My Opinion CountsMy Opinion Counts!!

How to become a Good How to become a Good

Self-Advocate!Self-Advocate!

We All Want the Same ThingsWe All Want the Same Things

• People with disabilities should be treated as equals.

• People should be given the same decisions, choices, rights, responsibilities, and chances to speak up and empower themselves.

• People should be able to make new friendships and renew old friendships just like everyone else.

• People should be able to learn from their mistakes like everyone else.

- SABE beliefs

What is Self-Advocacy?What is Self-Advocacy?

• Self-Advocacy is learning how to speak up for yourself, making your own decisions about your own life, learning how to get information so that you can understand things that are of interest to you, finding out who will support you in your journey, knowing your rights and responsibilities, problem solving, listening and learning, reaching out to others when you need help and friendship, and learning about self-determination

What exactly does self-advocacy What exactly does self-advocacy mean?mean?

• Speaking up for yourself• Communicating your strengths, needs and

wishes• Being able to listen to the opinions of others,

even when their opinions differ from yours• Having a sense of self-respect• Taking responsibility for yourself• Knowing your rights• Knowing where to get help or who to go to with

a question

Becoming a good self advocate Becoming a good self advocate is a process. is a process.

• Learn to identify your strengths• Understand your disability and

how it impacts your performance. • Familiarize yourself with the

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehab Act

• Know when and how to ask for help

Learn to Identify Your Learn to Identify Your StrengthsStrengths

Believe in Yourself•Access•Appreciate •Support •Improve

Understand Your Disability Understand Your Disability and How it Impacts Your and How it Impacts Your

PerformancePerformance

• Know your disability and be able to talk comfortably about it

• What services do you need?

• What accommodations do you use/need?

• How does the lack of services and accommodations impact your everyday life? Your job performances?

Americans with Disabilities Act Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the (ADA) and Section 504 of the

Rehab ActRehab Act

• It is important that you understand what you are entitled to (or not) under these two Acts.

• The ADA:

• Section 504:

Know When and How to Know When and How to Ask for HelpAsk for Help

•Get the facts•Plan your strategy •Gather support •Target your efforts •Ask for what you want•Debrief

• Knowledge is the key to self-advocacy. Like anything else, the more you know, the better you understand, and the easier it is to explain.

• 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.

AFFIRMATIONAFFIRMATION

• I am a unique and valuable person. I am worth the effort it takes to advocate for myself, to get what I want and need for

myself, to protect my rights and to insist that others treat me

well.-SAMHSA - Mary Ellen Copeland

•You Are the best ADVOCATE •for YOU!!