Your Voice, Your Career Script

Introduction & Warm-Up (15 minutes)

(Teacher displays Your Voice, Your Career Slide Deck - Slide 1)

"Good morning/afternoon, everyone! Welcome to today's session, 'Your Voice, Your Career.' Today, we're going to talk about something really important for your success in the workplace: self-advocacy. This means learning how to speak up for yourself and make sure your needs are met, whether you're looking for a job, already have one, or want to grow in your career.

Learning to advocate for yourself can help you get the job you want, keep that job, and even advance in it. It's about knowing your strengths, understanding what helps you succeed, and then confidently communicating those things to others. Your voice truly matters, and we're here to learn how to use it powerfully."

(Teacher displays Your Voice, Your Career Slide Deck - Slide 2)

"To get us started, let's do a quick Warm-Up Activity: What Helps Me Succeed?. I want you to take a few moments to think about your personal strengths and what helps you do your best work. For example, are you a great problem-solver? Do you work best in a quiet environment? Do you prefer instructions written down?

Take about 5 minutes to think about this. We'll then share a few ideas as a group. Remember, there are no right or wrong answers, just what's true for you."

(Allow 5 minutes for reflection. Invite 2-3 students to share briefly.)

"Thank you for sharing! It's great to hear how you recognize what makes you successful. This is the first step in self-advocacy."

Understanding Self-Advocacy (20 minutes)

(Teacher displays Your Voice, Your Career Slide Deck - Slide 3)

"So, what exactly is self-advocacy? As the slide says, it's about speaking up for yourself! It involves three key things: knowing your strengths and needs, communicating them clearly and respectfully, and getting the support you need to succeed. It's not about being demanding; it's about being informed and assertive.

Why do you think this is so important, especially for your career? Turn to a partner and discuss for two minutes what you think the main benefit of self-advocacy in the workplace is."

(Allow 2 minutes for partner discussion.)

"Okay, let's hear from a few pairs. What did you discuss?"

(Teacher displays Your Voice, Your Career Slide Deck - Slide 4)

"Excellent points! As you can see, self-advocacy helps you in so many ways: when you're looking for a job, when you're already employed, and when you want to advance. It helps you feel more confident and ensures you are treated with the respect you deserve.

Now, let's deepen our understanding. I'm going to hand out a Reading: The Power of Self-Advocacy at Work. Please take about 7-8 minutes to read this article silently. It will give you more insights into why self-advocacy is so powerful."

(Distribute reading. Allow 7-8 minutes for students to read.)

"Great. Now that you've read the article, let's have a brief discussion using our Discussion Prompts: Workplace Advocacy. Looking at Prompt 1: Based on the reading, what is one surprising benefit of self-advocacy you hadn't considered before? Share your thoughts with the class."

(Facilitate a short discussion for 3-5 minutes.)

Identifying Strengths and Needs (25 minutes)

(Teacher displays Your Voice, Your Career Slide Deck - Slide 5)

"Before you can effectively advocate for yourself, you need to truly know yourself. This means understanding your strengths – what you're good at, what makes you a valuable employee – and your needs – what support or accommodations help you perform your best. Think of it like a personal inventory.

I'm now going to give each of you a Worksheet: My Advocacy Action Plan. We will focus on the first section today. This worksheet is designed to help you organize your thoughts about your strengths and needs. Take about 10-12 minutes to fill out the section that asks about your strengths and what you need to succeed in the workplace."

(Distribute worksheet. Allow 10-12 minutes for students to work.)

(Teacher displays Your Voice, Your Career Slide Deck - Slide 6)

"Let's look at some examples of workplace needs together on this slide. Things like a quiet workspace, written instructions, flexible hours, or assistive technology can make a big difference. These are not weaknesses; they are tools or conditions that allow you to excel. What other examples can you think of that aren't listed here?"

(Invite a few students to share ideas for 3-5 minutes.)

"Remember, identifying your needs is a strength, not a weakness. It shows self-awareness and a commitment to doing your best work."

Developing Communication Strategies (30 minutes)

(Teacher displays Your Voice, Your Career Slide Deck - Slide 7)

"Knowing your strengths and needs is one half of the puzzle. The other half is communicating them effectively. This slide gives us some great tips. It's crucial to be clear and specific – avoid vague language. Always be respectful, even if you're asking for something difficult. And try to use 'I' statements, like 'I find it helpful when...' or 'I need...' because it focuses on your experience without blaming others.

The most important tip here is to practice! Like any skill, the more you practice, the more comfortable and confident you'll become."

(Teacher displays Your Voice, Your Career Slide Deck - Slide 8)

"Now it's time to put these communication strategies into practice with our Role-Play Activity: Advocate for Success. I'll divide you into small groups of 3-4. Each group will receive a scenario to role-play. These scenarios will cover different situations: a job interview, asking for an adjustment on the job, or discussing career growth.

One person will be the employee, one will be the employer/interviewer, and one or two will be observers who can provide feedback using the communication tips we just discussed. Take about 15-20 minutes for this activity. Make sure everyone gets a chance to try advocating."

(Divide students into groups, distribute scenarios for the role-play. Monitor and assist as needed. Bring groups back together after 15-20 minutes.)

"How did that feel? What did you learn from practicing these conversations? Was it easier or harder than you expected?"

(Facilitate a brief debrief for 5-7 minutes.)

Applying Advocacy Skills & Action Planning (20 minutes)

(Teacher displays Your Voice, Your Career Slide Deck - Slide 9)

"Building on what we just practiced, let's talk about creating your own personal advocacy action plan. This is your roadmap! It helps you think about what your next steps are, who you might need to talk to, and what resources are available to you.

Now, return to your Worksheet: My Advocacy Action Plan and complete the remaining sections. Think about specific situations where you might need to advocate for yourself in the near future and plan how you'll approach them. You'll have about 10 minutes for this."

(Allow 10 minutes for students to complete the worksheet.)

"To wrap up this section, let's use the second prompt from our Discussion Prompts: Workplace Advocacy: What is one small, actionable step you can take this week to practice self-advocacy in your daily life or career? Think broadly – it doesn't have to be a big conversation with a boss. It could be something simple like clearly stating a preference to a friend or asking for clarification in a meeting."

(Facilitate a short discussion for 5-7 minutes.)

Assessment & Conclusion (10 minutes)

"Alright, to check our understanding of today's important topic, I'm going to give you a quick Quiz: Self-Advocacy Check-Up. Please complete this individually."

(Distribute quiz. Allow 5 minutes for students to complete it.)

(Teacher displays Your Voice, Your Career Slide Deck - Slide 10)

"Thank you. As we finish up, let's do our Cool-Down: One Step Forward. I want you to write down one key thing you learned today and one small step you commit to taking to practice self-advocacy. This will help us reflect and carry our learning forward."

(Allow 2 minutes for cool-down.)

"Today, we learned that your voice matters, knowing yourself is powerful, and with practice, you can become a confident self-advocate. You have the power to shape your career and ensure you have the support you need to thrive. Keep advocating for yourself!

Thank you all for your participation today!"

Warm-Up Activity: What Helps Me Succeed?

Instructions: Take a few minutes to think about yourself and your work. In the spaces below, write down your thoughts on what you are good at and what helps you do your best work.

My Strengths:

What are some things you are really good at? (e.g., organized, good listener, creative, detail-oriented, reliable)

What Helps Me Succeed:

What makes you feel supported or helps you learn/work better? (e.g., clear instructions, quiet environment, specific tools, regular breaks, asking questions)

The Power of Self-Advocacy at Work

Self-advocacy is a powerful skill that can truly change your experience in the workplace. It means understanding your own needs and strengths, and then speaking up for yourself to make sure those needs are met. For many, especially adult males with disabilities, this skill is not just helpful—it's essential for a successful career journey.

Why is Self-Advocacy So Important?

1. Getting Hired: When you're looking for a job, self-advocacy allows you to confidently talk about your skills and experience. It also helps you discuss any accommodations you might need to perform your best, showing a potential employer that you are proactive and prepared. This isn't about revealing personal information you don't want to share, but rather about presenting yourself as someone who knows what they need to thrive.

2. Thriving on the Job: Once you have a job, self-advocacy helps you maintain it and do your best work. If your job tasks change, or if you find a particular part of your work challenging due to your disability, advocating for yourself means you can ask for adjustments. These might be changes in your workspace, different ways of receiving instructions, or flexible scheduling. When you speak up, you help your employer understand how to best support you, which benefits everyone.

3. Career Advancement: Self-advocacy isn't just about problem-solving; it's also about growth. If you want to take on new responsibilities, learn new skills, or get a promotion, you need to be able to communicate your ambitions and how you plan to achieve them. This might involve discussing training opportunities, asking for mentorship, or explaining how a specific accommodation could help you take on a higher-level role.

4. Building Respect and Confidence: When you advocate for yourself, you show that you value yourself and your contributions. This builds self-confidence and earns the respect of your colleagues and supervisors. It also empowers you to be an active participant in your career, rather than passively waiting for things to happen.

How to Self-Advocate Effectively:

• Know Yourself: Understand your disability, your strengths, and what accommodations truly help you. What are you great at? What makes you struggle? Be specific.
• Know Your Rights: Be aware of workplace laws and policies that protect individuals with disabilities, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the U.S. This knowledge gives you a strong foundation.
• Communicate Clearly: When discussing your needs, be direct, specific, and professional. Explain what you need and why it will help you do your job effectively. Focus on solutions.
• Practice: Advocating can feel uncomfortable at first, but like any skill, it gets easier with practice. Start with smaller situations and gradually build up your confidence.

In summary, self-advocacy is a continuous process of speaking up for your needs and desires in a respectful and effective way. It's about taking control of your career path and ensuring you have the environment and support necessary to succeed and advance.

My Advocacy Action Plan Worksheet

This worksheet will help you create a plan to effectively advocate for yourself in your job search, current employment, or career growth.

Part 1: Knowing Myself (What are my Strengths and Needs?)

My Strengths

Think about your skills, positive qualities, and things you are good at that make you a valuable employee. These could be related to your work ethic, specific talents, or how you interact with others.

My Needs / What Helps Me Succeed

What specific support, tools, or accommodations help you perform your job duties most effectively? Think about your environment, how you receive information, or what helps you focus.

Part 2: Preparing to Advocate (How will I communicate?)

Who do I need to talk to?

Think about different people you might need to speak with in a job search, at your current job, or for career advancement (e.g., HR, supervisor, interviewer, mentor).

What are some specific situations where I might need to advocate?

List 1-2 situations you can imagine yourself in (e.g., asking for written instructions, requesting a flexible schedule, clarifying a task during an interview).

What will I say? (Practice using "I" statements and being specific)

For one of the situations above, write down exactly what you would say to advocate for yourself. Remember to be clear, specific, and respectful.

Situation:

What I will say:

Part 3: Taking Action (My Next Steps)

One small step I can take this week to practice self-advocacy:

This could be a conversation, researching a resource, or even just clarifying something with a friend.

A resource that could help me (e.g., ADA website, career counselor, trusted friend/mentor):

Discussion Prompts: Workplace Advocacy

These prompts are designed to encourage thoughtful conversation and shared learning about self-advocacy in the workplace.

Prompt 1: Understanding the Impact

Based on the reading, "The Power of Self-Advocacy at Work," what is one surprising benefit of self-advocacy you hadn't considered before? Why do you think this benefit is important for building a successful career?

Prompt 2: Real-World Application

What is one small, actionable step you can take this week to practice self-advocacy in your daily life or career? Share your idea and briefly explain why you chose that step.

Prompt 3: Overcoming Challenges

What might be some challenges or fears when it comes to advocating for yourself in a professional setting? How could you prepare to overcome one of these challenges?

Role-Play Activity: Advocate for Success

Goal: To practice effective self-advocacy in various workplace scenarios.

Instructions:

1. Form Groups: Get into small groups of 3-4 people.
2. Assign Roles: Within your group, assign the following roles for each scenario:
   • Employee/Candidate: The person advocating for themselves.
   • Employer/Interviewer: The person receiving the advocacy message.
   • Observer(s): The person(s) who will watch and provide constructive feedback based on the communication strategies discussed earlier.
3. Read the Scenario: Carefully read the scenario assigned to your group.
4. Role-Play: Act out the scenario, focusing on clear, respectful, and specific communication. The Employee/Candidate should try to use "I" statements.
5. Provide Feedback: After each role-play, the Observer(s) should give feedback, highlighting what went well and suggesting areas for improvement. The group can then discuss.
6. Rotate Roles: Try to rotate roles so everyone gets a chance to be the Employee/Candidate.

Scenario 1: Job Interview - Requesting Accommodation

Situation: You are interviewing for a data entry position. You are very good with computers but find it difficult to focus in noisy environments and prefer written instructions for complex tasks. You want to ask if a quiet workspace and written task lists are possible accommodations if you are offered the job.

Employee/Candidate Goal: Clearly and professionally inquire about the possibility of these accommodations without making them seem like demands or excuses.

Employer/Interviewer Role: Listen to the candidate, ask clarifying questions, and consider the feasibility of the request.

Scenario 2: On the Job - Requesting a Schedule Adjustment

Situation: You have been working successfully as a warehouse associate for six months. You notice that your productivity decreases significantly in the late afternoon, and you would perform much better if you could shift your work hours to start earlier and finish earlier. You want to discuss this with your supervisor.

Employee/Candidate Goal: Explain the situation, propose a solution (earlier start/end time), and explain how this benefits both you and the company (increased productivity).

Supervisor Role: Listen to the employee, ask about the reasons for the request, and consider how this might impact team operations.

Scenario 3: Career Growth - Asking for Training

Situation: You are an administrative assistant and are very interested in learning new software that your company plans to implement next quarter. You believe learning this software will make you more valuable to the team and open up new opportunities for you within the company. You want to express your interest to your manager and ask about training opportunities.

Employee/Candidate Goal: Express enthusiasm for learning the new software, explain the benefits of you learning it, and ask about specific training programs or resources.

Manager Role: Listen to the employee, acknowledge their initiative, and discuss potential training paths and timelines.

Cool-Down: One Step Forward

Instructions: Before you leave, please complete the following reflections.

One Key Thing I Learned Today:

What is the most important takeaway from today's lesson on self-advocacy?

One Small Step I Will Take:

What is one specific, actionable step you commit to taking this week to practice self-advocacy?