Self-Advocacy Warm-Up

Time: 15 minutes

1. What Does Self-Advocacy Mean to You?

In your own words, write a simple definition of “self-advocacy.”

2. Remember a Time You Spoke Up

Think of a moment when you asked for what you needed or wanted. Briefly describe:

• What was the situation?
• What did you say or do?
• What happened next?

3. Confidence Check

On a scale from 1 (not confident) to 5 (very confident), circle the number that shows how you feel about advocating for yourself:

1 2 3 4 5

4. Get Ready to Share

Be prepared to tell your instructor about one thing you wrote.

Advocacy Reading Passage

Self-advocacy means speaking up for yourself. It is telling other people about your needs, wants, and rights in a clear, respectful way. When you use self-advocacy, you are taking control of your life and making sure you get the support you deserve.

Self-advocacy happens every day. For example, if you need help in a store, you might say, “Can you help me find this item?” If you have a question at work, you can ask your supervisor for more information. Or, if you need more time to rest during class or at a job, you can explain to your teacher or manager why a break would help you do your best.

Here are some simple steps for self-advocacy:

1. Know what you need. Think about what will help you succeed or feel safe.
2. Choose who to ask. Decide the right person—teacher, manager, friend, or family member.
3. Use clear words. Speak slowly and calmly. Say exactly what you need.
4. Listen and follow up. Check that the person understands. Ask questions if you are unsure.
5. Thank the person. Showing appreciation makes it easier to ask again.

When you practice these steps, you build confidence. Self-advocacy gives you a voice and helps you make your own choices. Keep practicing, and remember: your voice matters!

Decision-Making Worksheet

Time: 30 minutes

Use these five steps for each scenario below:

1. Identify the decision
2. List your options
3. Weigh pros and cons for each option
4. Choose the best option
5. Plan your next steps

Scenario 1: Choosing a Lunch Option

You’re at work and need to pick a place for lunch.

1. What decision do you need to make?

1. List three options:

• Option A: _______________________________
• Option B: _______________________________
• Option C: _______________________________

1. Pros and Cons for each option:

Option A Pros: __________________________
Option A Cons: __________________________

Option B Pros: __________________________
Option B Cons: __________________________

Option C Pros: __________________________
Option C Cons: __________________________

1. Which option do you choose? Why?

1. Next Steps: How will you carry out your choice?

Scenario 2: Planning a Weekend Activity

You have a free weekend and $20 to spend on fun.

1. What decision do you need to make?

1. List three options:

• Option A: _______________________________
• Option B: _______________________________
• Option C: _______________________________

1. Pros and Cons for each option:

Option A Pros: __________________________
Option A Cons: __________________________

Option B Pros: __________________________
Option B Cons: __________________________

Option C Pros: __________________________
Option C Cons: __________________________

1. Which option do you choose? Why?

1. Next Steps: How will you carry out your choice?

Your Turn: Make Your Own Decision

Use the same steps above to work through a decision that matters to you today.

1. What decision do you need to make?

1. List three options:

• Option A: _______________________________
• Option B: _______________________________
• Option C: _______________________________

1. Pros and Cons for each option:

Option A Pros: __________________________
Option A Cons: __________________________

Option B Pros: __________________________
Option B Cons: __________________________

Option C Pros: __________________________
Option C Cons: __________________________

1. Which option do you choose? Why?

1. Next Steps: How will you carry out your choice?

Advocacy Discussion

Time: 20 minutes

Purpose

This discussion helps you deepen your understanding of self-advocacy, share personal experiences, and connect decision-making steps to your daily life.

Guidelines

• Speak clearly and respectfully.
• Listen actively when others share.
• Share at your own comfort level—no pressure to disclose private details.
• There are no “wrong” ideas; all experiences are valuable.

Discussion Questions

1. Reflecting on the Reading

• Think back to the steps in the Advocacy Reading Passage.
• Which step do you find most helpful? Why?

Follow-up prompts:

• What words or examples stood out to you?
• Do you think any step might be hard to practice? How could you make it easier?

2. Sharing Personal Experiences

• Recall a time you spoke up for yourself (from the warm-up).
• What step did you use? How did it go?

Follow-up prompts:

• If you could try again, would you change anything?
• How did the other person respond?

3. Applying Decision-Making

• Open your Decision-Making Worksheet and look at Scenario 1 (Choosing Lunch).
• How would you identify and list your options in a real situation?

Follow-up prompts:

• How do pros and cons help you feel confident in your choice?
• Have you ever made a choice that you later wished you’d thought through more carefully?

4. Planning Next Steps

• Based on your answers in the Self-Reflection Quiz, what is one thing you want to practice this week?
• What specific action will you take?

Follow-up prompts:

• Who can help remind or support you?
• When and where will you practice speaking up or making a choice?

Closing

• Summarize one insight you gained from this discussion.
• Write down your personal advocacy goal and one small step you will take tomorrow to move toward that goal.

Quiz Answer Key

This key provides correct answers, scoring guidelines, and the reasoning behind each answer. It also includes a rubric for open-response questions to help you evaluate responses consistently.

Question 1: Confidence Rating (Likert)

Prompt: On a scale from 1 (not confident) to 5 (very confident), how confident do you feel about using the self-advocacy steps in your daily life?

Correct Answer: No single “correct” answer. This is a self-assessment.

Scoring Guidelines & Rationale:

• Any rating from 1–5 is acceptable.
• Use the follow-up open-response (Question 4) to confirm that the learner’s self-rating aligns with their descriptions and examples.
• Look for thoughtful self-awareness and honesty in the chosen rating.

Question 2: First Step in Self-Advocacy (Multiple Choice)

Prompt: Which is the first step in the self-advocacy process you learned?

Options:

• A. Know what you need
• B. Choose who to ask
• C. Use clear words
• D. Listen and follow up

Correct Answer: A. Know what you need

Rationale & Thought Process:

1. Refer to the numbered steps in the Advocacy Reading Passage.
2. The first step listed is “Know what you need.”
3. This step anchors the entire advocacy process by helping the learner clarify their needs before speaking up.

Question 3: Purpose of Saying “Thank You” (Multiple Choice)

Prompt: What is the purpose of saying “Thank you” at the end of your self-advocacy request?

Options:

• A. To make you feel better
• B. To show appreciation and encourage future support
• C. To confuse the listener
• D. To ask for more help

Correct Answer: B. To show appreciation and encourage future support

Rationale & Thought Process:

1. Review the final step in the self-advocacy process: “Thank the person.”
2. The reading passage explains that thanking someone builds positive rapport and makes future requests easier.
3. Option B directly matches this purpose.

Question 4: Open-Response Scenario (Rubric)

Prompt: Briefly describe a situation where you could use one of the self-advocacy steps. Which step will you use and why?

What to Look For:

• A clear description of a realistic situation (e.g., asking for extra time on a test, requesting help in a store).
• Identification of one specific advocacy step (Know what you need; Choose who to ask; Use clear words; Listen and follow up; or Thank the person).
• A logical explanation of why that step fits the situation.

Scoring Rubric:

• 3 points (Meets criteria fully): Situation is concrete and relevant, a correct step is chosen, and rationale is clear.
• 2 points (Partial): Situation or rationale is vague, or the chosen step is only loosely connected.
• 1 point (Minimal): Answer shows minimal understanding (e.g., correct step named but no clear situation or rationale).

Question 5: Personal Advocacy Goal (Rubric)

Prompt: Write one personal advocacy goal that you want to work on based on today’s session.

What to Look For:

• A goal that is specific and actionable (e.g., “I will ask my manager for a short break when I feel overwhelmed at work.”).
• Connection to one or more self-advocacy steps or decision-making practice.

Scoring Rubric:

• 3 points (Clear & Achievable): Goal is specific, measurable, and directly tied to session content.
• 2 points (Somewhat Clear): Goal is stated but lacks detail on how or when to implement.
• 1 point (Unclear): Goal is too vague or not connected to self-advocacy strategies.

Using This Key:

1. For multiple-choice questions, award full points for the correct answer; zero for incorrect.
2. For open-response items, apply the rubrics above to assign partial or full credit.
3. Encourage the learner by providing feedback on strengths (e.g., clear rationale) and areas for growth (e.g., adding more detail).

This detailed answer key ensures consistent grading and supports the learner’s understanding of self-advocacy concepts.