1. My Voice, My Choice! Introduction on Self-Advocacy
This activity aims to help students explore their choices and how to share those choices with others.
Discuss
In previous lessons, we have talked about your rights and responsibilities and how leadership skills can help you in your journey to becoming a contributing member of your community, school and work. We are going to start exploring the meaning of self-advocacy and identify personal interests and activities that will help build your independence.
In the 1990s disability advocates started using the slogan “Nothing About Us Without Us” to help propel change for the disability community. This slogan is still used by self-advocates to make sure that people with disabilities have a say in policies that affect them. We are going to start learning about how you can use your voice to advocate for the things you want, need and desire as you make progress on your goals and move into the adult world.
Group Discussion
[Note to Instructors: Instructors can choose which questions to review with students. Model group discussion by asking the question and answering it. This provides an example for the student to follow, then ask them the same question. If a student needs a script to help them answer the question, you can use something like this, My Voice, My Choice - Script.]
- What are some decisions or choices you get to make that affect your routine, activities, meals, and more in your daily life? How does it make you feel when you get to make these choices about your day and what you get to control?
- How do you feel when someone makes a decision for you without asking? What could you say or do in that situation?
- Who are the people in your life that support you? How can you let them know what you need?
- How do you make choice in your daily life? Are there areas where you’d like to make more independent choices?
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