A guide on how to self-advocate (speak up or yourself) for young people and for parents to share with a younger child, to give them tips for when you’re not around.
A guide on how to self-advocate (speak up or yourself) for young people and for parents to share with a younger child, to give them tips for when you’re not around.
Self-advocacy is an important skill. It involves being able to represent yourself so that you can describe a difficulty you’re having to someone who can help get the support you need to do well. Self-advocacy is a skill which takes time to develop and you’ll improve with practice.
There are times when being able to self-advocate is important. Here are some examples when you’re at school or college:
Guide Dogs has helped me become a powerful self-advocate, a skill that I know will stand me in good stead in the future. Despite the hurdles, I now feel more able to tackle any challenges that come my way.
The following ‘high five’ questions give you a structure for practising your self-help and advocacy skills. Using the structure will help you find positive solutions to many of the issues you might come across.
Ask yourself the question, who are the people who help you already? You may need to talk to one, some or all of them, depending on the situation. In school that might include your teaching assistant, class teacher or Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator (SENDCo). Out of school that might be your parents/carers and/or other family members.
Top tip
It’s best to explain you’re having a problem as soon as it comes up, so that it doesn’t get any bigger.
Choose your moment wisely and arrange a time to talk through your concerns with the person who can best help you. If your first attempt doesn’t go so well, don’t give up and, instead, have another go.
While it’s always best to address your concerns when they come up, it may not always be possible in a busy school environment. Sometimes it’s better to talk about your concerns away from the place where they happen, for example away from the classroom. You may find it easier to explain the situation and how you feel somewhere quieter and with just one other person.
Finding the right opening sentence can sometimes make all the difference, so it’s worth practising what you’re going to say. A positive way to start would be with something like:
The adult you’re speaking to should recognise that you’re asking for space to talk. They’ll be able to make some suggestions about when you can talk in more detail, as well as offering practical steps you can take to get the help you need.
When you’re trying to get your feelings over to the other person, always try to be:
Top tips