Your Voice, Your Job: Teacher Script

Warm-Up: Speak Up! (10 minutes)

Teacher: "Good morning, everyone! Let's start with a quick warm-up activity called Warm Up: Speak Up!. On your sheet, I want you to quickly jot down one situation where you felt like you wanted to say something, but you didn't. It could be at home, with friends, or at work. Just a short sentence or two. Don't worry, you won't have to share if you don't want to."

(Allow 3-4 minutes for students to write.)

Teacher: "Now, if anyone feels comfortable, would you like to share your situation? What held you back from speaking up?"

(Facilitate a brief discussion, encouraging a few volunteers to share. Reassure students that it's okay if they didn't share. Transition to the lesson.)

Teacher: "Thank you for sharing, or even just thinking about it. Today, we're going to talk about how to make sure your voice is heard, especially at work. This lesson is all about empowering you to advocate for yourselves, whether it's to keep your job, get a promotion, or solve a problem. Let's get started!"

Introduction to Workplace Advocacy (15 minutes)

Teacher: "(Display Advocacy Slide Deck - Slide 1: Your Voice, Your Job: Self-Advocacy in the Workplace)"

Teacher: "Welcome to 'Your Voice, Your Job.' Today, we're going to explore a really important skill called self-advocacy. It's about empowering yourselves for success and fair treatment in your jobs.

(Display Advocacy Slide Deck - Slide 2: What is Self-Advocacy?)"

Teacher: "So, what exactly is self-advocacy? Simply put, it means speaking up for yourself and your needs. It involves understanding your rights and responsibilities at work, and knowing how to communicate effectively with your employers and colleagues. It's about being your own best champion.

(Display Advocacy Slide Deck - Slide 3: Why is Self-Advocacy Important?)"

Teacher: "Why is this so important? Well, self-advocacy helps you in many ways. It can help you maintain your job by preventing misunderstandings. It can also help you advance in your career and achieve your goals. And very importantly, it allows you to address problems and create a better work environment where you feel respected and treated fairly. Think about it: if you don't speak up, who will?"

Reading & Comprehension: Workplace Advocacy Basics (20 minutes)

Teacher: "Now, I have a Reading: Workplace Advocacy Basics for you. This reading will give you some fundamental information about your rights and how advocacy works in the workplace. You can read it quietly to yourselves, or if you prefer, I can read it aloud for the group. Please let me know what works best."

(Distribute reading. Allow students to read for about 10-12 minutes, or read aloud as requested.)

Teacher: "Alright, now that we've read through the basics, let's take a moment for any questions. Did anything in the reading surprise you? Was anything unclear?"

(Address questions and clarify concepts.)

Discussion: My Rights, My Voice (25 minutes)

Teacher: "Excellent! Now, let's move into our Discussion: My Rights, My Voice. I want us to talk about how you feel about speaking up at work. Have you ever been in a situation where you felt like you should have said something, but didn't? What was that like?"

(Facilitate a group discussion based on the prompts in the discussion guide. Encourage active listening and respectful sharing. Refer back to the reading as needed.)

Teacher: "It sounds like many of us have faced similar challenges. Remember, knowing your rights is the first step. Communicating them clearly and calmly is the next. You have a right to a safe and fair workplace."

Activity: Role-Play Your Way to Success (30 minutes)

Teacher: "Now it's time to put these skills into practice with our Activity: Role-Play Your Way to Success! I'm going to divide you into pairs or small groups. Each group will get a scenario where someone needs to advocate for themselves at work. Your task is to act out how you would speak up effectively."

(Divide students into groups and explain the activity. Circulate among groups, providing guidance and feedback during role-playing. Encourage constructive criticism within groups.)

Teacher: "Fantastic job, everyone! What did you learn from these role-plays? Was it easier or harder than you expected?"

(Bring the groups back together for a brief debrief. Highlight effective strategies observed.)

Worksheet: My Advocacy Action Plan (15 minutes)

Teacher: "You've been doing great! Now, let's make this personal. I'm handing out the Worksheet: My Advocacy Action Plan. This worksheet will help you think about your own workplace and identify one or two areas where you might want to practice advocacy. What are your personal goals? What steps will you take?"

(Distribute the worksheet. Allow students to work independently. Offer individual assistance as needed.)

Teacher: "Take your time with this. This is your personal plan, and it's a great tool to help you feel more confident about speaking up."

Quiz: Advocacy Check-In (10 minutes)

Teacher: "To see how much you've learned so far, we're going to do a quick Quiz: Advocacy Check-In. This isn't a test to stress over, just a way for us to see what stuck and what we might need to review. Please complete it to the best of your ability."

(Distribute the quiz. Collect quizzes after 5-7 minutes. If time allows, quickly review answers as a class.)

Test: Workplace Advocacy Mastery (10 minutes)

Teacher: "Finally, we have a Test: Workplace Advocacy Mastery. This test will help us understand your overall grasp of the material. Please do your best, and remember what we've discussed today."

(Distribute the test. Collect tests.)

Cool Down: One Step Forward (5 minutes)

Teacher: "Alright, we're almost done! For our Cool Down: One Step Forward, I want each of you to think about one thing you learned today that you will try to use or remember in your job. It could be a new strategy, a right you learned about, or simply feeling more confident. You can write it down on your cool-down ticket."

(Allow a few minutes for students to write. Collect tickets, or ask for volunteers to share their takeaways.)

Teacher: "Thank you all for your engagement today. Remember, your voice is powerful, and by advocating for yourselves, you're not just helping yourselves, but also contributing to a better workplace for everyone. Keep practicing these skills, and don't be afraid to use your voice!"

My Advocacy Action Plan

Name: _____________________________

This worksheet will help you create a plan to advocate for yourself in the workplace. Thinking about these questions can help you feel more confident and prepared.

Part 1: Identifying Areas for Advocacy

1. Think about your current or a past job. What is one situation where you felt it was difficult to speak up, or where you wished you had spoken up?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. What is one goal you have for self-advocacy in your job? (Examples: asking for clarification, requesting a different task, discussing a concern with a supervisor, asking for a promotion, speaking up about an unfair situation).
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Part 2: Planning Your Approach

1. Who is the best person to talk to about your advocacy goal? (Your supervisor, HR, a trusted colleague, etc.)
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. When would be a good time to talk to this person? (Consider a private moment, scheduled meeting, etc.)
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. What exactly do you want to say? Try to write down 2-3 key sentences you would use to explain your need or concern clearly and calmly. Remember to focus on facts and how the situation affects you.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. What is one possible solution or outcome you hope for? (Even if it's just being heard or understood.)
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Part 3: Overcoming Challenges

1. What is one thing that might make it hard for you to speak up? (Fear, not knowing what to say, feeling uncomfortable, etc.)
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. What is one strategy you can use to overcome that challenge? (Practice, write it down, bring a support person, remember your rights, etc.)
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

My Commitment:

I commit to taking one step towards my advocacy goal this week.

My first step will be: _________________________________________________________________________________

Signature: _____________________________

Date: _____________________________

Workplace Advocacy Basics

What is Self-Advocacy at Work?

Self-advocacy means speaking up for yourself and your needs in the workplace. It means understanding your rights and responsibilities as an employee, and being able to communicate them clearly and respectfully to your boss, co-workers, or Human Resources (HR).

It is about making sure your voice is heard so you can do your best work and be treated fairly.

Why is it Important to Advocate for Yourself?

Advocating for yourself at work is very important for several reasons:

• Job Security: If you have questions or problems, speaking up early can prevent bigger issues later. This helps you keep your job.
• Career Growth: If you want to learn new skills, take on more responsibility, or get a promotion, you need to be able to ask for these opportunities.
• Problem Solving: Sometimes things go wrong at work. You might face an unfair situation, a safety concern, or not understand a task. Self-advocacy helps you address these problems so they can be fixed.
• Fair Treatment: Everyone deserves to be treated with respect and fairness. Advocating for yourself ensures your rights are protected and that you receive the support you need.
• Positive Work Environment: When you speak up constructively, it can help create a better, more inclusive workplace for everyone.

When Should You Speak Up?

You should consider speaking up when:

• You don't understand a task or instruction.
• You need a reasonable accommodation to do your job (e.g., a special tool, flexible schedule, or a quiet workspace).
• You notice something unsafe in your workplace.
• You feel you are being treated unfairly or differently because of your disability.
• You are experiencing harassment or discrimination.
• You want to take on new responsibilities or learn new skills.
• You have an idea that could improve your work or the company.

How to Speak Up Effectively

Speaking up can feel scary, but there are ways to do it effectively:

1. Choose the Right Time and Place: Try to talk in a private setting, not in front of everyone. Ask your supervisor if you can schedule a short meeting.
2. Be Clear and Specific: Explain the problem or your need clearly. Instead of saying, "This is hard," say, "I am having trouble lifting these boxes because of my back. Could I get a cart to help me?"
3. Focus on the Facts: Stick to what actually happened. Avoid emotional language. For example, instead of "You always give me the worst tasks!" try "I notice I have been assigned the heavy lifting tasks for the past three days, which is difficult for me."
4. Explain the Impact: Briefly explain how the situation affects you or your work. "When I have to lift heavy boxes, my back hurts, and it slows down my work."
5. Suggest Solutions (if possible): Sometimes, it helps to offer an idea for how to fix the problem. "Perhaps I could use a hand truck, or we could rotate who does the heavy lifting?"
6. Listen: Be ready to listen to what the other person has to say. It helps to have a conversation, not just make a demand.

Remember, your employer has a responsibility to provide a safe and fair workplace. Learning to advocate for yourself is a powerful skill that can help you succeed and thrive in your job.

My Rights, My Voice: Discussion Guide

This discussion is a chance to share your thoughts and learn from each other about speaking up at work. Remember to listen respectfully to everyone.

Opening Questions:

1. Based on the Reading: Workplace Advocacy Basics, what was one new thing you learned about your rights or how to speak up effectively?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. In our warm-up, we thought about times we wanted to speak up but didn't. How did that feel? What were the reasons you held back?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Exploring Advocacy:

1. Can you think of a time when speaking up (or someone else speaking up) made a positive difference at work? What happened?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. What are some common worries or fears you might have when thinking about talking to your boss or HR about a problem?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. The reading mentioned "reasonable accommodations." Can anyone give an example of what a reasonable accommodation might look like in a workplace?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Practical Application:

1. Imagine a co-worker tells you they are being treated unfairly. What advice would you give them about how to speak up?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. What is one small step you could take this week to practice using your voice, either at work or in your daily life?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Closing Thought:

1. What does the phrase "Your Voice, Your Job" mean to you after today's discussion?

Role-Play Your Way to Success: Activity

This activity will help you practice speaking up in different work situations. Work with a partner or in a small group. One person will be the employee, and the other will be the supervisor or HR representative. After each scenario, discuss what went well and what could be improved.

Instructions:

1. Read your assigned scenario carefully.
2. Decide who will play the employee and who will play the supervisor/HR.
3. Act out the conversation. The employee should try to advocate for themselves using the tips we discussed.
4. After the role-play, discuss these questions:
   • What did the employee do well?
   • What could the employee have done differently?
   • How did the supervisor/HR respond?
   • What did this role-play teach you about advocacy?

Scenario 1: Needing Clarification

Situation: You are given a new task by your supervisor, but the instructions are unclear, and you are worried you will do it wrong. You don't want to make a mistake.

Your Goal: Politely ask for clearer instructions or a demonstration without sounding like you can't do the job.

Employee Script Starter: "Excuse me, [Supervisor's Name]. I'm starting on [Task Name], and I want to make sure I do it correctly. Could you explain..."

Scenario 2: Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation

Situation: You find it hard to concentrate in a noisy open-office environment, which affects your ability to complete your work on time. You know that quiet headphones or a slightly different workspace might help.

Your Goal: Request a reasonable accommodation that would help you perform your job better.

Employee Script Starter: "[Supervisor's Name], I've been thinking about how I can improve my focus, and I believe..."

Scenario 3: Dealing with an Unfair Task

Situation: You notice that you are consistently given the most physically demanding or least desirable tasks, while others are not. You feel this is unfair and is starting to affect your energy levels.

Your Goal: Express your concern about the task distribution and suggest a fairer approach.

Employee Script Starter: "[Supervisor's Name], I wanted to talk about the task assignments. I've noticed recently that I've been assigned..."

Scenario 4: Speaking Up About a Safety Concern

Situation: You notice a piece of equipment that is clearly broken and could be dangerous. You are worried someone might get hurt, but you also don't want to seem like you are complaining.

Your Goal: Report the safety concern clearly and responsibly.

Employee Script Starter: "[Supervisor's Name], I wanted to bring something to your attention about the [equipment name]..."

Speak Up! Warm Up

Instructions: Take a moment to think about a time when you wanted to say something, but you didn't. It could be at work, with friends, or at home. Briefly describe the situation and why you didn't speak up.

Reflect:

1. What was the situation where you held back from speaking up?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. What held you back from speaking up?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. How did you feel afterward?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

One Step Forward: Cool Down

Name: _____________________________

Instructions: Please answer the following question before you leave today.

1. What is one key thing you learned today about workplace advocacy that you will try to remember or put into practice in your job or daily life?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. What is one small action you can take this week to practice using your voice?