The most important skills that an individual can possess when it comes to the future is in the area of self-advocacy and self-determination. It may take years for any individual with or without a disability to become comfortable with choosing their own future paths and become self-managing and an advocate for their own future. This is why I have chosen to address organizations and resources that will help aid in developing strong self-advocacy and self-determination skills for each individuals with a disability and truly help them see they are their biggest fan and can do anything they put their mind too!
Resources
1) ASK- Advocacy, Support, and Knowledge (http://www.arcjacksonville.org/)
- This is a fabulous organization that offers a plethora of services for individuals with developmental disabilities and provides a circle of support. ASK offers self-advocacy training and supports for individuals with disabilities to help them reach their full potential.
2) DSAJ (Down Syndrome Association of Jacksonville)- (http://www.dsaj.org/)
- The Down Syndrome Association of Jacksonville caters to all individuals with Down syndrome and encourages families by offering programs and services and by advocating for people with Down syndrome. The association provides services that: “work with the community to open the door of opportunity for people with Down syndrome and their families, teaches self-advocacy and advocates for the full inclusion of people with disabilities, and allows for each individual to shine in their community and environment."
3) National Association of the Deaf (NAD)
http://www.nad.org/site/pp.asp?c=foINKQMBF&b=180449
-This website is excellent in that it provides information on current legislature in the Deaf community and offers self-advocacy tips for individuals with a hearing impairment. The following are several tips for developing a strong sense of self-advocacy: "requesting specific accommodations, educate others, knowing your rights, following proper procedures, and being flexible. "
4)Learning Disabilities- Self-Advocacy and Future Planning (http://www.ldonline.org/article/7757)
- This website caters to individuals with mild disabilities and teaches the art of self-advocacy and self-determination. This site provides an in-depth article on future planning for individuals with disabilities, ways to improve self-advocacy skills, ways educators can teach self-advocacy strategies to students with mild disabilities, and identifying students' skills needed for self-advocacy in job interviews and employment opportunities.
Books and Sources
1) Self-Advocacy Skills for Students With Learning Disabilities: Making It Happen in College and Beyond by: Henry B. Reiff
“Filled with strategies, and resources, this book uses the author's groundbreaking research about successful adults with learning disabilities, to promote self-advocacy. This work is brimming with useful and practical information. It is easily understood and embraced by students with learning disabilities, their parents, guidance counselors, and stakeholders in the fields of both higher education and special education.”
2) Ask and Tell: Self-Advocacy and Disclosure for People on the Autism Spectrum
by Ruth Elaine Joyner Hane (Author), Kassiane Sibley (Author), Stephen M. Shore (Author), Roger N. Meyer (Author), Phil Schwarz (Author), Liane Holliday Willey (Author)
“Ask and Tell: Self-Advocacy and Disclosure for People on the Autism Spectrum aims to help people with autism effectively self-advocate in their pursuit of independent, productive, and fulfilling lives. Ask and Tell is unique by being the first book to speak to the twin issues of self-advocacy and disclosure for people with autism and by consisting exclusively – including the cover art and the preface by Temple Grandin – of contributions by those on the autism spectrum for persons on the spectrum.”
Resources
1) ASK- Advocacy, Support, and Knowledge (http://www.arcjacksonville.org/)
- This is a fabulous organization that offers a plethora of services for individuals with developmental disabilities and provides a circle of support. ASK offers self-advocacy training and supports for individuals with disabilities to help them reach their full potential.
2) DSAJ (Down Syndrome Association of Jacksonville)- (http://www.dsaj.org/)
- The Down Syndrome Association of Jacksonville caters to all individuals with Down syndrome and encourages families by offering programs and services and by advocating for people with Down syndrome. The association provides services that: “work with the community to open the door of opportunity for people with Down syndrome and their families, teaches self-advocacy and advocates for the full inclusion of people with disabilities, and allows for each individual to shine in their community and environment."
3) National Association of the Deaf (NAD)
http://www.nad.org/site/pp.asp?c=foINKQMBF&b=180449
-This website is excellent in that it provides information on current legislature in the Deaf community and offers self-advocacy tips for individuals with a hearing impairment. The following are several tips for developing a strong sense of self-advocacy: "requesting specific accommodations, educate others, knowing your rights, following proper procedures, and being flexible. "
4)Learning Disabilities- Self-Advocacy and Future Planning (http://www.ldonline.org/article/7757)
- This website caters to individuals with mild disabilities and teaches the art of self-advocacy and self-determination. This site provides an in-depth article on future planning for individuals with disabilities, ways to improve self-advocacy skills, ways educators can teach self-advocacy strategies to students with mild disabilities, and identifying students' skills needed for self-advocacy in job interviews and employment opportunities.
Books and Sources
1) Self-Advocacy Skills for Students With Learning Disabilities: Making It Happen in College and Beyond by: Henry B. Reiff
“Filled with strategies, and resources, this book uses the author's groundbreaking research about successful adults with learning disabilities, to promote self-advocacy. This work is brimming with useful and practical information. It is easily understood and embraced by students with learning disabilities, their parents, guidance counselors, and stakeholders in the fields of both higher education and special education.”
2) Ask and Tell: Self-Advocacy and Disclosure for People on the Autism Spectrum
by Ruth Elaine Joyner Hane (Author), Kassiane Sibley (Author), Stephen M. Shore (Author), Roger N. Meyer (Author), Phil Schwarz (Author), Liane Holliday Willey (Author)
“Ask and Tell: Self-Advocacy and Disclosure for People on the Autism Spectrum aims to help people with autism effectively self-advocate in their pursuit of independent, productive, and fulfilling lives. Ask and Tell is unique by being the first book to speak to the twin issues of self-advocacy and disclosure for people with autism and by consisting exclusively – including the cover art and the preface by Temple Grandin – of contributions by those on the autism spectrum for persons on the spectrum.”
This is so true. Self determination becomes within and someone with disabilities may not be encouraged enough to build that self determination within. I think this blog is great. It really brings to the table things some might not really think about. Well done!
ReplyDeleteLauren,
ReplyDeleteYour opening paragraph is so true! It takes time to get comfortable with who we are and sometimes even more time to figure out what we want. I love the LD online link. I have used it in the past and each time it provides the information or additional resources I need. Nice work.