“self-advocacy: An individual’s ability to discuss a personal learning disability and request appropriate accommodations and services. Self-advocacy skills are important to develop in people with learning disabilities so they can take responsibility for their own learning and become empowered in school, work, and life. Individuals with disabilities should be familiar with their learning profile as well as relevant legislation.
Self-advocacy skills should be developed as soon as an individual is old enough to understand the learning process. Parents have a right to include their children who are being considered for special education classification in the multidisciplinary team meeting and in development of the individualized education program. Many high schools encourage students to become self-advocates by discussing their learning style and needs with teachers and by actively making transition plans from high school to the next environment.
Self-advocacy skills become even more important once an individual leaves school and begins a job or college, where there are no special educators or parents to advocate for them.”
Excerpted from: Turkington, Carol, and Joseph R. Harris, PhD. The Encyclopedia of Learning Disabilities. New York: Facts on File, 2006.
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