How You Can Help Your Child Learn to Be a Good Self-Advocate.

 

How You Can Help Your Child Learn to Be a

Good Self-Advocate.

It is never too early to start teaching your child how he or she can advocate for himself or herself. Like many

other important life skills, self-advocacy is a critical tool your child needs in order to achieve goals, increase

self-sufficiency, and become a successful young adult. It is a life long process that begins with your child learning

by watching you, as a parent, be a good advocate.

                                                   

What exactly does self-advocacy mean?

It means taking the responsibility for communicating one’s needs and desires in a straightforward manner to

others. It is a set of skills that includes.

• Speaking up for yourself.

• Communicating your strengths, needs and wishes.

• Being able to listen to the opinions of others, even when their opinions differ from yours.

• Having a sense of self-respect.

• Taking responsibility for yourself.

• Knowing your rights.

• Knowing where to get help or who to go to with a question.

                                                   

One of the best places to start teaching your child about self-advocacy is in his or her Individualized Education.

opportunity to learn and practice important life skills. Some advantages your child may gain by being involved.

• Learning about the impact of his or her disability.

• Practicing goal setting.

• Building teamwork skills.

• Developing an ability to speak up for himself or herself.

• Participating in a process of resolving differences.

• Gaining an understanding of his/her strengths and needs.

• Learning how to ask for and accept help from others.