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How to Self-Advocate About Needs

Tags

Social-Emotional Learning ^Extra-curricular/At-Home All Ages Strategy

Skills

Auditory Processing Expressive Language Attention Processing Speed

How to Self-Advocate About Needs

If your student has a learning difference or struggles and needs extra support

Teach It!

  1. Objective: Students will learn how to talk about their learning needs so they are understood, build self-confidence, and effectively advocate for the supports they need to be successful.
  2. Parent Takeaways: The age at which a student is ready to speak about their learning needs depends on maturity level, metacognition and communication skills. Use the following guidelines (next slide) to help your child better communicate their needs.

*print* Self-advocate About Learning Needs

  1. When you feel your child is comfortable and has a good grasp of what his learning challenges are, prepare them with concrete steps so they can communicate these learning needs:
  2. Use specific language to name the learning difference. Use the language in your child's Mindprint Profile or IEP, as it will be language the teacher recognizes.
  3. Prepare and practice with your child 1-2 sentences about how the challenge affects his learning and strategies that have helped support his learning in the past.
  4. Prepare a list of your child's stronger skills and how those help her learning. Use the language in your child's Mindprint Profile or IEP to ensure clear communication.
  5. Note anything that your child might do that might be called into question in class. Prepare your child to share that information. For example, "Doodling during lectures helps me pay attention."
  6. Have your child practice this conversation with you or another adult at home.
  7. Have your child choose an adult she feels safest with at school to share this information first such as a favorite teacher or guidance counselor.

Why It Works (the Science Of Learning)!

Research clearly shows that children who take responsibility for their own learning and know how and when to self-advocate are the most successful over the long-term. However, self-advocacy can be difficult for adolescents who might not want to seem different from their peers. Parents should play a proactive role in helping a child be comfortable and confident in who they are, what they need, and how they communicate their needs.