Steps to Self-Advocacy
What is the first step of self-advocacy?
State the problem - you can say "I struggle..." "It is difficult..." "I don't know..." "It's hard for me..."
You are a cashier and have to stand for hours at a time, but this is hard on your feet. You need a chair to sit on.
When talking to your employer, how might you state the problem?
It's hard for me to stay on my feet for such a long period of time - it causes me a lot of pain and discomfort.
You need help with a math problem on a worksheet that you do not understand.
When talking with your teacher, how might you self-advocate?
I'm having difficulty figuring out this math problem. I have tried to go back through my notes to figure out where I'm getting stuck, but I'm still not getting it. Could you please explain to me how to solve this problem?
Jackie knows that she has a problem if she does not sit toward the front of the room. Her teacher has given her a seat in the back of the room and it is difficult for her to see. How might she advocate for herself in a mature, socially acceptable way?
Jackie might say to her teacher, "It is difficult for me to see the board when I sit at the back of the class. I wear my glasses during class, but it still doesn't make everything perfectly clear. Could I please sit closer to the front of the room?"
True or false: You don't have to state what you have tried to do on your own to solve the problem - the person you're talking to doesn't need to know that!
FALSE - you should always state what you have tried to do on your own to solve the problem so that the person you are talking to knows what you have already tried to do.
You are in charge of stocking the shelves, but forget where things go sometimes. Color coding is very helpful to you, so you ask if you can color code the shelves.
When speaking to your employer, how might you explain how you tried to solve the problem on your own?
I have tried writing down where items belong, but it's hard for me to remember to write things down. I've found that color coding works well for me.
You want to take your test in a quiet environment away from your peers to help you concentrate.
When you talk to your teacher, how might you state the problem?
When I take tests, it is difficult for me to focus because I am easily distracted by other people, even if they are not talking to me.
Phil knows that he is allowed to have extra time to complete math tests, or that he can take them in the Learning Lab. He failed his latest math test, because he didn't go for the extra time. How might he advocate for himself in a mature, socially acceptable way?
Phil might say to his teacher, "I failed the last math test because I did not ask for extra time, or go to the Learning Lab. To make sure that doesn't happen again, may I take the next test in the Learning Lab? I will remind you on the day of the exam."
True or false: Before talking to someone about a problem you are having, you should take time to think about what you are going to say to them.
True - it is important to have an idea of what you are going to say, so that you make sure the appropriate person knows exactly what is going on.
You don't know how to react when a customer is upset. You would like additional training on how to best respond to an upset customer.
When talking with your boss, how might you state what you need that person to do?
Could you please show me what I should say or do when I am dealing with an upset customer?
You would like to move seats, because the person next to you is constantly off-task and is distracting you.
When talking with your teacher, how might you explain how you have tried to solve this problem on your own?
I have tried ignoring this person's behavior. I have even asked him to be quiet because I need to focus, but it seems like he doesn't care what I have to say.
Jared was late to soccer practice because he had to pick his little brother up from school and walk him home. The coach is angry that Jared is late. Jared doesn't want to miss out on playing time. How can he advocate for himself in a mature, socially acceptable way?
Jared might say to the coach, "I'm sorry I was late for practice, I had to pick up my brother from school and walk him home. Next time, I will let you know if I am running late - is that okay with you?"
True or false: If you are having trouble with something, you should immediately ask for help without trying to solve it yourself.
False - unless it's a safety issue, you should try to solve the problem on your own.
You are learning how to make drinks at Starbucks, but you have a hard time remembering all the steps. You need the tasks broken down into smaller steps.
When talking with your boss, how might you self-advocate using all three steps?
It's hard for me to remember all the steps for each type of drink. I tried taking notes when I was being trained, but I could not keep up with my instructor. It would be helpful if I each task could be broken down into smaller steps, so that I could remember them better - thank you!
You would like to have additional time to turn in an assignment, because the project has a lot of writing and writing is hard for you.
When talking with your teacher, how might you self-advocate?
I really struggle with writing - it takes me a lot of time to get my ideas down on paper. I have tried giving myself deadlines to pace myself so I don't feel like I need to rush, but it's still really difficult for me. Because this project has more writing than usual, could I have a few additional days to complete it?
Maria has a part-time job at the movie theatre. Even though her boss knows that she has school, he put her on the schedule to work before 3:00 PM on a weekday. Maria doesn't want to lose her job. How can she advocate for herself and make her boss understand that she can't work those hours, but she still wants to work?
Maria might say to her boss, "I saw that you scheduled me to work at 3:00 this Wednesday. However, because I have school, I won't be able to get here until around 3:30. Could I come in at that time instead, and make up the extra half hour at the end of my shift?"