Believe in Yourself!

Self-Advocacy Training

In Advocacy Resources, Resources, Self-Advocacy Training, Training by tkulow

Introduction

For teens, learning self-advocacy skills means learning to speak up for themselves and taking steps to make decisions about their own life and future.

The following training is meant to be a self-guided training for teens to begin to learn self-advocacy skills. These are skills that may need some practice, help and support. This training could benefit from a peer-to-peer training approach or one-on-one guidance from a counselor or mentor to supplement and enrich learning offered by the training.

The training could also be done by families with their child.

Introduction

In this chapter, you will test your knowledge about self-advocacy, learn more about what self-advocacy is, and who can help you practice your self-advocacy skills.

Highlights:

  • Check your knowledge about self-advocacy
  • Watch Self-Advocacy Introduction video
  • Define your support person / people
Access the Training: Introduction

Introduction Transcript: English | Spanish | Hmong

Resources:

Chapter 1: Terms and Definitions

In this chapter, you will learn about terms related to self-advocacy and their definitions. Knowing how to use these terms can make you a better self-advocate.

Highlights:

  • Define self-advocacy
  • Learn other terms related to self-advocacy
  • Use the new terms to be a better self-advocate
Access the Training: Chapter 1

Introduction Transcript: English | Spanish | Hmong

Resources:

Chapter 2: Disability and Accommodations

In this chapter, you will learn about your disability and how to tell others about accommodations you may need at school or work.

Highlights:

  • Know about your disability and how it impacts your life.
  • Find accommodations or supports you may need and people who can help you.
  • Learn how to use self-advocacy to help you know about your disability.
Access the Training: Chapter 2

Chapter 2 Transcript: English | Spanish | Hmong

Resources:

Chapter 3: Career

Learn about making career choices. Do you have interests? learn about making what you love a career.

Highlights:

  • Find out what you need to be able to do for career choices.
  • Find out your strengths and challenges related to career choices.
  • Find out how your career interest compares to what you need to be able to do for career choices, your skills and the career market.
Access the Training: Chapter 3

Chapter 3 Transcript: English | Spanish | Hmong

Resources:

Chapter 4: Laws

Ms Jordan will guide you through understanding laws about disability rights.

Highlights:

  • Become familiar with the American with Disabilities Act and other laws
  • IDEA or ADA? We'll compare both laws and how they'll apply to you
Access the Training: Chapter 4

Chapter 4 Transcript: English | Spanish | Hmong

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Chapter 5: School After High School

This chapter will provide chances to look at how colleges are different than high schools. You will also learn how to get into colleges.

Highlights:

  • Research college websites, school counselors and current college students.
  • Research how to get into colleges.
  • Types of colleges, finding the right fit, disability services and other considerations.
Access the Training: Chapter 5

Chapter 5 Transcript: English | Spanish | Hmong

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Chapter 6: Talking About Disability

Develop a plan about talking about your disability. You need to know if it is okay to talk about your disability, when to talk about your disability and how to talk about your disability.

Highlights:

  • Learn about disclosure and create a plan for it
  • Research the “if”, “when” and “how” of disclosure.
  • Apply self-advocacy principles related to disclosure.
Access the Training: Chapter 6

Chapter 6 Transcript: English | Spanish | Hmong

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Chapter 7: Resources

Learn about creating a list of resources that will help you when you have questions or have a problem.

Highlights:

  • Research places (agencies & organizations) that offer disability help.
  • Contact (call or email) at least one agency and ask for a meeting and/or application.
  • Become involved with an agency and follow-up on questions you may have
Access the Training: Chapter 7

Chapter 7 Transcript: English | Spanish | Hmong

Resources:

Trainer Notes

The goal of the Family Advocacy Training is to help families recognize:

  • See that their child with a disability can work
  • Learn solutions to common barriers to having a job
  • Describe their child’s strengths and abilities in a positive way
  • Identify steps they can take now to support their child for life after high school