A self-advocate is someone who speaks up for themselves. The following steps will help you become a stronger self-advocate.
Step 1: Get to know yourself. It helps to start by figuring out:
- The self-advocacy skills you have, and the ones you need to work on (such as communication, assertiveness, listening, negotiating)
- The areas of your life in which you are a strong self-advocate (such as school, friendships, etc.)
- The areas in which you want to speak up more and play a bigger role in decision-making
- This resource can help you do a self-assessment in the areas of learning, connecting, thriving, working and leading http://www.ncld-youth.info/Downloads/Am_I_Learning_to_Lead_Self_Assmt_Youth.pdf
Step 2: Learn your rights and responsibilities
- If you have a disability, you have the right to reasonable accommodations at school and work
- It is your responsibility to know what a reasonable accommodation is, and how to ask for one
- If you have a disability, visit this site to learn more about your rights http://www.ndrn.org/index.php
Step 3: Speak Up! You can start doing this by:
- Sharing your thoughts and opinions in class, at the dinner table, at your place of worship, etc.
- Asking questions if you don’t understand something your teacher, advisor or your doctor says
- Standing up for your rights if you think they’re being violated
- When appropriate, asking for accommodations at school or work
Step 4: Team Up! Think about building a team of people you trust to help you become a stronger self-advocate. Some of these people could be:
- Friends and older students you admire
- Teachers, coaches, principals, and academic advisors or counselors
- Family members who want you to be as independent as possible
Adapted from Youth in Action! Becoming a Stronger Self-Advocate, National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability. Retrieved from http://www.ncwd-youth.info/tip-sheet/becoming-a-self-advocate