Self Advocacy Workshop Valerie Paradiz, Ph.D. Integrated Self-Advocacy ISA Seminar Series 1
Early Years Elijah s Diagnosis Sharron Loree Grassroots Self-Advocacy
All in the Family Elijah s Cup 5th Grade Crisis The ASPIE School Advocacy Class NYU Asperger Institute Val s Diagnosis
What is Self-Advocacy?
3 Steps of Self-Advocacy 1.Self-awareness 2.Advocacy plan + disclosure 3.Implementation
3 Self-Advocacy Steps 1. Self-awareness 2. Advocacy plan 3. Implementation
3 Self-Advocacy Steps 1. Self-Awareness 2. Advocacy plan + disclosure 3. Implementation
Your Self- Advocacy Experience Work on your own or with a partner
Review: Steps of Self-Advocacy Brian is with a friend at the mall. His friend points to a staircase nearby and asks if Brian wants to go up to the next level to look at the stores there. Brian knows he has difficulty walking up some types of stairs. Brian asks his friend to walk up the stairs ahead of him so that he can copy his friend s movements walking up. Brian wants to go to the second level too, so he decides to ask his friend to help him out.
Review: Steps of Self-Advocacy Marie asks her boss if she may take movement breaks by walking around in the reception room when she needs to. At work, Marie s boss asked her to sit at the front desk all day today while her co-worker is out sick. Marie knows it it difficult for her to sit for long periods of time. Marie has already disclosed her autism condition at work. She decides to let her boss know that she needs an accommodation today.
Self-Advocacy Self-advocacy is a skill requiring selfawareness. Self-advocacy is something you can practice and learn. Sometimes you might need tools to advocate for yourself.
3 Indicators of Self-Advocacy How do we know we are learning how to advocate for ourselves?
3 Indicators of Self-Advocacy 1. Self-Awareness 2. Competence 3. Autonomy
1. Self-Awareness Knowing that you need to advocate for something, and knowing what it is.
Having tools to advocate for yourself, and knowing how to use them. Sunglasses Ear buds Cap Script 2. Competence
Knowing how to advocate independently on your own behalf. 3. Autonomy
Ineffective & Effective Self-Advocacy Shut up! Could you lower the volume/your voices? I m trying to. Thanks! Ineffective examples Effective examples
It s cold in this room. Ineffective examples Effective examples
She is wearing strong perfume. Ineffective examples Effective examples
Review of 3 Indicators of Self- Advocacy Example Jeremy hits himself on the head every time the vacuum cleaner is turned on. Which indicator is it? Self-awareness Competence Autonomy
Review of 3 Indicators of Self- Advocacy Example Joaquin keeps his headphones handy in his backpack. Which indicator is it? Self-awareness Competence Autonomy
Review of 3 Indicators of Self- Advocacy Example Marissa walked into a meeting at work and asked if we could turn off the fluorescent lights because they give her a headache. Which indicator is it? Self-awareness Competence Autonomy
Review of 3 Indicators of Self- Advocacy Example Anna goes out to dinner on a first date with Pete. During the date, Pete asks Anna to come back to his place after dinner. Anna knows it isn t safe to do this on a first date. Which indicator is it? Self-awareness Competence Autonomy
Review of 3 Indicators of Self- Advocacy Example Eugene knows a script he can use when the background noise at work distracts him from his job. Which indicator is it? Self-awareness Competence Autonomy
Review of 3 Indicators of Self- Advocacy Example Charlie gets a new friend request from someone on Facebook he doesn t know and whom none of his Facebook friends know. Which indicator is it? Self-awareness Competence Autonomy Charlie doesn t accept the friend request.
5 Self-Advocacy Skill Areas What kinds of things do we need to know how to advocate for?
5 Self-Advocacy Skill Areas 1. Sensory & environmental 2. Social & communication 3. Disclosure 4. Strengths & interests 5. Civil rights & entitlements
1. Advocating for Sensory & Environmental Needs Becoming aware of your own self-regulation and sources of comfort Understanding how to advocate for environmental accommodations Advocating for environmental accommodations in new situations or settings
2. Advocating for Social & Communication Needs Becoming aware of your social tendencies, including when you withdraw, overload or shut down Communicating your social preferences and needs Advocating for your social accommodations in new situations or settings
3. Understanding Disclosure Educating others about your way of being or your condition (cross cultural communication) Assessing situations to determine how to disclose (full or partial) Disclosure, particularly as safety or self care
4. Advocating with Strengths & Identifying your own strengths and focused interests Understanding when your strengths or interests can be supportive to self-regulation Using strengths and interests to support your community, employment, social or learning experiences Interests
5. Understanding Civil Rights & Knowing your rights under ADA or other relevant legislation Participating in your adult services meetings Understanding when to assert your legal or civil rights Entitlements
Review Sensory Self-Advocacy Can you remember a time you advocated for your sensory/environ mental needs? What happened?
Review Social Self-Advocacy Can you remember a time you advocated for your social/communic ation needs? What happened?
The Sensory Systems
The Sensory Systems Medical Description Visual Auditory Olfactory Gustatory Tactile Vestibular Proprioceptive Non-Medical Description Sight Hearing Smell Taste Touch Balance Body Awareness 39
Sight: Visual Sense System Provides information about Objects, persons, depth and space boundaries Peripheral and central vision How one item differs from another How to find an item in a group of items Face recognition
Hearing: Auditory Sense System Provides information about Volume Pitch Rhythm Distance
Smell: Olfactory Sense System Provides information about Musty Acrid Flowery Fresh
Taste: Gustatory Sense System Provides information about Sweet Sour Bitter Spicy Salty
Touch: Tactile Sense System Provides information about Texture Pressure Hard/soft Sharp/dull Hot/cold Pain
Balance: Vestibular Sense System Provides information about Position of your body in space Security when moving Shifts in body position to maintain balance
Body Awareness: Proprioceptive Provides information about Eye movements Speed/direction of head movement How to move your body without seeing its parts Coordinating movement of both sides of your body Sense System
The Sensory Systems Let s review the sensory systems
Sensory Processing Information coming in is too big Information coming in is too small Information coming in is distorted
Hypersensitivity: Too Big Loud or high pitched noises Background noises Light touch, handshakes, hugs Tastes and smells others think are ordinary Bright or flickering light Abrupt changes in the surface Movements requiring balance
Hyposensitivity: Too Small Seek contact with people, deep pressure (hugs) Seek contact with objects Touching, tasting or smelling people or objects Biting yourself Viewing highly visual stimuli, such as flickering lights
Developing Self-Awareness Let s explore how much we are aware of our sensory experiences
Keyboard Noise Too big Too small OK Which sense system is it?
Air conditioner, heating or ventilation sound Too big Too small OK Which sense system is it?
Air Freshener Too big Too small OK Which sense system is it?
Steak Too big Too small OK Which sense system is it?
Things hanging on the wall Too big Too small OK Which sense system is it?
People Talking Loudly Too big Too small OK Which sense system is it?
Tablet Medicine Too big Too small OK Which sense system is it?
Household Cleaners Too big Too small OK Which sense system is it?
Hugs Too big Too small OK Which sense system is it?
Ticking of a clock Too big Too small OK Which sense system is it?
Ceiling fans Too big Too small OK Which sense system is it?
Sitting for Long Periods of Time Too big Too small OK Which sense system is it?
Liquid Medicine Too big Too small OK Which sense system is it?
Recessed Lights Too big Too small OK Which sense system is it?
Drafts Too big Too small OK Which sense system is it?
Spinach Too big Too small OK Which sense system is it?
Baked Potato Too big Too small OK Which sense system is it?
Other People Touching Me Too big Too small OK Which sense system is it?
Walking Up or Down Stairs Too big Too small OK Which sense system is it?
Peas Too big Too small OK Which sense system is it?
Bright Lights Too big Too small OK Which sense system is it?
ISA Sensory Scan A tool for increasing your selfawareness in different environments. Use this version if you process best with pictures to help explain.
ISA Sensory Scan A tool for increasing your selfawareness in different environments Use this version if you process best by reading.
Identifying Our Environmental Needs and Preferences Share your results
Advocacy Script Sometimes it is helpful to develop and rehearse a script before we advocate for ourselves in order to ensure we are being effective
Effective and ineffective selfadvocacy
Effective and ineffective selfadvocacy John is struggling at work. One of his duties includes attending a weekly team meeting with his co-workers. John has auditory processing challenges, and it is hard for him to track conversations when there is more than one person and himself speaking. John has been skipping the meeting the past two weeks, and his boss wants to know why. What can John do to advocate for himself?
Advocacy Script Worksheet Planning ahead for what you want to say or ask
Advocacy Plan Making additional plans before we advocate for something can also help us be effective.
Write Your Own Advocacy Plan & Script
ISA Social Scan A tool for increasing your selfawareness in different social situations.
My Next Steps What do you plan to do with the tools you have learned about today?