Self-advocacy is one of the most important skills students can develop, yet many learners are never explicitly taught how to ask for help, explain what supports them, participate in meetings, or advocate for accommodations and services.
 
The Self-Advocacy Toolkit was designed to provide students with meaningful opportunities to practice these essential skills through reflection activities, role-playing scenarios, sentence starters, discussion prompts, and real-world problem-solving situations.
 
Students will explore their strengths, identify areas for growth, learn about their educational rights, practice navigating challenging conversations, and develop confidence using their voice in school, college, work, and everyday life.
 
Included in this resource:
Welcome page for educators
Suggestions for implementation in resource classes, counseling sessions, transition programs, advisory periods, and student-led IEP preparation\\
 Self-advocacy self-assessment and reflection activities
Confidence-building exercises and role-playing opportunities
"Who Can Help Me?" support network activity
Student-friendly overview of disability rights and educational protections
Scripts and sentence starters for common school situations
Letter to Future Me reflection activity
Student-Led IEP visual cue cards featuring strengths, goals, accommodations, questions, and future planning prompts
Editable version for customization
 
Great for:
Student-Led IEP Meetings
Resource and Study Skills Classes
Counseling Sessions
Transition Planning
Executive Functioning Instruction
Advisory and SEL Lessons
Middle School, High School, and Transition-Age Students
 
This toolkit helps students move beyond simply receiving supports and begin understanding themselves, communicating their needs, and taking an active role in shaping their educational experiences and future goals.