Your Job Your Voice Lesson Plan Your Job, Your Voice!
Professional Empowerment Series
2 Hours
Objective
Equip the individual with self-advocacy strategies for job searching and employment, enabling confident communication of strengths and needs.
Audience
Adult Male with Disabilities (Tier 3 Individualized Instruction)
Why This Matters
Self-advocacy is vital for individuals with disabilities to secure appropriate employment and thrive in the workplace, ensuring their voices are heard and needs are met.
Preparation & Materials
Prep Tasks
Review all linked materials (Slide Deck, Reading, Worksheets, Quiz, Test).
Prepare a comfortable and private setting for the individualized session.
Ensure access to a computer or tablet for presenting the slide deck.
Materials List
Your Job, Your Voice! Slide Deck
Understanding Self-Advocacy Reading
Self-Advocacy Scenarios Worksheet
Job Search Discussion Guide
Advocacy Check Quiz
Employment Advocacy Test
Lesson Flow
01 15 min
Introduction: What is Self-Advocacy?
• Begin with a warm greeting and introduce the topic using the Slide Deck (Slides 1-2).
• Facilitate an initial discussion using the Discussion Guide to gauge prior understanding.
• Explain the importance of self-advocacy in daily life, especially in job searching.
02 25 min
Understanding Your Rights and Strengths
• Present information on disability rights using the Slide Deck (Slides 3-4).
• Distribute the Reading , highlighting legal protections and personal strengths.
• Engage in a discussion about personal strengths and their relation to job opportunities.
03 30 min
Communicating Needs and Accommodations
• Use the Slide Deck (Slides 5-7) to discuss effective communication strategies.
• Guide the individual through the Scenarios Worksheet , focusing on practical application.
• Role-play scenarios from the worksheet, providing constructive feedback.
04 20 min
Navigating the Job Interview
• Cover interview strategies using the Slide Deck (Slides 8-9).
• Discuss when/how to disclose a disability and frame accommodation requests positively.
• Role-play an interview scenario, emphasizing confident and clear communication.
05 30 min
Wrap-up and Assessment
• Administer the Advocacy Check Quiz to assess immediate comprehension.
• Review the quiz together, clarifying any misconceptions.
• Provide the Employment Advocacy Test as a take-home assessment.
Your Job Your Voice Slide Deck Your Job, Your Voice!
Self-Advocacy for Your Career Journey
Teacher Notes: Welcome the student. Express enthusiasm. Briefly introduce self-advocacy and its importance in employment.
What is Self-Advocacy?
It's about having your voice heard.
Speaking up for yourself
Knowing your rights
Communicating your needs
Making informed choices
Discussion Point
"Why is this important for getting a job?"
Teacher Notes: Ask what they think self-advocacy means. Discuss prior experiences. Emphasize speaking up.
Your Rights in the Workplace
The ADA
Americans with Disabilities Act
Protects against discrimination.
Ensures equal opportunity.
Accommodations
Reasonable Accommodations
Changes at work that help you do your job.
Employers must provide them (unless undue hardship).
Teacher Notes: Explain ADA key protections. Highlight that accommodations are a legal requirement, not a favor.
Knowing Your Strengths
You are your own best asset.
What are you good at?
What makes you unique?
How do these help you in a job?
Your strengths are valuable assets to any employer!
Teacher Notes: Guide student to identify unique strengths. Encourage thinking beyond technical skills (e.g., reliability, persistence).
Communicating Your Needs
1
Be Clear and Direct
2
Use "I" Statements
3
Active Listening
The "I" Statement Kit
"I need a quiet space to focus..."
"I prefer written instructions..."
"I understand the goal is..."
Teacher Notes: Explain 'I' statements. Discuss how to articulate needs respectfully but firmly.
Requesting Accommodations
What are they?
Changes to the work environment or process.
Understanding Self Advocacy Reading Resource Guide
Understanding Self-Advocacy
Your Power in the Job Search
What is Self-Advocacy?
Self-advocacy is about understanding your own needs , knowing your rights, and speaking up for yourself. It means taking an active role in making decisions about your life and communicating those decisions to others. It’s about being your own best champion.
Why is it important for getting a job?
1
Find the Right Fit
Knowing what you need helps you find workplaces that will support you.
2
Communicate Effectively
Clearly tell employers about your strengths and accommodations.
3
Ensure Fair Treatment
Stand up for your rights and make sure you are treated fairly.
4
Build Confidence
Practice helps you feel more in control of your career journey.
Your Rights: The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal law that protects individuals with disabilities from discrimination. In employment, it ensures that you have the same opportunities as everyone else.
Reasonable Accommodations
These are modifications to a job or environment that enable you to perform your duties. Employers must provide them unless it causes an "undue hardship."
Ramps / Access
Modified Schedules
Screen Readers
Task Restructuring
Steps to Effective Self-Advocacy
Know Yourself: Understand your strengths and what support you need to excel.
Know Your Rights: Familiarize yourself with the ADA. Knowledge is power.
Communicate Clearly: Practice direct, polite, and confident communication.
Prepare and Practice: Role-playing different situations builds confidence.
Self Advocacy Scenarios Worksheet Self-Advocacy Scenarios
Putting Your Voice Into Action
NAME: ___________________________
DATE: ___________________________
Instructions: Read each scenario carefully. In the space provided, write down how you would advocate for yourself. Think about what you would say and what steps you would take.
01
The Interview Location Challenge
"You have an important job interview scheduled for next week. You find out the office building has several stairs to enter, but you use a wheelchair and there doesn't appear to be a ramp. You are worried about how you will get inside."
How would you advocate for yourself to ensure you can access the interview?
02
Communication Needs
"During a job interview, the interviewer is speaking very quickly and quietly, making it difficult for you to process the questions and respond effectively. You are starting to feel overwhelmed."
How would you advocate for yourself to ensure you can understand and participate?
03
Discussing Accommodations
"You have been offered a job! The job requires you to use a specific computer program, but due to a visual impairment, you would need screen-reading software. You haven't mentioned your visual impairment yet."
How would you advocate for the reasonable accommodation you need to succeed?
04
Performance Review Disconnect
"Six months in, your manager is concerned about your speed compared to others. You feel your pace is appropriate given your work style and accommodations, and your quality of work is excellent."
How would you advocate for yourself to ensure your performance is understood fairly? Job Search Self Advocacy Discussion Guide Facilitator Guide
Job Search Self-Advocacy Discussion
Prompts for an open and honest career conversation.
Instructions: Use these questions to guide a conversation about self-advocacy and its role in finding and keeping a job. Encourage the individual to share personal experiences and thoughts.
Understanding Self-Advocacy
1. In your own words, what does "self-advocacy" mean to you?
2. Can you think of a time when you had to speak up for yourself or ask for something you needed? What happened?
3. Why do you think self-advocacy is especially important when you are looking for a job?
Your Rights and Needs
1. What are some of your greatest strengths or skills that you would bring to a job?
2. Have you heard of the ADA? What do you know about it?
3. Can you think of any examples of "reasonable accommodations" that might be helpful for you?
Communicating Confidently
1. What makes it easy or hard for you to communicate what you need to others?
2. Imagine you are in an interview and you don't understand a question. What could you say to advocate for yourself in that moment?
3. When is a good time to discuss an accommodation you might need? Why?
Moving Forward
1. What is one new thing you learned about self-advocacy today?
2. What is one step you can take this week to practice your skills outside of job searching?
Advocacy Check Quiz Advocacy Check Quiz
Quick Knowledge Check
NAME: __________________
DATE: __________________
01
In your own words, what does self-advocacy mean?
02
The ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) protects individuals from discrimination in which area?
Only education
Only housing
Employment and other areas of public life
Only transportation
03
What is a "reasonable accommodation" in the workplace? Give one example.
04
Which of these is a good strategy for communicating your needs effectively?
Being vague and indirect
Using "I" statements to express your feelings and needs
Expecting others to guess what you need
Staying silent and hoping for the best
05
Why is it important to know your strengths when looking for a job?
06
True or False: You are always required to disclose your disability to a potential employer during the interview process.
True
False
07
Describe one way you can practice self-advocacy skills in your daily life.
Employment Advocacy Test Employment Advocacy Test
Summative Assessment of Skills and Knowledge
STUDENT: __________________
SCORE: _______ / _______
01
Define self-advocacy and explain why it is crucial for individuals with disabilities during their job search and throughout employment.
02
Which federal law prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in employment?
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Civil Rights Act of 1964
03
List three examples of reasonable accommodations that an employer might provide.
04
Scenario: You are interviewing for a job, and the interviewer asks a question that you find confusing. What specific steps would you take to advocate for yourself?
Think about your tone of voice, what you would say, and how you would ensure you understand before answering.
05
When is an employer generally required to provide a reasonable accommodation?
Only if they feel like it
Only for employees who have worked there for over a year
When it enables performance of essential functions, unless it causes undue hardship
Never, it's optional
06
Describe a strategy for communicating your needs clearly and confidently to an employer.
07
Scenario: You get a job offer, but the work schedule conflicts with an important medical appointment every Tuesday morning. How would you advocate for a modified schedule?
08
Which statement best describes the disclosure of a disability during a job interview?
You must always disclose your disability immediately.
You are never allowed to disclose your disability.
You are not required to disclose unless you are seeking an accommodation.
It's always best to wait until after you are hired to disclose.
