Network can support ongoing advocacy skills, peer connections, and leadership development.
This project was funded with Title VII Part B funding to support activities to demonstrate ways to expand and improve IL services