Self-Advocacy Reading Activity

Welcome, Teddy! In this reading, we will explore the concept of self-advocacy and why it is very important in your life. Self-advocacy means speaking up for what you need, especially when you face problems or feel misunderstood. When you learn to advocate for yourself, you become better at solving problems and taking control of difficult situations, whether they are personal challenges or issues you encounter at school.

What Is Self-Advocacy?

Self-advocacy is the process of understanding your own needs and taking steps to meet them. It involves:

• Knowing your feelings and needs: Recognize when something isn’t right for you—maybe you feel overwhelmed by homework or misunderstood by a friend.
• Expressing yourself clearly: Tell adults or peers how you feel. Use your words to explain what you need and why it is important.
• Asking for help when necessary: Sometimes, you might need advice or support. Learning to ask for help is a key part of self-advocacy.

Why Is Self-Advocacy Important?

Being able to stand up for yourself is a powerful skill! It helps you:

• Boost your confidence: When you speak up, you show that your feelings and ideas are important.
• Solve problems: Understanding your needs and expressing them helps others see your perspective. This makes it easier to find solutions to problems.
• Stay true to yourself: Self-advocacy allows you to make decisions based on what is best for you, rather than just following what others expect.

Examples of Self-Advocacy in Action

1. At School: Imagine that you are having trouble understanding a lesson. Instead of feeling frustrated silently, you might say, "I need some help with this math problem. Can you explain it in a different way?"

2. With Friends: If a friend says something that hurts your feelings, self-advocacy means telling them, "I don’t feel good when you say that. Please speak kindly to me."

3. At Home: Should you need more quiet time to study or relax, you could express this need by saying, "I need some time to focus on my homework. Could we have quiet time for a little while?"

Remember, self-advocacy is not about being bossy. It’s about knowing what you need and calmly explaining it to others. This skill will help you in many situations—both big and small.

Now that you understand what self-advocacy is and why it matters, get ready to use this knowledge in our next activity, where you'll create your own self-advocacy script.

Self-Advocacy Script Template

Hello Teddy! This template is here to help you create a script that expresses your needs clearly. Follow the prompts below to create your own self-advocacy script.

Step 1: Identify the Situation

Think of a time when you faced a personal or academic challenge. Write down the details.

Example: "I was struggling with my math homework because I didn't understand a key concept."



Your Situation:

Step 2: Express Your Feelings

Write about how the situation made you feel. Be honest about your emotions.

Example: "I felt frustrated and overwhelmed because I wanted to do well but couldn't understand the problem."



How I Felt:

Step 3: State Your Needs

Describe what you need to help you overcome this challenge.

Example: "I need extra help on this topic, or a different explanation that makes sense to me."



My Needs:

Step 4: Suggest a Solution

Think of one or two ways that might help resolve the situation.

Example: "Maybe my teacher can explain it again, or I could work with a classmate who understands it better."



Possible Solutions:

Step 5: Closing

End your script with a polite request.

Example: "Could you please help me with this? Thank you for understanding."



My Request:

Now, read your script out loud. Practice until it feels natural. Remember, speaking up is a powerful way to take care of your needs!

Good luck, Teddy!