Advocating for Ourselves

Mester Two, Week 6Grade 9 AdvisoryArleta High School2014-2015

What do YOU think Self-Advocacy means?

Talk to your elbow partner or the people at your group table

Select one person from your group to share your response with the rest of the class

Now, let’s see the textbook definition…

What is Self-Advocacy? Self-advocacy is understanding your strengths

and needs, identifying your personal goals, knowing your legal rights and responsibilities, and communicating these to others.

Self-advocacy is speaking up for oneself.

Source: http://texasprojectfirst.org/SelfAdvocacy.html

Seven Steps to Self-Advocacy Self-advocacy is the ability to

identify and explain your needs. In elementary and middle school,

your advocates (people who spoke up for you) were your parents and teachers.

In high school, your parents and teachers are still your advocates, but it is a time for you to learn, in a safe environment, to advocate for yourself.

In college and the workplace, you must become your OWN advocate – the time to practice safely is NOW!

Step 1 Recognize that

academic success or failure is YOUR responsibility.

Step 2 Understand

your abilities and areas of need and learn ways to compensate. Learn how to explain your needs to others.

Step 3 Develop good

communication skills to request assistance and services.

Step 4 Know when you

need help and ask for it.

Understand that it is OK to ask for help! Everyone needs help now and then!

Step 5 Know and

understand your strengths and areas where you need to improve.

Be honest with yourself!

Step 6 Develop and use

mature social and personal skills.

Step 7 Be organized! It

relieves stress and demonstrates good planning ability.

Who am I? – Self-Advocacy Worksheet

You will now work independently to complete a worksheet about yourself – your strengths, areas for improvement, interests, etc.

Be honest with yourself… this information is to help you help yourself and get the help you need from others!

Sharing your Work Share what you wrote on your self-

advocacy worksheet with a partner. Does your partner have any

suggestions for additions? Do you have any suggestions for your

partner? Revise/review your worksheet based

on your conversation with your partner.

But, I’m Afraid to Speak Up! Why do I find it difficult to

advocate for myself? Advocating for ourselves can be

risky. We fear failure, rejection, or feelings of embarrassment.

We want to avoid conflict!

Source: http://studio5.ksl.com/?nid=54&sid=16239946

Scenarios for Self-Advocacy Working with a partner, you

will receive a scenario in which you will act out a situation in which one of you will have to advocate for yourself, and one of you will play the other part.

Be prepared to act out your scenario for the class!