1. Self- Advocacy By
Ken Evans Jr.

2. What is Self Advocacy
Refers to the Civil Rights Movement for people with disabilities.
Important term in the Disability Rights Movement.

3. Self Advocacy (In Basic Terms)
Self Advocacy is people with disabilities speaking up for themselves.
People with disabilities taking control over their lives.

4. Why is Self Advocacy Important
Self Advocacy is important because it gives people a voice for themselves.
Allows people to take control over their own life and the direction they want their life to go.

5. Group Discussion
Share a time in their lives where they had to stand up for themselves.
(IEP Meetings, Accommodation for school or home, peers)

6. Meaning of Self Advocacy
Knowing: know yourself. You know yourself better than anyone. You are an expert on you. Only you know what you want.
Saying: You have the right to speak up for yourself. Think of what you want to say and how you want to say it.
Doing: Is taking action for yourself and others. Take Action and Speak up.

7. What Self Advocacy means Individually
Self Advocacy is very important for you as an individual. For many years people with disabilities have had major life decisions determined for them without their input.

8. Group Discussion
Imagine being in a car. You get into the driver seat. You start driving down the road. You go to turn into your favorite restaurant, but the car does not turn. You go to turn into another restaurant and the car still does not turn. Then you realize someone else is controlling the car. How does that make you feel?

9. Why is Self Advocacy Important
Self Advocacy is important because it gives people a voice for themselves.
Allows you to take control over their own life and the direction they want their life to go.

10. Decisions We Would Want to Make for Ourselves
Because of those that came before us, pushing for equal rights for all, we now have more control over our lives and the directions we want to go in.

11. What Decisions Should We Make for Ourselves
Things that go into a 504 plan or IEP.
(Starting at 14 you should start to attend
IEP/504 meetings.)
Any home, vehicle, school modifications.
Any medical decision. (Which doctors to go to, medicine, etc.)
If you get any personal care assistance. (Male or Female)
Stop being bullied.

12. We can not expect our needs to be met if we stand by and say nothing
We can not expect our needs to be met if we stand by and say nothing. Change happens BECAUSE Actions happen.

13. Steps You Can Take to Help Yourself Feel More Comfortable Speaking Up for Yourself

14. Knowing Know yourself (no one knows you better then you)
Know your strengths, weaknesses, and Needs
Know your disability (be able to explain it to someone who knows nothing about your disability)
Know your rights
Know how you communicate best with others to achieve your goal (Write things down, ing, over the phone, with someone there for support)
If you need to make a list do so. Also, ask people you trust to help

15. Knowing Cont.
Know that you may be met with resistance and or ignorance
Stand tall and firm in your beliefs
Know that you attract more bees with honey, then you do with vinegar
Be kind, polite, and respectful. You will have a better chance to get what you want if your kind then if you are mean and aggressive
Know that it takes COURAGE to stand up for yourself and others

16. Planning
Another step in Self Advocacy is saying how you think and feel in a way that other people can understand
Identify what you want/need
Write down in words what you want/need
Write down names of people that can help you
Write down an questions you may have. Research the answer on-line or ask someone you trust

17. Planning Cont. Plan for a good and bad outcomes
If you get an outcome you disagree with, know your rights and who can help you achieve the outcome you want

18. Action
The thing that is very important is putting exactly what you feel, what you want, and what you need into YOUR OWN WORDS
Try to relax
Speak calmly and clearly
Take deep breathes and exhale slowly before you begin speaking and remember to breathe as you are speaking.
If you are calm the other person can be calm and focus on what you are saying and vice versa

19. Action Cont.
Make eye contact with the person when speaking and being spoken to
Be confident when you speak
Be assertive
Be polite and respectful
Be aware of your tune of voice. Depending on the tune we say things, someone can take it the wrong way and could lead to a miscommunication

20. Action Cont.
If you are attending a meeting such as an IEP, Doctors appointment, Job interview/meeting be on time or early. NEVER LATE
Write down anything you feel is important to say so that you do not forget to say it
Bring Documents to be prepared
Find out who will attending the meeting

21. Resolving Conflict
One of the most important things to remember when resolving a conflict with family/ peer/ teacher or anyone else is to STAY CALM
Things will not be resolved if things are confrontational.
Know how you communicate best with others to work through the issues (Write things down, ing, over the phone, with someone there for support)
Be kind, polite, and respectful. You will have a better chance to get what you want if your kind then if you are mean and aggressive

22. Resolving Conflict Cont.
Know that you attract more bees with honey, then you do with vinegar
Its ok to agree to disagree. You are not going to see eye to eye with someone on everything.
Try to relax
Speak calmly and clearly
Take deep breathes and exhale slowly before you begin speaking and remember to breathe as you are speaking.
If you are calm the other person can be calm and focus on what you are saying and vice versa