What's Your Superpower Statement?

Instructions: Think about a time you needed something at school, home, or work. How did you ask for it? Did you get it? Share your thoughts below.

1. Describe a time you asked for something you needed. What was the situation?





2. How did you ask for it? What did you say or do?





3. What was the result? Did you get what you needed? Why or why not?





4. What is one personal strength you have that helps you get things done or communicate effectively? This is your 'superpower'!

The Power of Self-Advocacy in the Workplace

What is Self-Advocacy?

Self-advocacy is about understanding your own needs, knowing your rights, and speaking up for yourself. It means being able to communicate what you want and need to others in a clear and respectful way. This skill is incredibly important in all parts of life, especially when it comes to getting, keeping, and moving up in a job.

Why is Self-Advocacy Important for Your Job?

Imagine you are starting a new job. You might need certain tools or a different way of learning to do your best work. If you don't tell anyone, how will they know? This is where self-advocacy comes in!

1. Getting a Job:
When you are looking for a job, you might have questions about the job duties, the work environment, or if there are any supports available. Self-advocacy means you can ask these questions during an interview or when you're filling out an application. For example, you might ask,

Advocacy Scenarios Worksheet

Instructions: Read each scenario carefully. In your group, discuss how the person in the scenario could advocate for themselves effectively. Write down your ideas for what they could say or do.

Scenario 1: The New Job and Unclear Tasks

Mark just started a new job at a local grocery store. During his first week, his supervisor gives him many tasks, but sometimes the instructions are unclear, or they are given too quickly. Mark is worried about making mistakes but doesn't want to seem like he isn't capable.

How can Mark advocate for himself to get clearer instructions and support?

Scenario 2: Needing a Schedule Change

David works at a community center. He enjoys his job, but a new family commitment means he needs to adjust his working hours slightly on Tuesdays and Thursdays. He's worried his boss will say no or that it might affect his job security if he asks.

How can David advocate for a flexible schedule while showing commitment to his job?

Scenario 3: Wanting to Learn New Skills

James has been working in a data entry role for two years. He's good at his job, but he feels ready for a new challenge and wants to learn how to use a more advanced computer program that could help him take on more responsibilities. He's not sure how to approach his manager about this.

How can James advocate for professional development and advancement opportunities?

Scenario 4: Dealing with a Co-worker Issue

Michael works in a team setting. One of his co-workers often makes comments that make Michael feel uncomfortable and sometimes interrupt his focus. Michael wants to work well with everyone but also needs a respectful environment.

How can Michael advocate for a more respectful work environment?

Discussion Guide: Speaking Up

Instructions: Use these prompts to guide a discussion about self-advocacy after reading "The Power of Self-Advocacy in the Workplace."

Part 1: Understanding the Reading

1. What does "self-advocacy" mean in your own words?
   
   
   
   
   
2. Why is it important to advocate for yourself when looking for a job?
   
   
   
   
   
3. Can you think of an example from the reading where someone might need to advocate to keep their job?
   
   
   
   
   
4. How can speaking up help you get better at your job or even get a promotion?
   
   
   
   
   

Part 2: Personal Connections and Strategies

5. Think about your own experiences. When has it been easy to ask for what you need? When has it been difficult?
   
   
   
   
   
6. What are some respectful ways you can tell someone you need help or have a question?
   
   
   
   
   
7. If you feel nervous about speaking up, what is one thing you could do to feel more confident?
   
   
   
   
   
8. The reading mentions understanding your rights. Why is knowing your rights important for self-advocacy in the workplace?
   
   
   
   
   
9. What is one thing you learned today about self-advocacy that you think will be most helpful for your future job success?
   
   
   
   
   

Part 3: Role-Playing (Optional)

• Choose one of the scenarios from the Worksheet: Advocacy Scenarios or create a new one.
• Have two students role-play the situation, with one practicing self-advocacy.
• Discuss as a class: What worked well? What could be done differently?

Script: Guiding Your Voice

Part 1: Warm-Up (10 Minutes)

Teacher: "Good morning, everyone! Today we're going to talk about something super important for your success, not just in school, but especially in your jobs and careers. We're talking about 'self-advocacy.' But before we dive in, let's get our brains thinking about how we speak up for ourselves.

I've handed out a Warm Up: What's Your Superpower Statement?. Please take a few minutes to read the questions and write down your answers. Think about a time you needed something and how you asked for it. Also, think about one of your personal strengths – something you're really good at that helps you communicate or get things done. That's your 'superpower'!"

(Allow 5 minutes for students to complete the warm-up.)

Teacher: "Okay, who would like to share one of their experiences or a 'superpower' they identified? Don't worry, there are no right or wrong answers here. We just want to hear your thoughts."

(Facilitate a brief share-out, encouraging a few students to speak. Acknowledge and affirm their contributions. Transition to the next section.)

Part 2: Introduction to Self-Advocacy (10 Minutes)

(Display Your Voice, Your Career Slide Deck - Slide 1: Title Slide)

Teacher: "Fantastic! Many of you already have a good sense of what it means to speak up. Today's lesson is called 'Your Voice, Your Career: Mastering Self-Advocacy,' and it's all about empowering you to use your voice effectively in the world of work."

(Advance to Your Voice, Your Career Slide Deck - Slide 2: What is Self-Advocacy?)

Teacher: "So, what exactly is self-advocacy? As you can see on the slide, it's about understanding your own needs and rights, speaking up for yourself respectfully, communicating your strengths and challenges, and making informed choices."

"Think about it like this: You are the expert on you. No one knows your strengths, your challenges, or what helps you succeed better than you do. Self-advocacy is sharing that expert knowledge with others so you can get what you need to thrive."

Teacher: "Can anyone give me an example of when they might need to advocate for themselves? It could be at home, at school, or at a job."

(Listen to student responses, affirming and clarifying as needed.)

(Advance to Your Voice, Your Career Slide Deck - Slide 3: Why is Self-Advocacy Important in the Workplace?)

Teacher: "Now, let's specifically look at why this is so important for your job and career. It applies to every stage: getting a job, maintaining a job, and even advancing in your career. When you're looking for a job, you might need to ask about accommodations or clarify job duties. Once you have a job, you might need to request support or discuss your workload. And if you want to grow, you'll need to express your goals and seek out training."

Teacher: "Ultimately, self-advocacy leads to more confidence, a better fit in your job, and greater overall success. It means you're an active participant in your own career journey."

Part 3: Reading & Discussion: The Power of Self-Advocacy (15 Minutes)

Teacher: "To learn more about this, I'm going to hand out a Reading: The Power of Self-Advocacy in the Workplace. Please take about 5-7 minutes to read it quietly to yourselves. After you're done, we'll discuss it using our Discussion Guide: Speaking Up."

(Distribute the reading and allow time. Once students are done reading, refer to the Discussion Guide: Speaking Up.)

Teacher: "Now that you've read the article, let's talk about it. Look at the Discussion Guide: Speaking Up. Let's go through some of these questions together. What did the reading tell you self-advocacy means?"

(Lead a discussion using the prompts from the Discussion Guide: Speaking Up. Encourage all students to participate. Emphasize active listening and respectful turn-taking. Pay attention to their understanding of the reading and their personal connections to the topic.)

Part 4: Activity: Advocacy Scenarios (15 Minutes)

Teacher: "Great discussion, everyone! Now it's time to put some of these ideas into practice. I'm going to divide you into small groups."

(Divide students into small groups of 2-3.)

Teacher: "I'm handing out the Worksheet: Advocacy Scenarios. In your groups, you'll find four different situations where someone might need to advocate for themselves in a job. Your task is to read each scenario and discuss how the person could effectively advocate for themselves. What could they say? What could they do? Feel free to role-play the scenarios within your groups if you feel comfortable!"

(Allow 10 minutes for group work. Circulate to offer support and guidance.)

Teacher: "Alright, let's bring it back together. Who would like to share some of the strategies your group came up with for Scenario 1? How about Scenario 2?"

(Facilitate a brief share-out from each scenario, highlighting different approaches and emphasizing respectful and effective communication.)

Part 5: Wrap-Up and Quiz (10 Minutes)

(Display Your Voice, Your Career Slide Deck - Slide 4: Key Takeaways)

Teacher: "Excellent work today, everyone! Let's quickly review our key takeaways. Remember, self-advocacy is vital for your career success. Know your strengths and your needs. Communicate clearly and respectfully. And most importantly, practice makes perfect! Your voice truly matters."

"To check our understanding, I'm handing out a short Quiz: Self-Advocacy Check-In. Please complete this individually in the next 5 minutes. This will help me see what stuck with you today."

(Distribute the quiz and allow 5 minutes. Collect quizzes when completed.)

Part 6: Cool Down (5 Minutes - Optional Homework)

Teacher: "As a final thought for today, and something you can complete as an exit ticket or at home, I'm giving you a Cool Down: My Advocacy Action Plan. This is a chance for you to think about how you'll use these skills in your own life. What's one thing you can do to practice self-advocacy soon?"

(Distribute the cool down. Explain it can be an exit ticket or homework.)

Teacher: "Thank you all for your active participation today! Remember, using your voice effectively is a powerful tool for your future. Have a great day!"

My Advocacy Action Plan

Instructions: Reflect on today's lesson. What is one specific thing you can do to practice self-advocacy in the next week or two? Think about your job, school, or even at home.

1. What is one specific situation where you might need to use your self-advocacy skills soon?
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. What is one specific thing you will say or do in that situation to advocate for yourself?
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. Who will you talk to?
   
   
   
   
   

4. What is one positive outcome you hope for by speaking up?
   
   
   
   
   

5. What is one personal strength (your superpower!) that will help you advocate successfully in this situation?