Opening Act Warmup Opening Act
Self-Advocacy Series
Warm-Up Activity
Name
Date
Finding Your Voice
Self-advocacy is about speaking up for what you need to be successful and comfortable. Before we dive into the facts, let's think about a time you needed a little help or a change to do your best work.
1. Think of a time when you were at school, work, or in the community and felt uncomfortable or couldn't do your best. What was happening?
2. Did you tell anyone what you needed? If so, what did you say? If not, what stopped you?
3. Circle the setting where you feel MOST comfortable asking for help:
Home
School/Work
Community
Be ready to share one thought with a partner.
Speak Up Slides Speak Up
Success
Your Voice, Your Rights, Your Future
Self-Advocacy Training
What is Self-Advocacy?
It means speaking up for yourself to get what you need.
Knowing your strengths and needs.
Asking for help or changes (accommodations).
Understanding your rights.
"Nobody knows what I need better than ME."
Everywhere You Go!
At Home
Choosing your chores or asking for quiet time to study.
At Work/School
Asking for extra time or a desk in a better spot.
In Community
Requesting a ramp or subtitles at the movie theater.
When is the Proper Time?
Don't Wait!
Advocate before there is a problem. Ask for what you need as soon as you know you need it.
The "Right" Moment
Pick a time when the other person isn't rushed or angry. Ask: "Can we talk for a minute?"
Red Flags
Advocate immediately if:
• You feel unsafe
• Your rights are being ignored
• You are being treated unfairly
The Speak Up Script
01
Identify: "I have a disability and I am having trouble with..."
02
Explain: "Because of my disability, it's hard for me to..."
03
Suggest: "It would help me if I could [your idea]..."
04
Agree: "Does that work for you?"
The Support Squad
Family
Parents and siblings can practice with you.
Teachers
They help you learn what works best in school.
Mentors
Other people with disabilities who've been there.
Advocacy Orgs
Groups like "Self Advocates Becoming Empowered".
Can I Get in Trouble?
Asking for your legal rights is NOT being difficult.
The Truth:
It is against the law for a boss or teacher to "punish" you for asking for reasonable help.
The Style:
Advocacy works best when you are calm, clear, and respectful. It's a conversation, not a fight.
ADA
Americans with Disabilities Act
Signed into law in 1990
The ADA is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life.
How it protects you:
It says you have the same rights as everyone else.
It forces businesses to be accessible.
It guarantees "Reasonable Accommodations".
Knowledge is Power
When you know the ADA, you know that your needs aren't "extra favors"—they are your legal rights.
Gives Confidence
Opens Doors
Builds Independence
Your Turn!
Get ready for Scenario Showdown.
Next Activity: Scenarios & Worksheets
Advocacy Action Worksheet Advocacy Action
Reading & Application
Name:
Date:
The Power of the ADA
Imagine walking up to a building and seeing only stairs, but you use a wheelchair. Or trying to watch a video for class that has no captions, but you are hard of hearing. Before 1990, many people with disabilities faced these barriers every day.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) changed everything. It is a federal law that protects your civil rights. It makes it illegal to discriminate against someone because of a disability in jobs, schools, transportation, and all public places.
One of the most important parts of the ADA is the right to "Reasonable Accommodations." This means changes made to a job, a classroom, or a community space that allow a person with a disability to participate just like everyone else.
Knowing the ADA is your "superpower." It gives you the legal backing to ask for what you need. When you advocate, you aren't asking for a favor—you are ensuring your rights are respected. Self-advocacy is the bridge between the law and your daily life.
Part 1: Quick Check
1. What does the acronym ADA stand for?
2. True or False: The ADA only applies to schools.
True
False
3. What is a "Reasonable Accommodation"? (Use your own words)
Page 1 of 2 • Speak Up Success
Part 2: Real-Life Advocacy
At Home
Scenario: You share chores with your siblings. Your chore is to wash the dishes, but the soap smell makes you feel sick because of your sensory needs.
How would you advocate? Who would you talk to?
At Work or School
Scenario: You are given a big project. You know that you do better if you have a written checklist of steps, but your boss/teacher only told you the instructions out loud.
Using the "Speak Up Script" from the slides, what would you say?
In the Community
Scenario: You are at a restaurant and the menu is very small and hard to read. You need a large-print menu or someone to read it to you.
Who is a "helper" in this situation you could ask?
The Big Question
Why is it important to be CALM and CLEAR when you advocate, even if you are frustrated?
Page 2 of 2 • Speak Up Success
Advocacy Action Key Answer Key
Advocacy Action Worksheet
Teacher Resource
Part 1: Quick Check
1. What does the acronym ADA stand for?
Americans with Disabilities Act
2. True or False: The ADA only applies to schools.
False
(It applies to jobs, schools, transportation, and all public places.)
3. What is a "Reasonable Accommodation"?
Changes made to a setting (job, school, etc.) that allow a person with a disability to participate equally. Examples: extra time, specialized equipment, modified tasks.
Part 2: Real-Life Advocacy (Sample Responses)
At Home Scenario
Discuss with parents or guardians. Advocate for a chore change.
"I want to help with chores, but the dish soap smell makes me feel sick. Could I take out the trash or vacuum instead?"
Work/School Scenario
Use the Speak Up Script with a teacher or supervisor.
"I have a disability that makes it hard for me to remember verbal steps. Because of this, I might miss a part of the project. It would help me if I could have a written checklist. Does that work for you?"
Community Scenario
Identify a helper.
A waiter, restaurant manager, or a host/hostess.
The Big Question
Why be calm and clear?
Being calm helps the other person listen and understand. It makes it a professional conversation about rights rather than an argument, which usually leads to better results.
Speak Up Exit Ticket Stage Exit
Self-Advocacy Reflection
Name
Date
1
Which part of the "Speak Up Script" do you think is the MOST important? Why?
2
The ADA protects my rights in: (Circle all that apply)
Public Parks
A Job Site
Public Buses
Restaurants
3
How confident do you feel advocating for yourself right now?
Not Ready
Super Ready
Remember: Your voice is your most powerful tool!
Speak Up Teacher Guide Director's Script
Self-Advocacy Lesson Plan
60-90 MIN
Learning Objectives
Identify what self-advocacy means and its importance.
Explain basic rights protected by the ADA.
Apply the "Speak Up Script" to scenarios in home, work, and community.
Materials Needed
Opening Act Warmup
Speak Up Slides
Advocacy Action Sheet
Exit Ticket
Pacing Guide
10m
Warm-Up: Opening Act
Students complete the reflection worksheet. Teacher Tip: Encourage students to share with a partner to build comfort speaking about needs.
20m
Instruction: Speak Up Slides
Present the fundamentals. Focus on the Speak Up Script . Model it using a silly scenario (e.g., "I need an accommodation to eat pizza every Friday") to lower anxiety.
30m
Activity: Advocacy Action
Guided reading followed by scenario practice. Differentiation: For students who struggle with writing, allow them to record their "Speak Up Script" as a voice memo or role-play it.
10m
Debrief & Exit Ticket
Quickly review: What is the ADA? When should you advocate? Students complete the "Stage Exit" ticket.
Discussion Deep-Dive
"Can I get in trouble?"
Address the fear of being seen as "difficult." Emphasize that the ADA is a law that protects them from retaliation.
"Why do I need to know the law?"
Frame the ADA as a tool. Knowing the law helps them feel confident because they know they are asking for something they are legally entitled to.
