How You Can Support Self-Advocacy in School

• Help young people know their strengths, preferences and needs. This is the first step towards knowing what to advocate for.
• Use a total communication approach. This provides the opportunity for young people to know what their preferred communication style is. You can document this within a communication passport which young people can take ownership of.
• Provide regular opportunities to make choices. This helps practice decision-making skills through simple decisions throughout their day.
• Use visual supports such as objects of reference, pictures and social stories to support students to remember information and processes which will be important for life after school.
• Practice scenarios, like asking a teacher for help, in a safe and supportive setting. This helps young people gain confidence and rehearse what they want to say.
• Collaborate with families to model and reinforce advocacy behaviours at home and create a supportive network for the student.
• Encourage participation in social clubs, group activities, or community events. This provides natural opportunities to practice communication skills in different settings and build confidence.

Find out more about decision making and mental capacity