Vocabulary
Speaking up for yourself and your rights. Asking for what you need and/or want.
Your parents always give you the same lunch every day, but you're getting bored of it. How could you advocate for yourself?
Ask your parent if you could start making your own lunch. Ask them if you could earn money to buy school lunch once a week.
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 can she advocate for herself?
Ask the teacher if she can switch to a seat closer to the front of the room.
Everyone in special education has one of these.
What is an IEP (Individualized Education Program)?
This is something you are working toward, something you would like to achieve.
What is a goal?
Your sibling sets the table, and you clean up after dinner. You feel like cleaning up takes more time, and dislike handling all the dirty dishes. How could you advocate for yourself?
Ask if you and your sibling could take turns with the chores. Offer to help around the house in a different way other than cleaning up the dishes.
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 can he advocate for himself?
Ask his math teacher for extra time on the next test.
This is the person / teacher who manages your IEP.
Who is a case manager?
A physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activity.
What is a disability?
The weekend is coming up. You have been hoping to go to the beach with your friends, but your parents had mentioned you might need to stay home to do work. How could you advocate for yourself?
Jenna is working on a group project. The other members of her group are goofing off and not doing the work. She doesn't want to tattle on them, but she doesn't want to get a bad grade, either. How can she advocate for herself?
She could kindly remind the other members of the group project that they need to finish the project. She could ask the teacher what she should do if her group is having trouble working together.
When I am able to meet with my parents and all of my teachers and related service providers (Speech, OT, PT) to discuss my IEP.
What is an IEP meeting?
What are accommodations?
Your parents bought you clothes for back to school, and they really aren't your style. How can you advocate for yourself?
Ask to go shopping with them next time so you can pick them out. Show them examples of the styles of clothes you like, and affordable stores to find them.
Your IEP meeting is coming up next week, and your case manager has asked to meet with you to prepare for the meeting. You are feeling a little nervous about going to the IEP meeting, but you do want to be part of the decision-making team. How do you advocate for yourself?
Work on preparing for the IEP meeting with your case manager so your input can be considered. Attend the IEP meeting to again share your input and show that you are a good self-advocate.
True or false: I can work with my case manager to advocate for my goals and transition plan on my IEP.
True.
Behaving differently, usually unfairly, toward the members of a group. May be based on disability, age, race, etc.
What is discrimination?
You want to get a part-time job after school. How could you advocate for yourself?
Explain why you want the job. Explain how you will balance your school work with the job. Perhaps do a volunteer position first to show you have the responsibility to have your own job.
Your case manager shows you your schedule for next year and you are unhappy with it. How can you advocate for yourself?
Talk to case manager, talk to guidance counselor to better understand why your schedule is this way, and see if any changes can be made.
This is what IEP stands for.
What is an Individualized Education Program?