Teaching self-determination and advocacy is essential for transition students with disabilities because it empowers them to make choices, set goals, and communicate their needs in school, work, and adult life. Teachers can support this by providing opportunities for choice-making, goal setting, problem-solving, and practicing self-advocacy skills in both classroom and real-world situations.
SELF-DETERMINATION & ADVOCACY
WHAT IS IT?
STRATEGIES FOR TEACHING SELF-DETERMINATION & ADVOCACY
TEACH CHOICE-MAKING
Support self-determination by giving students daily opportunities to make meaningful choices, such as deciding what activity to do first, what to eat, or which job role to take. It’s important to reinforce that their decisions have real consequences and that their choices matter.
GOAL SETTING AND PLANNING
Teachers should guide students in setting realistic short- and long-term goals, then support them in tracking progress with tools like visual goal charts, journals, or apps. Celebrating successes along the way helps build motivation and confidence.
BUILD DECISION-MAKING AND PROBLEM-SOLVING
Strengthen problem-solving skills by presenting students with real-life scenarios, such as missing the bus or handling a conflict at work, and guiding them through possible solutions. Encouraging reflection on the choices they make helps build critical thinking and independence.
TEACH SELF-ADVOCACY SKILLS
Use modeling and role-play to show students how to ask for help, request accommodations, and express their preferences. Practicing how to share their strengths, needs, and goals with teachers, employers, and peers builds confidence and self-advocacy skills.
INVOLVE STUDENTS IN THEIR IEP MEETINGS
Encourage students to take an active role in their IEP meetings by sharing their strengths, needs, and future goals. Providing scripts, visuals, or practice sessions can help build confidence and prepare them to participate meaningfully in the process.
ENCOURAGE SELF-REFLECTION AND SELF-AWARENESS
Help students build self-understanding by having them reflect on their strengths, challenges, and the supports that help them succeed. Tools like surveys, interest inventories, or guided discussions make this reflection more meaningful and engaging.
COLLABORATE WITH FAMILIES AND AGENCIES
Teachers can support self-advocacy by guiding families to encourage independence at home, giving students chances to speak up and make decisions for themselves. Partnering with adult agencies that offer self-advocacy training and support further prepares students for success beyond school.
DIFFERENTIATE BY ABILITY LEVEL
MILD/MODERATE DISABILITIES: Focus on increasing independence and building confidence to advocate in more complex settings (school, workplace, community).
MODERATE/SEVERE DISABILITIES: Focus on supported participation, communication, and expressing preferences in ways that are meaningful, functional, to ensure their voice is heard using the tools that work best for them.
TEACHER TIP: Start small—letting students make choices and speak for themselves in the classroom—and gradually build toward larger goals like participating in meetings or advocating in the community.