Self-Advocacy For High School and Beyond Parent Advisory Council Presentation Self-Advocacy For High School and Beyond

Why Are We Here? 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

Parent Advisory Council Presentation What is 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

Who Needs Self-Advocacy? Parent Advisory Council Presentation Who Needs Self-Advocacy? 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

When is Self-Advocacy Needed? Parent Advisory Council Presentation When is Self-Advocacy Needed? 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? Click per example

Why is Self-Advocacy Needed? You’re in charge of your life. Once you leave high school, you lose much of your formal support. Independence is the goal

Self-Advocacy Framework Know yourself Know what you need Know how to get it

Parent Advisory Council Presentation Know Yourself 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 What You Need Know yourself Know what you need Know how to get it You can’t ask for something if you don’t 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

Parent Advisory Council Presentation Know How to Get It Know yourself Know what you need Know how to get it Be prepared. Make a plan. Practice! Believe in yourself. If that’s too hard, fake it! Communicate your needs Choose communication method Clearly describe problem Have a solution Explain the reasons why Be persistent. Follow-up. Understand you won’t always get what you want Be prepared to negotiate or give alternatives Listen, stay factual, & remain calm Don’t be afraid to be uncomfortable

Parent Advisory Council Presentation Student Experiences Who are you, including learning challenge Give an example of a time you needed something Explain what you did to get it How has this impacted your life? – Nick How does sticking up for yourself? - Hannah

Self-Advocacy Tips What did we just hear? Know yourself Know what you need Know how to get it What did we just hear?

Self-advocacy & Bullying 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. 

Parent Advisory Council Presentation How Parents Can Help 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.

Parent Advisory Council Presentation How Parents Can Help 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!

Adult Experiences

Welcoming Environment Parent Advisory Council Group Parent Advisory Council Presentation Welcoming Environment Parent Advisory Council Group 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”

Log onto your school's website. F l ow Ch a r t Step 1: Log onto your school's website. Click on "Activities" heading located on the menu bar to view a list of activities, clubs and sponsors. Step 2: Read through the list of activities to find one that sounds intersting. Look for the sponsor's name and write it down. Step 3: Next, go to "Parent Resources" located on the menu bar and select "Staff Directory." Step 4: Find the sponsor's name and select "Send an e-mail" to e-mail them for information relating to that activity (such as meeting times and locations.) Step 5:

Student Template CLUB/ACTIVITY 1 CLUB/ACTIVITY 2 CLUB/ACTIVITY 3   CLUB/ACTIVITY 1 CLUB/ACTIVITY 2 CLUB/ACTIVITY 3 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?

Screen Recording

Questions & Answers

Parent Advisory Council Presentation Thanks for Coming Self-Advocacy Welcoming Environment Karen Schwartzwald District Special Education Coordinator 847-718-6583 karen.schwartzw@d214.org Mary Cottone bjcfamily4@yahoo.com Lisa Dalke steglitzokeefe33@yahoo.com Marcia Perkins marciavperkins@gmail.com Danielle McCarthy District Coordinator of Guidance Services 847-718-7740 danielle.mccarthy@d214.org Theresa Collins hughessahana@yahoo.com Linda Sevilla lindycity6@yahoo.com