1. Disability Resource Center University of Louisville

2. Going To College: Video http://www.going-to- college.org/myplace /plan.html Going To College Going To College Video Going To College Going To College Video

3.  Self-advocacy is the ability for one to stand up for one’s rights and needs.  You can be a good self-advocate with your community, professors, family, and friends by helping them understand what you need to be successful.

4.  The most successful students are ones who adapt quickly to independence from their parents and become their own self- advocates.  Successful adults with disabilities  Have self-awareness, self-understanding, and self-advocacy.  Understand their strengths and weaknesses, can discuss their disability and its effects, develop effective strategies for dealing with the disability, and negotiate appropriate accommodations.

5.  Only 1/3 of college students with documented disabilities request accommodations from their schools.  Only 40% of these students tell school officials that they need help.  Half of these students don’t consider themselves disabled.

6. 1. Accept your disability. 2. Admit your disability to others. 3. Understand your learning style. 4. Realize how other issues might interfere with your self-advocacy. 5. Know what you need. 6. Anticipate your needs for each class. 7. Know your rights & responsibilities. 8. Be professional. 9. Be willing to compromise. 10. Know where to go for support. 11. Plan for the future.

7. Going To College: Video http://www.going-to- college.org/myplace/dis ability.html Going To College Going To College Video Going To College Going To College Video

8.  When you advocate for yourself, you exercise skills that will help you to become a good leader.  Leadership is  The ability to guide others to take action, influence their opinion and/or behavior, and show the way by leading the way.  The ability to understand one’s own strengths and weaknesses, set personal and vocational goals, and have the self-esteem to carry them out.  How can you be a leader?

9. Going To College: Video http://www.going-to- college.org/myplace/goals.html Going To College Going To College Video Going To College Going To College Video

10.  To be a good self-advocate, you must be able to communicate with others effectively.  Communicators can be broken into three communication styles.  Passive Communicators  Aggressive Communicators  Assertive Communicators  The most effective types of communicators are not passive or aggressive, but assertive.

11.  Passive communicators  Never stand up for what they want or need and are often afraid of hurting others’ feelings or being rejected.  Aggressive communicators  May be impulsive, bold and overbearing. They may even include sarcastic or belittling comments to communicate.  Assertive communicators  Express both positive and negative thoughts and ideas in a clear, direct way, without stepping on anyone’s toes. Effective self-advocacy involves assertive communication.

12.  Use “I” statements and consider the feelings of others.  Be conscious of your tone of voice. Be firm and calm but nice.  Stick to the facts.  Be respectful of others’ opinions and feelings.  Use appropriate body language such as make eye contact, face the individual you are talking with and have a pleasant but serious facial expression.  Listen to the individual you are talking with about their opinions or feelings.

13.  Have a very good idea of what you want and why you want it.  Rehearse what you will say.  Try rehearsing with a friend or parent.  Speak clearly.  Maintain eye contact (as much as possible).  Take your time when talking and ask for time to think if you need it.  Rephrase what you hear to be sure you really understand.  Be respectful.

14.  Be careful of your body language.  Do you look or act angry, impatient, etc.?  Be flexible and ready to compromise.  Make it very clear what you are willing to do in return for the accommodation.  Ex. get assignments done faster, pay more attention in class, improve effort, etc.  If there is resistance, ask to have a follow up meeting with a support person.  Be very appreciative of any accommodation given, as if it were a very precious gift.

15.  Becoming An Effective Self-Advocate Becoming An Effective Self-Advocate  Bumps Abound When Students Become Their Own Advocates Bumps Abound When Students Become Their Own Advocates  Going to College Going to College  Self-Advocacy Self-Advocacy  Learning Disabilities Association of America. How college students with learning disabilities can advocate for themselves. Retrieved from https://my.carrollu.edu/ICS/icsfs/How_LD_s tudents_self-advocate.docx