Certified Rehabilitation Counselor Practice

The correct term for persons with disabilities advocating for their own rights and decisions is self-advocacy. This concept emphasizes the ability of individuals to speak up for themselves, make informed choices, and assert their own needs and preferences. Self-advocacy is crucial in promoting autonomy and ensuring that individuals with disabilities actively participate in decisions that affect their lives. It encourages them to take charge of their situation and engage with systems that impact their well-being.

Empowerment, while related, refers more broadly to the process of gaining strength and confidence, which overlaps with self-advocacy but does not specifically focus on the advocacy aspect. Independence encompasses the ability to live autonomously, but again, it does not specifically address the advocacy for one's rights. Lastly, advocacy on its own is a general term that can apply to anyone supporting the rights of others, not solely individuals with disabilities taking charge of their own representation and decisions.