Helping Teenagers with Disabilities to Self-Advocate

This workshop focuses on building the critical skill of self-advocacy for teenagers with disabilities, a skill not typically acquired naturally from their peers. Participants will learn the specific skills that enable students to understand their strengths, needs, and disabilities while setting realistic goals for themselves. The session emphasizes the connection between self-advocacy and positive outcomes such as increased self-esteem, resilience, and school success. Through interactive strategies, educators gain practical tools to support students in becoming more confident and independent in both academic and life settings.

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• Students with disabilities often lack opportunities to learn self-advocacy skills.
  
  
• Misconception that these skills will be learned incidentally from peers.
  
  
• Low self-esteem and limited confidence stemming from challenges in school and social settings.
  
  
• Inconsistent educator strategies to help students recognize their strengths, understand their needs, and set personal goals.

1. Understanding and Teaching Self-Advocacy Skills
   Educators will learn how to explicitly teach students to identify their strengths and needs and to effectively communicate them.
   
   
2. Building Confidence and Self-Esteem
   Participants will explore strategies that link self-advocacy to improved confidence, resilience, and long-term student success.
   
   
3. Goal-Setting and Disability Awareness
   Teachers will support students in understanding their disabilities and in developing realistic, individualized goals that promote independence.