Self-Advocacy

The following are thoughts and suggestions about what self-advocacy comprises and how to cultivate this skill. 

“Self-advocacy is essentially about knowing yourself, being able to promote yourself and your skills while speaking to any challenges you may face because of your disability, and being able to request the accommodations you need. Self-advocacy is a skill that is developed. It takes practice.”  (NEADS, National Educational Association of Disabled Students)

“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’ (VanReusen et al., 1994). Self-knowledge is the first step towards advocating for your rights.  You need to know your strengths, needs, and interests before you can begin to advocate.”   (Kent State University)

Self-advocacy can include:

Building up confidence to talk about yourself;

• This comes with practice!
  
  

Understanding some aspects of your disability;

• This also includes how your disability may potentially impact your ability to self-advocate.
  
  

Feeling increasingly comfortable to reach out for help, suggestions, or guidance;

• Try to ask for support, even if you’re not quite sure of what you might need.
  
  

Taking a central seat at the table in any discussions about your education;

• Prepare, listen mindfully, ask questions and take notes.
  
  

Familiarizing yourself with your rights and responsibilities;

• This includes important dates and deadlines!

How to do self-advocacy:

Develop and maintain relationships with your faculty and department:

• Introduce yourself to your professor early on in the semester to build rapport;
• Attend office hours;
• Proactively address accommodation needs, and do so well in advance;
• If possible, avoid last minute requests;
• Maintain proactive, positive relationships with your professors and Facilitator.
  
  

Familiarize yourself with university and accessibility office policies:

• Be aware of and adhere to timelines for registration, booking exams and other important dates;
• Procedures for what to do if you miss an exam due to illness.
  
  

Contribute to creating a culture of respect by treating all people with fairness and dignity:

• Be mindful about tone and language when speaking or emailing with your department contacts, instructors, and Facilitator;
• Ensure that your contact is timely, particularly if making a request;
• Be aware that response and wait times will vary and can be lengthy—in this way, aim to get in touch, make appointments, and make requests as soon as you are able.
  
  

Cultivate, re-examine, or re-build healthy coping strategies:

• Examine what behaviours, habits, and patterns have helped (or harmed) you in the past;
• Prioritize wellness and healthy interactions over escalation, confrontation, demands, silence, avoidance or self-criticism.
  
  

Know that self-advocacy is an ongoing learning process:

• Ask your facilitator for suggestions;
• Learn or practice new self-advocacy skills.