Self-Advocacy - High School District 214
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Transcript Self-Advocacy - High School District 214
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
Know
yourself
Know what
you need
Know how
to get it
Know
yourself
Know what
you need
Know how
to get it
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
Know
yourself
Know how
to get it
You can’t ask for something if you don’t know what you
need
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
Know
yourself
Know how
to get it
Be prepared. Make a plan. Practice!
Believe in yourself. If that’s too hard, fake it!
Communicate your needs
Know what
you need
Choose communication method Be prepared to negotiate or give
Clearly describe problem
alternatives
Have a solution
Listen, stay factual, & remain calm
Explain the reasons why
Don’t be afraid to be uncomfortable
Be persistent. Follow-up.
Understand you won’t always get what you want
What did we just hear?
Know
yourself
Know what
you need
Know how
to get it
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” Group
Build 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 Chart
Student Template: “How to join a club or activity”
Screen Recording Demo: “How to join a club or activity”
Step 1:
Log onto your school's website.
Step 2:
Click on "Activities" heading located on the menu
bar to view a list of activities, clubs and sponsors.
Step 3:
Read through the list of activities to find one that
sounds intersting. Look for the sponsor's name
and write it down.
Step 4:
Next, go to "Parent Resources" located on the
menu bar and select "Staff Directory."
Step 5:
Find the sponsor's name and select "Send an email" to e-mail them for information relating to
that activity (such as meeting times and locations.)
CLUB/ACTIVITY 1
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?
CLUB/ACTIVITY 2
CLUB/ACTIVITY 3
SELF-ADVOCACY
WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT
Karen Schwartzwald
Danielle McCarthy
District Special Education Coordinator
847-718-6583
[email protected]
District Coordinator of Guidance Services
847-718-7740
[email protected]
Mary Cottone
[email protected]
Lisa Dalke
[email protected]
Marcia Perkins
[email protected]
Theresa Collins
[email protected]
Linda Sevilla
[email protected]