Self-Advocacy and Leadership

You will learn the meaning of self-advocacy and why it’s important for people with disabilities.

You will learn how to know and share your self-advocacy story.

You will learn the importance of your voice and how to use it to share how you feel, what you need, and what you want.

You will learn how to find your values and use them to guide your decisions.

You will learn how to effectively use self-advocacy to solve problems.

You will learn how these basic lessons create a self-advocacy toolkit.

You will learn the laws that form the foundation for disability rights.

You will learn how you can advocate for yourself at school.

You will learn how to ask for accommodations at work.

You will learn how to request accommodations for a public place.

You will explore the different levels and branches of government.

You will learn about voting and what your elected officials do.

You will learn how to find your elected officials.

You will learn the basics of speaking to your elected official.

You will learn how to write and send a message to your elected official.

You will learn what to do when meeting with an elected official.

You will learn about how ideas become laws in the legislative process.

You will learn how to best prepare yourself to speak publicly.

You will learn how to speak to lawmakers in a committee setting.

You will learn the power of diversity in creating an inclusive community.

You will learn about community boards and the different types of boards.

You will how to apply and join a community board.

We will celebrate your self-advocacy journey and you will learn what it takes to be a leader!

See a full list of disability agencies, guidance on where to file complaints, and state maps for self-advocacy and independent living centers.

See a full list of disability agencies, guidance on where to file complaints, and state maps for self-advocacy and independent living centers.