Post on 28-May-2015
Self-AdvocacyDom Lupisan
Yunior HernandezCalifornia State University, Northridge
April 12, 2011
What is Self-Advocacy?
What is Self-Advocacy?Self-advocacy refers to an individual’s ability
to effectively communicate, convey, negotiate or assert his or her own interests, desires, needs, and rights
It involves making informed decisions and taking responsibility for those decisions
Self-Advocacy Cont’dSelf-advocacy is understanding your
strengths and needs, identifying your personal goals, knowing your legal rights and responsibilities, and communicating these to others
Self-Advocacy is speaking up for oneself. Until recently it was a concept used more for
adults with disabilities, but increasingly it is recognized as a tool to speak for our needs
History of Self-AdvocacyThe term “self-advocacy” can be traced back
in the late 1960’s when young adults with disabilities began speaking out about taking an active role in planning their lives and the programs that supported them
This journey of self-education is an ongoing process, as individual needs change over time
There are three parts to becoming an effective self-advocate: knowing yourself, knowing your needs, and knowing how to get what you need
How Does it Relate to You?The collegial educational journey is an
ongoing process, as individual needs change over time
1. Freshman: Transition to a new environment2. Sophomore: Feeling connected (Do I
matter?)3. Junior: Internships, job opportunities4. Senior: Graduation, new job, graduate
school
Quote of the Day“The greatest revolution of our generation is
the discovery that human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives.” – William James (Philosopher, Psychologist)
Personal Experiences with Self- AdvocacyDiscuss our experiences in college and life
about how we have self-advocated and what results we acquired from doing so
Group ActivityBreak into groups of 5
Discuss self-advocacy
Talk about a time when you self-advocated
Talk about a time when you decided to stay silent and why you decided to take such action
How to Practice Self-AdvocacyLanguage use
“I” statements
Understand power structure
Know what you want