Self-Advocacy

1. Self-Advocacy Speaking up for yourself because no one else will. Or Welcome to Big Kid school—time to start acting like one.

2. Possible Uses of Self-Advocacy • Get help in class—especially after the teacher just answered your question, but you still didn’t understand… • Getting make-up work or other outside of class assignments • Asking for a bit more time or a modified assignment or a specific accommodation • Anti-bullying stance

3. Overview Know Your Resources Know Your Rights Know Your Goals Know Your Audience

4. Know Your Resources • Greatest Resource: You • Parents • Other Students • Counselors • Teachers • Syllabus and Class Notes • A history of successes in class

5. Know Your Rights • Read the Handbook! • “Rights” have “Responsibilities” • Make-Up Work—Check with the Teacher • Attendance Designation—24 Hour Limit • Class Withdrawal—“F” after the deadline • Bullying—not allowed & taken seriously • Search and Seizure—allowed for safety

6. Know Your Goals • What do you really want your teacher to do with your grade? • Is it possible? Teachers can’t do everything! • Is it fair? (for the teacher and other students) • Is it reasonable? • Is it consistent with what the teacher does with other students? • Is it important?

7. Know Your Goals • SMART Goals • Specific—detailed description of what should be accomplished • Meaningful—must be something you really want (not willing or wanting to settle for something less) • Action-Oriented—you have specific steps/action that you and your audience need to do—see “Specific” • Realistic—what you want must be do-able. Are you willing to do your part? Are you asking too much from another person • Timely—set a timetable to identify “success”

8. Know Your Audience • Teachers really want you to succeed • Counselors really care about your wellbeing • Administrators really seek what’s best for you (and everyone else) • Parents really love you • Friends…well • your on you own on that one

9. Know Your Audience • No Rants • No Threats • No Whining or Tantrums • No Tears

10. Know Your Audience • No Rants • No Threats • No Whining or Tantrums • No Tears (with me especially)

11. Know Your Audience • No Rants • No Threats • No Whining or Tantrums • No Tears • No Timidity • No False Humility • No False Praise

12. Know Your Audience • Speak up • Look us in the eye • Smile • Allow for us to be the humans that we are—we all make mistakes and we are glad to correct them (usually) • See the issue from the other side/sides—it will help you with word choices

13. Know Your Audience • Ask clarifying questions (not “set up”) • Try again if necessary (regroup first) • Be willing to accept “no” • —that’s part of asking (“yes,” “no,” “maybe”) • —listen for the reasoning (it’ll come in handy later when you want to speak up for some other cause) • —receive a “no” as legitimate interaction • —don’tthinkof“no”asanargumentorattack

14. Sample • “Mr. Kierstead. May I speak to you about my Speech assignment?” • “Sure, Norman” • “You have me scheduled for going first tomorrow. I’d like to go after Norma.” • “How does Norma feel about that?” • “I don’t know.” • “Check with her and let me know.”

15. Sample • “Mr. Kierstead, Norma and I would like to talk to you about the Speech tomorrow.” • “Sure. What can I do for you?” • “Would it be OK for Norman and me to switch spots? I’ll go first, then he can go after me.” • “Any reason in particular?” • “Well Norma wants to get the speech over with and I want to have some time to collect myself.”

16. Sample • “Sounds reasonable. Sure. Please remind me about the change if I don’t have it written down when you come to class.” • “Thanks, Mr. Kierstead.” • “No problem. Is there anything else I can do for you?” • “No. That’s all.” • “See you tomorrow.”

17. Self Advocacy • Bottom Line: • We WANT to hear and understand you • You HAVE the responsibility to speak for your self • (Nobody is a mind reader)

18. Self Advocacy • Know Your Resources • Know Your Rights • Know Your (SMART) Goals • Know Your Audience • (Welcome to Big Kid school)