An advocate provides support to anyone who is struggling to have their point of view heard. They offer them time and commitment, help them express their wishes, make informed choices and take greater control of their lives. It may be helpful to understand the role of an advocate in the following terms: Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on 'Why violent video games should not be banned'?Get an original essayAn advocate can:help children and young people with learning disabilities engage with and understand procedures or decisions that are taken, to think about their options and say what they want to ask questions on behalf of a child or young person ensure that the voice of the child or young person with a disability is heard and answered work to make things happen and change, by asking the right questions and finding information to help children and enable young people to make choices and have more control over their own lives. An advocate cannot: break confidentiality without reason become an arbiter in a dispute or argument; say what is best for the child or young person or tell them what to do to persuade a child or young person to agree with others, take control away from the child or young person or hide things from them information. Children and young people with disabilities may benefit from advocacy support for different reasons. They may need help at particular times in their lives, such as transitioning from school and children's health and social services to adult social services. They may encounter difficulties in various settings, such as at school, hospital or youth club, and have no one to talk to and help them resolve them. They may need support when decisions are made about their lives, such as during planning meetings or annual reviews. Most often, parents and guardians are the first and strongest advocates a child or young person will have. Their social worker, support worker, teacher or carer will also act as an advocate. Having an independent advocate, someone from an agency not directly involved in their care and education, can help ensure that the child or young person's distinct voice is heard and valued. Advocates form a partnership with a child or young person. They establish the communication methods they use and begin to know them. They learn how they prefer to communicate, the things that matter to them, as well as what they like and don't like. Augmentative and alternative methods of communication: can be alone or assisted, using objects or devices. Examples of unassisted communication methods include gestures, facial expressions, vocalizations, speech, and sign language (such as American Sign Language). Examples of supported forms of communication include: Using a real object to convey meaning; for example, your child hands you a cup to let you know he is thirsty. Show symbols, such as pictures or textures on a communication board or in a book. Activate a device; for example, your child presses a switch or button on a recorded voice device, triggering an auditory output indicating "I'm thirsty." Like a communication board, a communication book contains selected symbols that your child can point to in order to make him understand a message. The book can be organized so that the first page has broad categories, such as emotions, foods, and people. Once.