Speak Up! Self-Advocacy Skills
Students will learn to express their needs and rights effectively through self-advocacy, increasing their confidence and communication skills.
Self-advocacy empowers students, especially those with intellectual impairments, to express themselves and secure the support they need, which is fundamental for personal growth.
Middle School Students with special needs
Expanded discussions, role-playing, and guided worksheets in English.
Step 1
Introduction and Warm-Up
5 minutes
- Greet the students and briefly introduce the concept of self-advocacy.
- Ask students what they think it means to 'speak up for yourself' and why it might be important.
- Provide simple examples of self-advocacy in daily situations.
Step 2
Discussion and Role-Playing Scenarios
12 minutes
- Initiate a guided discussion on different situations where students might need to express their needs (e.g., asking for help in class, sharing feelings with a friend, or setting boundaries).
- Organize the class into small groups to practice role-playing examples. Each group will act out a scenario, demonstrating both assertiveness and respectful communication.
- Rotate groups to ensure all students have an opportunity to participate and provide supportive feedback.
Step 3
Worksheet Activity
8 minutes
- Distribute the Self-Advocacy Worksheet - English to each student.
- Walk through the worksheet together, discussing each scenario and encouraging students to write down their responses.
- Offer one-on-one support as needed and encourage students to share some of their answers with the class.
