AdvocacyAI — Research & Hub

Research that protects authorship, accessibility and systems memory

Our research builds practical, survivor-authored methods and accessible tools to ensure records remain traceable, explainable and resistant to erasure.

We publish plain-language guidance, technical demonstrators, and accessible outputs so communities, researchers and partners can safely adopt metadata-first practices.

Read our white papers Browse toolkits & datasets Propose a pilot or collaboration
Research library with books and study materials
Easy-Read version Auslan video

What we study

We research how metadata, accessible design and governance combine to protect authorship and strengthen the role of lived experience in digital systems.

Authorship & Traceability

Practical ways to record authorship, dates, purpose and change history.

Accessible AI Features

Plain-language summarisation, Easy-Read formats and AAC outputs that are safe and transparent.

Ethics & Governance

Simple, implementable checklists and staged roadmaps for low-risk AI adoption.

Demonstrators & Prototypes

Small open prototypes and pilot studies that demonstrate ethical metadata practices in action.

Featured research

Key publications and resources from our research program.

Strategic Self-Advocacy White Paper
White Paper Easy-Read

Strategic Self-Advocacy (SSA) — White Paper

Summary: SSA is a survivor-authored framework that reframes expression as structural authorship. It describes multimodal, trauma-informed and AAC-friendly curriculum design that embeds consent and authorship into practice.

Why it matters: SSA provides a replicable, people-first method for helping learners and advocates retain narrative power in institutional contexts.

Read / Download SSA white paper (PDF)

Citation:

McLoughlin, S.A. (2025). Strategic Self-Advocacy: A Survivor-Authored Framework. AdvocacyAI Research.

Securing Authorship Toolkit
Toolkit AAC Open

Securing Authorship — Toolkit & AAC Cards

Summary: Practical, user-facing materials (checklist + AAC-style cards) that guide creators and advocates through actionable steps to protect and mark authorship in both digital and paper records. These resources are designed for immediate use by community members.

Securing Authorship Toolkit

Citation:

AdvocacyAI (2025). Securing Authorship Toolkit & AAC Cards. Metadata Sovereignty Alliance.

Research Demonstrators
Demonstrator

Demonstrators & Product Research

Summary: We publish short describers and findings for small open prototypes (plain-language summariser, Easy-Read generator) and pilot outlines that show how ethical metadata and accessibility features work in practice.

Where to look: See product notes and demonstrator list.

Research demonstrators

Research outputs & resources

What you'll find here — accessible, practical resources for communities and partners.

White papers & reports

Full PDFs and plain-language summaries (Easy-Read).

Toolkits & downloads

Printable AAC cards, checklists, style-anchor templates and Easy-Read toolkits.

Demonstrators & code prototypes

Small, open demonstrators and walkthroughs for partners. (Where code or datasets exist we list licence and access terms.)

Case studies & pilot summaries

Anonymised stories showing real benefits and safeguards.

Blog & plain-language guides

Articles designed for self-advocates and community workers (e.g., "What Is AI-Assisted Advocacy?").

Data, demonstrators & access policy

We publish demonstrators and non-sensitive datasets where possible, but all sharing follows strict, consent-forward rules:

1

No reuse without consent

No reuse of raw sensitive participant records for training or distribution without auditable, explicit consent.

2

Anonymisation & minimisation

Any shared dataset is pre-processed to remove identifying details and reviewed for re-identification risk.

3

Access levels

Datasets or demonstrators are labelled: Open / Restricted (partner access) / Controlled (by agreement). If a dataset is Controlled or Restricted, apply via the Pilot & Partner request form.

4

Ethics checks

All research outputs intended for public release pass a short, recorded ethics review and a consent verification step.

This policy helps partners and communities trust that shared resources don't enable misuse.

How to collaborate or contribute

We welcome partnerships with community organisations, researchers and funders. Typical engagements include:

Pilot partnerships

Co-design pilots that test SSA and metadata workflows in real contexts.

Research collaborations

Joint research projects, evaluation studies, or demonstrator builds.

Community reviewers

Lived-experience collaborators who review resources for fidelity and safety.

To propose collaboration: use the contact form and select "Research / Pilot". Include: project aim, proposed timeline, privacy/consent approach, and lead contact.

Contact us to collaborate

Ethics & governance

Our research is guided by simple, practical rules:

Consent, agency and traceability are non-negotiable.

Human oversight is required for any decision-making that affects rights or services.

We explicitly avoid biometrics and black-box systems that could harm people.

Where possible, resources are published in accessible formats (Easy-Read, Auslan, AAC).

A short public checklist and a fuller internal evaluation rubric are available for partners on request.

Easy-Read summary

We do research to help people keep control of their stories.

We write simple guides, toolkits and reports that anyone can use.

We make things easy to read and make Auslan videos.

We only share data when people agree and when it is safe.

If you want to work with us, contact us on the research form.

Easy-Read White Paper

Strategic Self-Advocacy (SSA) — Easy Read

Short summary

Strategic Self-Advocacy (SSA) is a way to help people keep control of their stories.

It was written by a survivor.

SSA is for people who use symbols, gestures, sound, or AAC (alternative communication).

SSA helps teachers, community workers and advocates run safe and fair programs.

What is SSA?

  • SSA means treating expression as authorship.
  • This means every way a person communicates is their work.
  • SSA is trauma-aware. It makes space for people to say "no" and to take breaks.
  • SSA uses many ways of communicating: sound, gesture, images, objects, AAC and more.
  • SSA aims to keep people safe, respected and in control.

The eight modules (short)

1

Listening as Power

Use sound and recordings. Who gets heard?

2

Voice & Silence

Use gesture and symbols. What does silence mean?

3

Sound as Protest

Rhythm and chants. What needs to change?

4

Composing Self

Art and audio journals. Who are you becoming?

5

Consent in Creativity

Drama and consent boards. How do we co-create safely?

6

Sensory & Story Mapping

Maps and objects. What stories live here?

7

Challenging Performance Norms

Process art. Who defines success?

8

Creative Advocacy Projects

Group projects to make change. What do you want to change?

Each module has simple tools for accessibility, consent and reflection.

How to use SSA (easy steps)

  1. Work with people with lived experience. Co-design the program together.
  2. Pick 1 or 2 modules to try first.
  3. Make a simple consent plan. Ask people how their work can be used.
  4. Record who made each piece of work (author name or role, date, purpose).
  5. Give accessible outputs after sessions (Easy-Read, AAC items, Auslan).
  6. Ask people how it went and change the program if needed.

These steps help keep people safe and in control.

What SSA asks you to check

  • Did the person make something in their own way?
  • Was their communication treated fairly, no matter the mode?
  • Was consent asked for and kept?
  • Did facilitators notice feelings and body signals and adjust?
  • Did the work help repair harm or support change?

These are simple questions you can use instead of tests.

Who this is for

  • Community groups and advocates working with AAC users or non-verbal people.
  • Teachers and creative arts facilitators.
  • Organisations that want safer, more inclusive programs.
  • People and groups who want to protect authorship and voice.

Downloads & videos

Full white paper (PDF) SSA_white_paper_2025_SA_McLoughlin.pdf Easy-Read summary (PDF) SSA_easy_read_summary_2025.pdf Auslan video & script Short signer clip and script Implementation checklist (PDF) Short steps for pilots

Note about reuse: The SSA paper is protected by copyright. You need written permission to reproduce or use it commercially. Educational, non-profit use may be possible with permission. See the full paper for details.

Ethics & safety (short)

  • Always ask for clear consent before sharing work.
  • Do not publish people's stories without their permission.
  • Do a simple ethics check before you share anything publicly.
  • Do not use the people's raw records for training AI unless there is auditable, explicit consent.

Want to run a pilot or learn more?

Email: founder@edulinked.com.au

Subject line: Research / Pilot — SSA

Tell us:

  • Who you are and your organisation (if any)
  • Which modules you want to try
  • How you will ask for consent
  • How we can support you

We will reply and help plan a safe pilot.

Short note for partners

SSA helps you set up programs that are fair, trauma-aware and accessible. It changes how we value people's work by treating communication as authorship. If you want help, we offer workshops and support to set up pilots.

Credit: We honour the foundational work of Mel Baggs (1980–2020), a pioneering autistic disability rights advocate whose work on non-speaking communication and AAC has deeply influenced approaches to accessible advocacy. Visit Mel Baggs' YouTube channel.

Auslan video

Auslan-signed videos for this page are coming soon.

We are working on creating Auslan interpretations of our research content. Check back soon for accessible video content.