Hope Stories- How to Frame Disability Advocacy

In one of my disability classes, we learned about a concept called a hope story in disability advocacy spaces. This week, I want to define a hope story and share how we can use hope stories when advocating for ourselves or someone we care about in disability spaces.

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Itkonen (2009) defines a hope story as a narrative related to policy legislation that highlights changes aimed at improving the lives of those the legislation targets. In the case of disability, hope stories would center on progress for disabled people, the benefits of new legislation or policy, and examples of how these policies would be beneficial (Itkonen, 2009). Hope stories can be used outside of legislation and can be helpful in any advocacy environment. Hope stories have three main traits: they are solution-based, provide autonomy, and center the social model of disability (Itkonen, 2009). Below, I will list ways the hope model can be used in local advocacy, such as suggesting accessible processes at work, advocating for accommodations at school, or advocating for local changes at a city council meeting.

1: Identify a solution, not just a problem

Hope stories are solution-focused and provide those with the ability to make changes, ensuring that addressing the problem is possible. For example, it is more effective for me to attend an accommodations meeting with my list of preferred accommodations (a solution) rather than only sharing that I am disabled and need accommodations (the problem). Providing solutions to accessibility concerns helps to further advocacy by highlighting that the problem is addressable, and that addressing the problem will be beneficial to multiple groups of people.

2: Use the social model of disability when possible

The social model of disability highlights how disability is due to societal barriers and does not blame the disabled person for being disabled (Goodly, 2017). For example, using a wheelchair would not be disabling if ramps were accessible and present in all buildings. By centering the social model of disability, we can look for solutions that are rooted in societal accommodations instead of individual burdens for people with disabilities. Most accommodations are rooted in the social model of disability because the emphasis is placed on societal elements, such as institutions, events, buildings, sidewalks, or transportation modalities, to be accessible. However, the medical model is still used to gatekeep accommodations, as diagnoses are still needed to access many disability services despite financial and time barriers.

3: Center autonomy

When possible, offer choices to disabled people in advocacy spaces. For example, in my accommodations meetings, I am able to ask for accommodations, and I am frequently given choices in how I want the accommodations to look. For students who cannot take notes, some record the lecture and receive transcripts, some need staff assistance, and others rely on peer notetakers. Choosing solutions that provide choices allows disabled people to make the best choices for themselves.

4: Be inclusive

The hope model can be best utilized when all disabled people can benefit from it. By being mindful of unique identities such as gender, race, ethnicity, sexuality, and socioeconomic statuses, we can focus on the most inclusive and beneficial solutions for all people in the disability community to benefit from. While not every problem affects every disabled person, the community moves forward by addressing all types of inaccessibility.

5: Advocate with community

In many policy spaces, advocacy groups consist of parent groups, specialty organizations (Itkonen, 2009), and now self-advocates. In small advocacy spaces such as work or school, having others to lean on and collaborate with can help increase credibility and support a solution. I have worked with clubs at school and friends, and I hope to network with more advocacy organizations in my mission to advocate with the community.

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By centering autonomy, the social model of disability, and solutions with actionable steps in advocacy spaces, we can elevate the disability community as people who are capable, intelligent, and worthy of accessibility and advocacy just as much as non-disabled people. Thank you for reading about hope stories in advocacy spaces.  If you have any questions or comments, please comment on the blog, reach out at @Anniekrollblog on Instagram or Facebook, or email me at Anniekrollblog@gmail.com. I hope to see you next week!

Goodley, D. 2017. Disability Studies: An Interdisciplinary Introduction. 2nd ed. London: Sage. 

Itkonen, T. (2009). Stories of Hope and Decline: Interest Group Effectiveness in National Special Education Policy. Educational Policy (Los Altos, Calif.), 23(1), 43–65.