Transcript self-advocacy

SELF-ADVOCACY
Understanding
&
Implementing
INTRODUCTION
“I never think of the future, it comes soon enough.”
-Albert Einstein
Unfortunately, this is the
way many of us think. The
future is much too distant
to concern yourselves
with. Many of us have a
difficult time focusing on
the present day, and all
that goes with it. But, you
are here, and it is our jobs
to prepare for your future.
What is SELF-ADVOCACY?
FORMAL DEFINITION: an
individual’s ability to effectively
communicate, convey, negotiate,
or assert his or her own interests,
desires, needs, and rights. It
involves making informed
decisions and taking
responsibility for those decisions.
IN YOUR LANGUAGE…
Self-Advocacy means, the
ability to understand and unlock
one’s own strength’s and
abilities…
...and use the information to directly
impact your own life, and set it toward a
positive direction.
Why is SELF-ADVOCACY important?
Can you imagine:
 Being happy in a job you didn’t want and didn’t
even apply for?
 Living in a place someone else chose for you to
live?
Without self-advocacy skills,
this unfortunately happens to
many student’s, just like you
and the person next to you.
PLAYERS IN SELF-ADVOCACY
 The following pieces contribute to self-advocacy:
•Choice making
•Decision making
•Problem solving
•Goal setting and attainment
•Self-observation skills
•Self-reinforcement skills
•Self-awareness
•Self-knowledge
•Self-evaluation skills
Can SELF-ADVOCACY be Learned?
YES!!!
It Can!!!
We’re going to look at a model to become
more effective learner’s of self-advocacy, but
you must remember…
…there are others that play a role:
-families
-social workers, psychologists, and other support staff
Strengths and Weaknesses
 It’s not easy to ask
yourself, “What are my
strengths?” It is much
easier to just focus on the
negatives. People often
dwell on their weaknesses,
and overlook their
strength’s.
BIG MISTAKE!!!
Each person has what can be called “smart parts”. These
are different ways you can access and understand ideas
and concepts. Not everyone learns the same way...
• MUSIC
• WORD
• PICTURE
• NUMBER
• PEOPLE
• NATURE
• BODY
• SELF
…but you do use more than one of the above.
Communication skills are
important
 Communication skills like speaking, listening,
reading, and writing are critical to effective
self-advocacy.
3 TYPES
1. Passive
2. ASSERTIVE
3. Aggressive
ASSERTIVE COMMUNICATION
Being assertive DOES
NOT mean being
aggressive.
• Communicating assertively allows YOU to state your
needs and goals without denying someone else their
right to be respected.