Promoting Self-Advocacy Through Mentoring Center for Community Partnerships Department of Occupational Therapy ACCESS Project Supporting the inherent dignity, potential and full participation of all people.

ACCESS to Postsecondary Education through Universal Design for Learning AND Self-Advocacy ACCESS to Postsecondary Education through Universal Design for Learning AND Self-Advocacy

UDL Self- Adv. Greater Success

Self-Advocacy = Personal Empowerment

Definition of Self-Advocacy Self- Advocacy

Self-Advocacy “…a lifelong personal pursuit of control over one’s circumstances. It is the act of advocating for what one wants, for how one desires to live, for how one wants to be treated…” Self-Advocacy “…a lifelong personal pursuit of control over one’s circumstances. It is the act of advocating for what one wants, for how one desires to live, for how one wants to be treated…” ( Shoultz, 2006) ( Shoultz, 2006) “Research has demonstrated that individuals who are self-determined are more successful in achievement of their stated goals.” (Field, Sarver & Shaw, 2003) “Research has demonstrated that individuals who are self-determined are more successful in achievement of their stated goals.” (Field, Sarver & Shaw, 2003)

Know Yourself Know Your Strengths Know Your Strengths Know Your Challenges Know Your Challenges Know Your Life Right Now Know Your Life Right Now

Know Your Strengths Personality Traits Personality Traits Learning Styles Learning Styles Values Values S kills, Abilities, Interests S kills, Abilities, Interests

Know Your Challenges Needs Needs Barriers to Success Barriers to Success Self Talk Self Talk

Know Your Life Right Now Look at all your life areas Look at all your life areas Figure out strengths and challenges in each area… Figure out strengths and challenges in each area…

Self-Advocacy is about the “whole” person… How balanced is an individual’s life?

Life Domain Areas Daily Living – housing, eating, sleeping, laundry, finances, community access and services Daily Living – housing, eating, sleeping, laundry, finances, community access and services School/Work – grades, study skills, test taking, computer skills, balancing work and school School/Work – grades, study skills, test taking, computer skills, balancing work and school Health – fitness, medication, health concerns, mental health, stress Health – fitness, medication, health concerns, mental health, stress Relationships - roommate, sig. other, family Relationships - roommate, sig. other, family Community/Rec. Community/Rec. Spirituality – meaning, purpose, vision Spirituality – meaning, purpose, vision

Know What You Need and Want Based on Your Challenges, What are Your Needs? Based on Your Challenges, What are Your Needs? Develop a Vision for Your Life – What are Your Hopes and Dreams? What do You Want? Develop a Vision for Your Life – What are Your Hopes and Dreams? What do You Want?

Know How to GET What You Need and Want Find Resources Find Resources Communicate Communicate Get Organized Get Organized Make Decisions Make Decisions Develop Study and Test Taking Skills Develop Study and Test Taking Skills Solve Problems Solve Problems (Learn from mistakes) Develop a Support Network Develop a Support Network Set Goals Set Goals Plan for the Future – Career Development Plan for the Future – Career Development (Self-Advocacy to infinity and beyond!) (Self-Advocacy to infinity and beyond!)

Just Do It! Get motivated… Motivation occurs at the “flash point.” The flash point is the distress felt because of the gap (or discrepancy) between the desired and actual performance (Hirsch,2001). Motivation occurs at the “flash point.” The flash point is the distress felt because of the gap (or discrepancy) between the desired and actual performance (Hirsch,2001). Help students figure out what they desire. Help students figure out what they desire. Help students explore and understand distress. Help students explore and understand distress. Help students explore options. Help students explore options.

Six Success Attributes that Correlate with Self- Advocacy Raskind and Goldberg (2005) identified six success attributes: Raskind and Goldberg (2005) identified six success attributes: Self-awareness Self-awareness Proactivity Proactivity Perseverance Perseverance Goal Setting Goal Setting The presence and use of Support Systems The presence and use of Support Systems Emotional Coping Strategies Emotional Coping Strategies based on a 20-year longitudinal study of individuals with learning disabilities. based on a 20-year longitudinal study of individuals with learning disabilities.

Three Learning Outcomes for Mentors/Interns: 1) Understand the Process of Self-Advocacy Know Yourself Know What You Need and Want Know How to GET What You Need and Want

2) View self from a holistic perspective 2) View self from a holistic perspective Identify strengths and challenges in different life domain areas.

3) Learn how to support students through empowerment. When you do something for someone you teach dependency; when you help someone develop and gain the skills to do it for himself you empower! Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. - Chinese Proverb Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. - Chinese Proverb The ideal teacher guides his students but does not pull them along; he urges them to go forward and does not suppress them; he opens the way but does not take them to the place. - Confucious The ideal teacher guides his students but does not pull them along; he urges them to go forward and does not suppress them; he opens the way but does not take them to the place. - Confucious

CHOICES OF SUCCESSFUL STUDENTS SUCCESSFUL STUDENTS...STRUGGLING STUDENTS ACCEPT SELF- RESPONSIBILITY, seeing themselves as the primary cause of their outcomes and experiences see themselves as Victims, believing that what happens to them is determined primarily by external forces such as fate, luck, and powerful others DISCOVER SELF- MOTIVATION, finding purpose in their lives by discovering personally meaningful goals and dreams have difficulty sustaining motivation, often feeling depressed, frustrated, and/or resentful about a lack of direction in their lives MASTER SELF-MANAGEMENT, consistently planning and taking purposeful actions in pursuit of their goals and dreams seldom identify specific actions needed to accomplish a desired outcome. And when they do, they tend to procrastinate.

4....EMPLOY INTERDEPENDENCE, building mutually supportive relationships that help them achieve their goals and dreams (while helping others to do the same) are solitary, seldom requesting, even rejecting offers of assistance from those who could help GAIN SELF-AWARENESS, consciously employing behaviors, beliefs, and attitudes that keep them on course make important choices unconsciously, being directed by self- sabotaging habits and outdated life scripts ADOPT LIFE-LONG LEARNING, finding valuable lessons and wisdom in nearly every experience they have resist learning new ideas and skills, viewing learning as fearful or boring rather than as mental play. SUCCESSFUL STUDENTS...STRUGGLING STUDENTS...

7...DEVELOP EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE, effectively managing their emotions in support of their goals and dreams live at the mercy of strong emotions such as anger, depression, anxiety, or a need for instant gratification BELIEVE IN THEMSELVES, seeing themselves capable, lovable, and unconditionally worthy as human beings doubt their competence and personal value, feeling inadequate to create their desired outcomes and experiences. SUCCESSFUL STUDENTS...STRUGGLING STUDENTS... From On Course: Strategies for Success in College and in Life (5th ed.) By Skip Downing

Positive Beliefs Effective Behaviors Results in Success Negative Beliefs Ineffective Behaviors Results in getting off course Wise Choices: Beliefs and Behaviors SUCCESSFUL STUDENTS…STRUGGLING STUDENTS...

SUCCESSFUL STUDENTS...STRUGGLING STUDENTS... fadfAd Creator and Victim Beliefs and Behaviors The greater part of our happiness depends on our dispositions, and not on our circumstances. We carry the seeds with us in our minds wherever we go. …Martha Washington  adopt the Creator role, believing that their choices create the outcomes and experiences of their lives.  master Creator language, accepting personal responsibility for their results.  make wise decisions, consciously designing the future they want.  accept the Victim role, believing that external forces determine the outcomes and experiences of their lives.  use Victim language, rejecting personal responsibility by blaming, complaining & excusing.  make decisions carelessly, letting the future happen by chance rather than by choice. From On Course: Strategies for Success in College and in Life (5th ed.) By Skip Downing

Victim or Creator?? I failed the test because my friends made me stay out partying most of the night. I failed the test because my friends made me stay out partying most of the night. My car broke down so I took the bus My car broke down so I took the bus I got a grade lower than I expected so I discussed it with my Professor. I got a grade lower than I expected so I discussed it with my Professor. I can’t pass math so I guess I’ll have to change my major. I can’t pass math so I guess I’ll have to change my major. My boyfriend kept me on the phone al night and now I failed the test. My boyfriend kept me on the phone al night and now I failed the test. The parking on campus is terrible; that’s why I’m always late to class. The parking on campus is terrible; that’s why I’m always late to class. Carol is smarter than I am. Carol is smarter than I am. I need help; I’ll ask Carol to help me study. I need help; I’ll ask Carol to help me study.

Victim or Creator?? My roommate is always playing loud music and I can’t study so I spoke with the RA to see if I could get another roommate that better matches my needs. In the meantime, I’ll study in the library. My roommate is always playing loud music and I can’t study so I spoke with the RA to see if I could get another roommate that better matches my needs. In the meantime, I’ll study in the library. I’ll try to do better, but it’s no use. I’ll try to do better, but it’s no use. To improve my grade I’ll take good notes, ask questions, attend every class, start a study group, and talk to my Professor. If that doesn’t work I’ll try something else. To improve my grade I’ll take good notes, ask questions, attend every class, start a study group, and talk to my Professor. If that doesn’t work I’ll try something else.

What might you do to help empower a student that seems to be stuck in the “Struggling Student” (Victim) mode? I’m failing Psychology 101; I just can’t do it. Can you talk to my Professor about why I got a D on the test? I have to drop out; I don’t have the money to stay here. I am failing English 101, can you do some editing for me? I just can’t function; my boyfriend broke up with me.

Activity: Limiting Beliefs Draw one straight line that touches all three of the stars below:

Summary: Key Concepts Self-advocacy: having the ability to identify and meet one’s needs and wants. (know yourself, know your needs and wants, know how to get what you need and want) Self-advocacy: having the ability to identify and meet one’s needs and wants. (know yourself, know your needs and wants, know how to get what you need and want) Balance: all areas of life are important and each one supports the whole. Balance: all areas of life are important and each one supports the whole. Empowerment: teach others how they can succeed according to their own terms. Empowerment: teach others how they can succeed according to their own terms.

References Izzo M. & Lamb M. (2002). Raising the bar, Hertafeld, J.A. &Aaron, J.H. (2002). Self-Determination and Career Development: Skills for Successful Transitions to Postsecondary Education and Employment. A paper retrieved July28, 2003 from Izzo M. & Lamb M. (2002). Raising the bar, Hertafeld, J.A. &Aaron, J.H. (2002). Self-Determination and Career Development: Skills for Successful Transitions to Postsecondary Education and Employment. A paper retrieved July28, 2003 from Yuan, F. (1994). Moving toward self-acceptance: A course for students with learning disabilities. Intervention in School and Cliniic, 29, Yuan, F. (1994). Moving toward self-acceptance: A course for students with learning disabilities. Intervention in School and Cliniic, 29, Field, S., Sarver M., & Shaw S. (2003) Self-determination a key to success in postsecondary education for students with learning disabilities. Remedial and Special Education, 24, Field, S., Sarver M., & Shaw S. (2003) Self-determination a key to success in postsecondary education for students with learning disabilities. Remedial and Special Education, 24, Books: Getzel, E., & Wehman, P. (2005). Going to college: Expanding opportunities for people with disabilities. Baltimore, MD:Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co. Getzel, E., & Wehman, P. (2005). Going to college: Expanding opportunities for people with disabilities. Baltimore, MD:Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co. Brinkerhoff, L., McGuire, J., & Shaw, S. (2002). Postsecondary education and transition for students with learning disabilities. Austin, TX: Pro-ed. Brinkerhoff, L., McGuire, J., & Shaw, S. (2002). Postsecondary education and transition for students with learning disabilities. Austin, TX: Pro-ed. Downing, Skip (2008). On Course: Strategies for Creating Success in College and in Life. By Houghton Mifflin Company. Downing, Skip (2008). On Course: Strategies for Creating Success in College and in Life. By Houghton Mifflin Company. Hirsch, G. (2001). Helping college students succeed. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota. Hirsch, G. (2001). Helping college students succeed. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota.

Contact Information Julia Kothe, CCP, Assistant Director Julia Kothe, CCP, Assistant Director Cynthia Tate, CCP, Research Associate Cynthia Tate, CCP, Research Associate ACCESS Project at Colorado State University ACCESS Project at Colorado State University Department of Occupational Therapy Department of Occupational Therapy Colorado State University Colorado State University This presentation was developed with funding from the This presentation was developed with funding from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education (Grant # P333A050015).