parents & teachers talking together (pt3) session last year identified 4 priorities within...
TRANSCRIPT
Parents & Teachers Talking Together (PT3) Session last year identified 4 priorities within Special Education Self-advocacy Welcoming Environment Parent Mentoring Professional Development
Action Teams for Partnership were formed to address the needs
The Self-advocacy team developed tonight’s program to Help special education students and parents understand
the importance of self-advocacy behavior Provide practical self-advocacy tips to students Help parents learn how to encourage self-advocacy
Self-advocacy is the ability to effectively communicate and appropriately pursue one’s needs, rights & desires
In other words, Sticking Up For Yourself
Everyone needs self-advocacy!!!
Self-advocacy is a critical life skill
Many people struggle to self-advocate
Especially important for people with special needs due to: extra needs society’s lack of understanding potential challenges communicating needs
Powerful tool to deal with bullying
Self-advocacy isn’t just for school or the IEP process
Self-advocacy serves you throughout your whole life
What do you do when? A doctor isn’t listening to your concerns? You need time off from work for an important appointment? You’re trying to choose a good college fit? A good job fit? The waiter brings you the wrong meal? A peer is pressuring you to do something unhealthy? Someone is bullying you? Your teacher forgets you need accommodations? Your teacher posts the wrong grade? You don’t understand a class and need to ask for help?
You’re in charge of your life.
Once you leave high school, you lose much of your formal support.
Independence is the goal
Understanding yourself is the foundation for self-advocacy Know your strengths Understand your disability/challenge Know the terminology Research your condition Read your IEP and evaluations Understand how your condition impacts different
situations Examine what has & hasn’t worked for you in past Ask for feedback
Knowledge is power
You can’t ask for something if you don’t know what you need Interventions, accommodations, modifications Information Extra help or support academically or socially Advice Change in behavior
Remember we all need different things to be successful
Be prepared. Make a plan. Practice! Believe in yourself. If that’s too hard, fake it! Communicate your needs
Choose communication method Clearly describe problem Have a solution Explain the reasons why
Be persistent. Follow-up. Understand you won’t always get what you
want
Be prepared to negotiate or give alternatives
Listen, stay factual, & remain calm
Don’t be afraid to be uncomfortable
What did we just hear?
Bullying isn’t new. Key things to remember:
No one deserves to be bullied. You are not alone, it just feels that way. High school doesn’t last forever. You can’t control the situation but you can control your
reaction
Different approaches work for different people. Ignore the bully and walk away. Protect yourself. Take charge of your life. Know that bullies have their own problems. Talk about it.
Model appropriate advocacy behavior! Start early. Encourage self awareness. Openly discuss
child’s disabilities & rights. Share information Require involvement. Involve them in IEP, etc.
Reframe your desire to help your kids. Let kids help themselves. Don’t do anything for them they can do
themselves. Do it jointly as an intermediate step.
Coach/Help/Encourage: Communicate needs & wants, strengths &
weaknesses. Role play Practice in real world Set appropriate & realistic goals Prepare for a range of realistic outcomes Engage in problem solving Find a supporter or coach
Believe in them, and help them believe in themselves
Celebrate success. Stay positive!
Goals of the “Welcoming Environment” GroupBuild self-advocacy skills.Empower and encourage students to get involved.Provide “tools and resources” to navigate this process.Promote student and parent engagement.
How to Join a Club or Activity at School…Flow ChartStudent Template: “How to join a club or activity” Screen Recording Demo: “How to join a club or activity”
CLUB/ACTIVITY 1 CLUB/ACTIVITY 2 CLUB/ACTIVITY 3
WHO IS SPONSOR/COACH?
WHAT SEASON OR ALL YEAR?
ARE THERE TRY-OUTS?
HOW OFTEN DO THEY MEET?
HOW LONG IS THE MEETING/PRACTICE?
WHERE DO THEY MEET?
WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS SHOULD I
JOIN?
DO I KNOW ANYONE ALREADY IN THE ACTIVITY OR INTERESTED IN JOINING
WITH ME?
SELF-ADVOCACY
Karen SchwartzwaldDistrict Special Education [email protected]
Mary Cottone [email protected]
Lisa Dalke [email protected]
Marcia Perkins [email protected]
WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT
Danielle McCarthyDistrict Coordinator of Guidance [email protected]
Theresa [email protected]
Linda [email protected]