parents & teachers talking together (pt3) session last year identified 4 priorities within...

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 Coordinator847-718-6583karen.schwartzw@d214.org

Mary Cottone bjcfamily4@yahoo.com

Lisa Dalke steglitzokeefe33@yahoo.com

Marcia Perkins marciavperkins@gmail.com

WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT

Danielle McCarthyDistrict Coordinator of Guidance Services847-718-7740danielle.mccarthy@d214.org

Theresa Collinshughessahana@yahoo.com

Linda Sevillalindycity6@yahoo.com