Advocacy Tips 101: Listening, Learning, and Building

Last month, we explored the power of personal narratives in advocacy and how individual stories can illuminate systemic challenges, foster empathy, and inspire meaningful change. This month, we shift our focus to some of the practical dimensions of advocacy, because once those stories are shared, what usually follows is action.

Effective action begins with listening, learning, and building, as advocacy on behalf of older adults and individuals with disabilities requires more than goodwill. It calls for an approach rooted in inquiry, systems knowledge, and coalition building. The following three simple strategies offer an easy way to advance your advocacy efforts:

Start with listening

Before launching any advocacy initiative, whether considering legislation, organizing a campaign, responding to an issue, or preparing public testimony, it is essential to engage directly with those most affected. What are their priorities? What barriers do they face? What solutions have they already pursued?

Older adults and people with disabilities possess deep expertise in navigating inaccessible environments, bureaucratic complexities, and systemic inequities. Their insights are invaluable, and I have personally learned a great deal from hearing about their experiences.

Remember to approach these conversations with humility and attentiveness. Listening builds trust, and trust is the cornerstone of effective advocacy. Involve individuals with lived experience in the planning, writing, and delivery of advocacy materials. The guiding principle “nothing about us without us” should inform every stage. Recognize that advocacy is a relational and ongoing process. Maintain communication, follow through on commitments, and remain accountable to those you represent.

 Learn the systems

Advocating does not mean you need to master every policy or program overnight. Instead, commit to learning in manageable steps. Advocacy is a long-term endeavor, and systems knowledge builds over time. Begin with curiosity and patience. You can start by choosing one area to explore, such as Medicare, local transportation policies, food insecurity, or housing regulations, and focus your attention on that one area. Read a short article, attend a webinar, or ask a colleague to explain a key concept.

Then, reflect on how that system affects the lives of seniors and people with disabilities. Gradual learning allows you to build confidence and deepen your understanding without becoming overwhelmed. When knowledge gaps arise, treat them as opportunities to learn and grow. Ask more questions, seek out reliable resources, and share what you know with others. You may want to keep a running list of terms or systems you wish to explore in more detail. Over time, these small efforts accumulate into meaningful expertise.

Build coalitions

Advocacy efforts gain strength through collaboration. The challenges confronting seniors and individuals with disabilities intersect with broader societal issues, including housing, healthcare, transportation, labor, and education.

Forge partnerships with organizations working on related concerns, such as parent associations, transit coalitions, housing alliances, and neighborhood councils, among many others. Coordinated efforts amplify visibility and reveal integrated solutions.

Coalitions also deepen understanding of complex lived experiences. A senior facing isolation may also be experiencing housing insecurity. A disabled worker may be advocating for both accessibility and equitable compensation. Recognizing these intersections leads to more comprehensive and responsive strategies.

Remember also to celebrate shared progress. Community gatherings, storytelling events, and recognition of collective achievements foster solidarity and sustain engagement.

Conclusion: listen, learn, build

Advocacy is a collaborative effort grounded in respect, inquiry, and strategic action. By listening to those with lived experience, learning the systems that shape their lives, and building inclusive coalitions, we create the conditions for meaningful and enduring change. I hope these principles can help guide your efforts to listen with intention, learn with rigor, and build with purpose!

The Advisory Council on Aging & Disability Services is a group of community volunteers who advocate for older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers in King County. Council members advise on policies, programs, and services that support independence, health, and quality of life. We want to hear from you. Please share which issues are most important so we can focus our legislative efforts next year.

Joel Domingo is Chair of the Advisory Council’s Advocacy Committee and Dean of the Research Institute and Director of Research and Professor at City University of Seattle, where he leads the university’s overall scholarship and research objectives. His work focuses on leadership development and civic capacity building for creating social transformation in the public and community nonprofit spheres.