Self-Advocacy

Learning how to advocate for yourself could help you at school, at your job and in your community. Advocating for yourself means knowing what your needs are and speaking up for yourself to get your needs met.

Self-advocacy means communicating on your own behalf, letting others know what you need, and taking action in a direct and respectful manner. Being your own advocate means that you ask for what you need while respecting the needs of others.

With bullying, learning self-advocacy skills is important as it helps you to:

• Obtain what is helpful for you

• Be involved in the decision-making process

• Learn to say “no” and be OK with it

• Respectfully express disagreement or differing opinion

• Help express your ideas to prevent any bullying you’re experiencing

• Learn your rights under the law (Yes, there are laws against bullying and harassment. And schools are required by law to have an anti-bullying plan on record).

“Remember, if you are being bullied, it is not your fault. One of the most important steps you can take is to communicate what’s happening with an adult. Sharing what is happening and learning to advocate for yourself is important! By thinking through a plan you will have a voice in the solution.”

Teens and Young Adults with Disabilities:

Be your own best advocate

As a teen or a young adult with a disability, you’re probably used to adults in your life advocating for you. Your parents may have spoken out at Individualized Education Program (IEP) team meetings to help you get the services you needed at school. Becoming an adult and learning to be your own best advocate will make a big difference in your life. Speaking up for yourself will give you more control over making choices in your life and make it easier to stand up for your rights. Advocating for yourself will help people around you better understand what you think, what you want, and what you need.

Opportunities to advocate for yourself

You may need to advocate for yourself in many situations in your daily life. Practice helps! Here are some examples of times when it could be important to make your voice heard. For each situation, think about what you would do or say. You may want to role-play these situations with a family member or friend:

• A substitute teacher hands out a test. You have an accommodation to take your tests in a quiet room, but the substitute does not know this.

• Your bus arrives and someone you don’t know offers to help you go up the steps. You would rather not have help, even if it takes you a few minutes longer to board the bus and take your seat.

“Never be afraid to speak up for yourself. You are so Brave, and I am so proud of you.”

Strategies to help you advocate for yourself

Advocating for yourself is a skill you will use throughout your whole life. Here are a few ideas you can use to help you build your advocacy skills.

1. Remember YOU are the expert on YOU. No one knows more about how your disability affects you. The one person who can use their voice to speak up for you better than anyone else is you. If someone assumes something about you that is incorrect, speak up and politely correct them.

2. Give respect to get respect. Show people the respect you expect them to show you. When you speak for yourself, talk to people the way you want them to talk to you.

3. Go straight to the point. Say only what you need to say. Information about your disability is private; you don’t always have to tell people about your disability when you advocate for yourself. In many situations, you can just explain what you need, what you want, or what you think.

4. Ask for help if you feel overwhelmed. When a situation gets too big to handle by yourself, ask someone you trust to get involved and support you. Asking for help is a very important part of advocating for yourself.

5. Give yourself permission to make mistakes. Becoming your own best advocate takes time and practice. You can do this; the more you advocate for yourself, the better you’ll get at it.

Know Your Rights

As a young person with a disability, you have the same rights as a young person who does not have a disability. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 are two of the federal laws that protect your right to participate in sports, to keep your private information private, to vote for elected officials, to travel, and more! Click the link below to start learning about your rights, and the laws that protect your rights.

Click Here