Self-Advocacy and Self-Determination Definitions Self-advocacy is the ability to communicate and negotiate your interests and needs. In school, you may have heard this referred to as your PINS (i.e., your preferences, interests, needs, and strengths). Simply stated, self-advocacy means speaking up for yourself. Have you ever spoken up in your Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting to mention a school subject or task you found difficult? Or maybe you have told someone you don’t need sighted guide to navigate to your next class because you already know the way. These are examples of self-advocacy. When you feel confident sharing your interests, discussing your goals, and asking for help, you’re practicing self-advocacy.
Self-determination is the ability to turn your PINS into a plan. An example of self-determination would be taking the lead in your IEP meeting to develop a measurable annual goal to help you tackle a task you are having difficulty with. The ability to speak up for yourself and take the lead on developing a plan to reach your goal(s) is something that will help you to feel more prepared and confident to practice self-determination.
Guiding Questions What are some of your interests? These can be things you do for fun, education interests, career interests. What are some of your strengths or things you feel you are good at? Have you ever taken an interest assessment or personality assessment? If yes, share what you learned with a teacher, family member or friend. If not, would you consider taking one? Have you ever taken a career interest assessment? If yes, share what you learned with a teacher, family member or friend. If not, would you consider taking one? What support do you think you need to be successful? What support and/or accommodations help you best? How might you communicate about your support needs in a postsecondary or employment setting? In what ways have you participated in your own IEP meeting? What do you know about disability rights and disability laws? Resources Just like learning any skill, it takes time and effort to develop the ability to practice self-advocacy and self-determination. To help with this, we encourage you take EMPOWER VI’s short course called: Self-Advocacy and Self-Determination- for Students. To access this course, visit: EMPOWER VI - Course Library (yeslms.com) . After completing this course, you will:
Understand self-advocacy and self-determination. Identify your personal interests, strengths, and supports that help you best. Recognize situations in which self-advocacy and self-determination are important. Develop a one-page profile to help you practice your self-advocacy and self-determination skills. Additional Resources:
Learning to Self-Advocate – Perkins School for the Blind This guide demonstrates how students can learn to self-advocate. The resource was written from the perspective of a student with low vision whose IEP goals include self-advocacy.
Self Advocacy - ConnectCenter (aphconnectcenter.org) This resource offers opportunities to learn about your rights and methods for communicating your needs to others.
Transition TN offers several resources of self-advocacy including Self-Advocacy Apps and Instruction in Self-Advocacy
