Self-Advocacy and Self-Determination Skills for Transition-Age Youth
Park Forest Middle School Self-Advocacy and Self-Determination.
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Transcript of Park Forest Middle School Self-Advocacy and Self-Determination.
Park Forest Middle School
Self-Advocacy andSelf-Determination
Do You “Know Yourself”?
What are your strengths? What do you do well?
How do you learn?
What do you need to be able to learn?
What is Self-Advocacy?
Speaking up for yourself
Taking responsibility for what you want
Starts by knowing yourself, how you learn and how you do things
Knowing what you need and being able to ask for it
Who Are Self-Advocates
People that learn or do things differently
People that can be role models
Volunteers
Help others speak up for themselves
Feeling quiet and too shy to speakFeeling frustrated and madFeeling like I don’t know what to doFeeling afraid of saying the wrong thingNot knowing how someone else might
reactWanting to be nice to everybodyNot wanting to cause a problemNot wanting to draw attention to myselfThinking that no one will understand me
What Stops You From Being Your Own Advocate?
What Stops You From Being Your Own Advocate?
Figure out what stops you from being your own advocate
Come up with ways to overcome it
Can Self-Advocacy Make A Difference?
Examples of changes made by self-advocates:Living at home
Transportation
School classes
How To Be A Self-Advocate
You don’t need a title
Respect others
Have a voice and speak up
Be positive
How To Be A Self-Advocate
Listen to the ideas of othersBe truthful
Ask for help when you need help
Reach for your dream
Stand up for your legal rights
Why You Should Be A Self-Advocate
It helps you to protect your rights.
You can prepare for your future.
You can help others to be self-advocates too.
Is “Attitude” Important in Self-Advocacy?
Yes
Positive attitudes and beliefs are as important as skills.
You are worth advocating for.
Self-advocacy means taking responsibility for what you want.
Changing AttitudesMany people have the WRONG
ideas about people that learn or do things differently.
We are here to change some of those ideas.
We will share some of the WRONG ideas people have and show you the RIGHT ideas.
Changing Attitudes
WRONG WAY:1. Just because you
learn or do things differently people don’t like you & judge you.
2. Because I have different abilities, I can’t help.
RIGHT WAY:1. Introduce
yourself. Ask if you can be their friend and try to be friends
2. People with different abilities can be courteous. They can help. They can be useful.
Changing Attitudes WRONG WAY:3. People with
different abilities can’t participate in sports.
4. People that learn or do things differently pick on others. They are mean.
RIGHT WAY:3. They can. They can
be talented in sports. They can have good sportsmanship.
4. Not true. They can be helpful with others.
Changing Attitudes
• WRONG WAY:• 5. People that
learn or do things differently can’t stand up for themselves.
• 6. People with different abilities are not that smart or strong.
• RIGHT WAY:• People with different
abilities can speak for themselves. They can be honest, raise their voice and stand up for themselves.
• 6. People that learn or do things differently can be smart. They can have willpower and can still work hard.
What Are Accommodations?
Things that help you learn or accomplish what you are trying
to doExamples of accommodations:
Sitting in the front of the classExtra time on tests Larger printPicturesHaving instructions written instead of spokenHaving instructions spoken instead of writtenWheelchair or walker
What is Self-Determination?
Having control over those parts of life that are important to YOU
Why Is Self-Determination Important?
To youYou can choose who your friends
are.
You have the right to be heard. You have feelings.
Why is Self-Determination Important?
To people around you You and your family can choose how
you live your life.
Friends and family can help you make choices and be a good self-advocate.
What Does It Mean To Have Self-Determination?
You should be treated like anybody else. You should not be treated differently because you learn or do things differently.
As you make more choices and take greater control of your life you take on more responsibilities.
What Does It Mean To Have Self-Determination?
Everyone gets help from others.
You need to give help to others.
Why should we contribute?
Contributing or volunteering makes us feel like a part of something.
Contributing helps us figure out who we are and what is important to us.
Why Is Contributing A Part Of Self-Determination?
Why Is Contributing A Part Of
Self-Determination?Everyone can contribute to their
community.
You can contribute your time and skills as well as what you think and feel.
How Can You Contribute?
Doing chores around your house
Helping others Mowing grassBabysitting Carrying in groceriesListen to a friend’s problem
Getting involved in school activities
Helping others with their homework
How Can You Show Self-Determination?
Make choices for yourself
How Can You Show Self-Determination?
Direct your own IEP
How Can You Show Self-Determination?
Ask for what you need that would make things easier for you
Learn to talk about things you do well and things you like to do
Why Is It Important To Try (even if it doesn’t work)?
“If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again”
Sometimes we learn by fixing the mistakes we made.