The Core problem
Although teachers genuinely want to help you, they cannot do this supernatural mind-reading act.
What is read your mind?
The piece of the self-advocacy mechanism that involves understanding how your own brain works and processes information
What is Knowing Yourself?
This type of advocacy is characterized by waiting and hoping the teacher notices you are struggling
What is Passive Advocacy?
The formula component where you state the specific test, assignment, or project clearly
What is Context?
Your email subject line should always be clear, specific, and include this vital piece of scheduling info
What is your class period?
High school is built for this type of non-existent, "perfect on paper" student
What is a theoretical student?
The part of the mechanism where you identify specific environmental or structural changes required to succeed
What is Knowing Your Needs?
This type of advocacy features a demanding tone and usually happens after a deadline passes
What is Aggressive Advocacy?
The formula component where you state exactly what you require to succeed
What is Need / Accommodation?
When starting a professional email to a teacher, you should skip this casual greeting
What is "Hey"?
When your needs go unspoken, a gap forms between your teacher's perception and this actual truth of yours
What is your actual reality?
The final part of the mechanism, which focuses on communicating your needs constructively to authority figures and peers
What is Knowing How to Act / Communicate?
This ideal form of advocacy is proactive, collaborative, respectful, and secures accommodations
What is Empowered Advocacy?
The formula component where you offer a proactive, concrete step to make the accommodation happen
What is Solution / Action?
According to email rules, you should always close your message with this respectful element
What is a professional closing / gratitude?
According to Waypoint 3, understanding your specific learning accommodations gives you this absolute power to speak up
What is the right and confidence?
An example of a physical or structural accommodation a student might identify when knowing their needs
What is a quiet room, extended time, or clarified instructions?
The structure of Empowered Advocacy follows this three-part formula
What is [Context] + [Need] + [Action]?
In the provided sample conversation with Mr. Davis, this specific request serves as the "Action" step
What is "Can I pop in during advisory tomorrow to confirm the updated deadline?"
This is the ideal length and vibe of the body of your advocacy email
What is short, polite, and embedding the 3-part syntax?
The ultimate negative result when a student remains "passive" in their communication
What are unmet needs and high anxiety?
Waypoint 2 states that you must keep this collaborative, problem-solving vibe when using your self-advocacy mechanism
What is a collaborative tone?
The negative social or relational outcome of utilizing an aggressive advocacy style with teachers
What is defensive responses and damaged relationships?
In the lab partner example, this is the "Need" stated to peer partner Alex
What is needing to read through the steps first to process information?
According to Waypoint 1, you must be this by requesting accommodations before assignments are due, not after
What is proactive?