It is vitally important to advocate for oneself because doing so demonstrates to others that everyone, including individuals with disabilities, is entitled to certain rights. When you take the initiative to advocate for yourself, you make it easier for others to comprehend the fact that you have a right to be treated with respect and decency. This is the most effective approach to communicate your requirements and ensure that your opinion is taken into consideration. Your physical and mental health depends on your ability to have a deep awareness of the things that are significant to you. It is critical that you have this awareness. You will need to hone your abilities in self-advocacy in order to be successful in this endeavour.
Spend some time thinking about your capabilities and where you could improve. You will need to evaluate what aspects of your daily life you are capable of handling on your own, as well as the aspects of your life that may call for further aid or support. You should be ready to determine precisely what it is that you require, as well as who to ask for it and how to ask for it. Self-advocacy is an essential quality for those who wish to achieve success in life. Within the context of DREAM BIG, the term “self-advocacy” refers to “the activity of promoting oneself or one’s opinions or interests,” and it is one of the topics that is covered in great detail. Students who have participated in Career Camp have gained the knowledge and experience essential to be effective self-advocates, and they have had the opportunity to exercise these abilities.
However, you can never have too much practice, and this is especially true if you intend to attend either a university or a vocational or technical school. Students may put their skills in self-advocacy to good use by participating in their Individualized Education Plan meetings and voicing their opinions there. IEP meetings aren’t held very frequently, so another fantastic method to hone your self-advocacy skills is to have a chat with each of your instructors about your requirements and the accommodations you require at the start of the school year. This might take the shape of something as informal as a talk after school, or it can be as involved as sending an introduction email. When you start these interactions, keep in mind the six characteristics of an excellent self-advocate, which are as follows:
Knowledge of oneself and an awareness of one’s own requirements is self-awareness.
Participant in the Team – Capable of Developing Collaborative Relationships
The problem solver identifies the issue, comes up with potential solutions, works to put those solutions into effect, and evaluates the results.
Focused on Achieving Goals – Establishing SMART Objectives and Maintaining Them
To be persuasive, you need to do research in order to present your case and explain it; you are attempting to make someone understand why you are asking for something.
Take some time to think about what works and what doesn’t, and ask questions to better understand the situation.
