Self Determination Instructional Design

A graduate-level sequence focused on the instructional methodology for teaching self-advocacy skills, specifically requesting accommodations. Graduate students will learn to task-analyze requests, design tiered scripts, facilitate behavioral rehearsals, collect data on advocacy behaviors, and plan for generalization.

Anatomy of a Request

Students break down the act of requesting an accommodation into discrete cognitive and behavioral steps. This granular analysis serves as the foundation for targeted instruction.

Tiered Communication Scripts

Participants evaluate and create tiered communication templates (email vs. in-person, initial request vs. follow-up). They learn how to differentiate these scripts for students with varying language processing abilities.

Coaching the Rehearsal

Graduate students practice the 'feedback loop' method: modeling a request, having the learner rehearse, and providing immediate, corrective feedback. The lesson focuses on managing the affective filter and anxiety students feel during these interactions.

Measuring Advocacy Progress

This lesson focuses on how to measure self-advocacy. Students design data collection tools (checklists, rubrics) to track the frequency and quality of student accommodation requests over time.

Generalization and Systems Think

Students develop strategies to help learners generalize advocacy skills beyond the resource room to general education classrooms and community settings. The focus is on creating a 'culture of advocacy' within a school building.