Self-Advocacy Teacher Script

Warm-Up: What Do You Need? (5 minutes)

"Good morning/afternoon, everyone! To start our lesson today, I want you to think about a time when you really needed help with something, either here at school or maybe at home. It could be about a school assignment, understanding directions, or even something like needing a ride.

What did you do in that situation? Did you ask for help? If so, how did you ask? And how did it feel to ask for what you needed?"

(Allow students a moment to think, then invite volunteers to share. Guide the discussion, ensuring everyone feels comfortable sharing without pressure. Acknowledge all responses positively.)

"Thank you for sharing those experiences. It takes courage to ask for what you need, and today, we're going to talk more about how we can all get better at doing just that."

Introduction to Self-Advocacy (10 minutes)

(Transition to Self-Advocacy Slide Deck - Slide 1)

"Today, our lesson is called 'Your Voice, Your Future: Self-Advocacy.' This is an incredibly important skill, especially for you, as you prepare for life after high school."

(Transition to Self-Advocacy Slide Deck - Slide 2: What is Self-Advocacy?)

"So, what exactly is self-advocacy? Simply put, self-advocacy means understanding your own needs and your rights, and then speaking up or taking action to get those needs met. It's about being in charge of your own life and making your own choices."

"Let's break that down. It means:

• Knowing yourself: what you're good at, what you find challenging, and what helps you learn or succeed.
• Knowing what you need to be successful.
• Being able to tell others what those needs are in a clear and respectful way.

Can anyone give me an example of what that might look like? For instance, if you need more time on a test, how might you advocate for that?"

(Listen to student responses, providing simple affirmations and clarifications.)

(Transition to Self-Advocacy Slide Deck - Slide 3: Why Is Self-Advocacy Important for YOU?)

"Why is this skill so important for you, especially now? Well, as 12th graders, you're getting ready for big changes after high school. Whether you're going to college, starting a job, or living independently, self-advocacy will be a key to your success.

• Your Future: You'll be making more choices about your education, your career, and your daily life. Knowing how to speak up helps you make choices that are best for you.
• Your Needs: In new environments, you might need to explain what accommodations or support helps you learn or work best. If you don't ask, people might not know.
• Your Voice: Your ideas, your feelings, and your perspective are valuable. Others need to hear what is important to you.
• Your Rights: You have rights in school, at work, and in your community. Self-advocacy helps you understand and stand up for those rights."

"Think about it, who is the expert on 'you'?" (Pause for responses - ideally, students say 'me' or 'myself').

"Exactly! You are! So, you're the best person to tell others what you need."

(Transition to Self-Advocacy Slide Deck - Slide 4: How to Self-Advocate: Simple Steps)

"Self-advocacy might seem big, but it can be broken down into simple steps:

1. Know Yourself: Start by thinking about your strengths, what you find challenging, and what helps you. What are your goals for the future? What makes you happy?
2. Know Your Rights: Understanding what you are entitled to in different situations. For example, knowing you have the right to ask for a quiet workspace if that helps you focus.
3. Know Who to Talk To: Figure out who is the best person to help you with your specific need. Is it a teacher, a parent, a counselor, a boss, or a friend?
4. Communicate Clearly: This is where you actually speak up. Explain what you need and why in a polite, direct way. It's helpful to say 'I need...' or 'I would benefit from...' instead of assuming others will know."

"Does anyone have questions about these steps? Or an example of how they might use one of these steps?"

(Address any questions and provide positive reinforcement for participation.)

My Self-Advocacy Action Plan (10 minutes)

(Transition to Self-Advocacy Slide Deck - Slide 5: Practice Time!)

"Alright, now it's time to put these ideas into practice. I'm going to hand out a worksheet called 'My Self-Advocacy Action Plan Worksheet'. This is your chance to think about your own needs and how you can speak up for yourself."

*(Distribute the My Self-Advocacy Action Plan Worksheet.)

"On this worksheet, you'll see a few sections. Let's go through them together.

• First, 'My Strengths & What Helps Me': Write down some things you're good at and what makes learning or doing tasks easier for you.
• Next, 'Something I Need Help With or Want to Change': Think about one specific thing, big or small, where you wish things were different or you need support.
• Then, 'Who Can I Talk To?': Who is a person you trust or an adult who could help you with this?
• Finally, 'How Will I Ask?': This is where you plan out what you might say. You don't have to write the whole conversation, but just a few key phrases or ideas."

"Take your time to fill this out. I'll be walking around if you have any questions or want to brainstorm ideas together." (Circulate, offering support and encouragement.)

Wrap-Up & Share (5 minutes)

(After students have had time to work on their worksheets.)

"Alright, let's bring it back together. Would anyone like to share one thing they wrote down on their action plan, or one idea they have about how they can advocate for themselves? It could be something small, or a goal for the future."

(Encourage sharing, but do not force anyone. Affirm all contributions.)

(Transition to Self-Advocacy Slide Deck - Slide 6: Your Voice Matters! Keep Practicing!)

"Thank you for participating today. Remember these important points:

• Self-advocacy is a powerful skill that will help you throughout your life.
• It helps you get what you need, reach your goals, and make your own choices.
• It takes practice, so don't be afraid to start small and keep trying.

Your voice matters, and you have the right to speak up for yourself. You are the expert on you, and by advocating for yourself, you are taking control of your future. Keep practicing, and I know you all have bright futures ahead!"

My Self-Advocacy Action Plan

Name: ____________________________

Date: ____________________________

What is Self-Advocacy?

Self-advocacy is about speaking up for yourself and your needs. It means understanding what you need to be successful and telling others about it.

Part 1: Knowing Myself

1. My Strengths: What are you good at? What do you enjoy doing?
   
   
   
   
   

2. What Helps Me Learn/Succeed? (e.g., visual aids, extra time, quiet space, clear instructions, working with a partner)
   
   
   
   
   

3. My Goals for the Future: What do you hope to do after high school (e.g., go to college, get a job, live independently)?
   
   
   
   
   

Part 2: Identifying a Need and Planning to Speak Up

Think about one specific thing, big or small, where you might need to speak up for yourself. This could be about an assignment, a class, a future plan, or anything else that's important to you.

1. Something I Need Help With or Want to Change: (Be specific!)
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. Why is this important to me? (How would getting this need met help you?)
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. Who can I talk to about this? (e.g., teacher, counselor, parent, boss, mentor)
   
   
   
   
   

4. How will I ask? (Write down a few sentences or bullet points of what you might say to clearly explain your need.)
   Example: "Mr./Ms. [Teacher's Name], I need help understanding the instructions for the project. Could we go over them together, or do you have an example I could look at?"

Part 3: Reflection

1. How do you feel about practicing self-advocacy? (Circle one: Easy / A little hard / Hard)
   
   

2. What is one new thing you learned about self-advocacy today?