Self-Advocacy & Self-Advocacy & Self-DeterminationSelf-Determination

Mike WalkerMike Walker

UNIV1011: University UNIV1011: University SuccessSuccess

November 22, 2007 November 22, 2007

Edited 2012 Lisa HebgenEdited 2012 Lisa Hebgen

What is Self-Advocacy? What is Self-Advocacy?

►advocate (verb) - to speak or write in advocate (verb) - to speak or write in favour of; defend; recommendfavour of; defend; recommend

►advocate (noun) - one who pleads the advocate (noun) - one who pleads the cause of another; an intercessorcause of another; an intercessor

(Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary)(Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary)

►Therefore, a self-advocate is one who Therefore, a self-advocate is one who pleads one’s own cause. pleads one’s own cause.

What is Self-Advocacy?What is Self-Advocacy?

Identifying what you Identifying what you needneed and being and being able to able to actact to get/achieve it. to get/achieve it.

► Self-advocacy may be rooted in Self-advocacy may be rooted in needneed or in or in ‘rights’‘rights’ and may be expressed by any of and may be expressed by any of the advocacy movements.the advocacy movements.

► Based on the concept of Based on the concept of fairnessfairness not not wantwant..► Although self-advocacy is a personal quest, Although self-advocacy is a personal quest,

the practice of self-advocacy may result in the practice of self-advocacy may result in becoming an advocate for others.becoming an advocate for others.

Concept of Need: Concept of Need: Maslow’s HierarchyMaslow’s Hierarchy

►Maslow identified and classified the nature Maslow identified and classified the nature of human need in his hierarchy.of human need in his hierarchy.

For what Need might you For what Need might you self-advocate?self-advocate?

► At schoolAt school extra help from a extra help from a

professorprofessor a concession from a a concession from a

roommate (quiet, roommate (quiet, study time, etc.)study time, etc.)

a study partnera study partner a concession due to a concession due to

an illness or an illness or unexpected eventunexpected event

► At work/in lifeAt work/in life help around the help around the

househouse respect from family respect from family

or colleaguesor colleagues a job/positiona job/position a raise or benefita raise or benefit equal treatmentequal treatment freedom from freedom from

harassment or harassment or discriminationdiscrimination

Traits of a Self-AdvocateTraits of a Self-Advocate

► an awareness of one’s strengths and an awareness of one’s strengths and limitationslimitations

► a sense of purpose/sense of fairness or a sense of purpose/sense of fairness or justice/strength of convictionjustice/strength of conviction

► an ability seek out information, an ability seek out information, resources or resource personsresources or resource persons

► an ability to problem solvean ability to problem solve► an ability to argue one’s case clearly an ability to argue one’s case clearly

with controlled emotionwith controlled emotion

Mike’s Self-Advocacy ModelMike’s Self-Advocacy Model

Steps in Mike’s Model of Self-Steps in Mike’s Model of Self-AdvocacyAdvocacy

► IdentificationIdentification realization of a need for help/actionrealization of a need for help/action

►Meta-awarenessMeta-awareness evaluation of personal skills/abilitiesevaluation of personal skills/abilities

► Advocacy trainingAdvocacy training help in areas of personal ‘non-strength’help in areas of personal ‘non-strength’

► Practicing self-advocacyPracticing self-advocacy applying these skills in your lifeapplying these skills in your life

► Becoming an advocateBecoming an advocate using these skills to help othersusing these skills to help others

Self-DeterminationSelf-Determination

Based on a presentation by Based on a presentation by

Bigaj, Kosko & Smith, 2000Bigaj, Kosko & Smith, 2000

Self-DeterminationSelf-Determination

Knowing what you Knowing what you wantwant and and beingbeing ableable to get it to get it

► Self-determination may be rooted in Self-determination may be rooted in desiredesire and may be expressed by many of and may be expressed by many of the success/motivational movements.the success/motivational movements.

► Based on the concepts of Based on the concepts of goal settinggoal setting, , planningplanning, and , and acquiring skills/knowledgeacquiring skills/knowledge..

A Definition of A Definition of Self-DeterminationSelf-Determination

►The ability to define and achieve goals The ability to define and achieve goals based on a foundation of knowing and based on a foundation of knowing and valuing oneself.valuing oneself.

►Examples:Examples: learning self-confidencelearning self-confidence defending your positiondefending your position problem-solvingproblem-solving making tough decisionsmaking tough decisions being a causal agentbeing a causal agent

in one’s lifein one’s life

Why practice Why practice Self-Determination?Self-Determination?

Successful, self-determined personsSuccessful, self-determined persons understand and accept their limitationsunderstand and accept their limitations are proactive and reduce stressare proactive and reduce stress are persistent and focused on goalsare persistent and focused on goals use support systemsuse support systems capitalize on strengthscapitalize on strengths find creative ways to compensate and find creative ways to compensate and

problem solveproblem solve

Applying Self-Determination to get what you Want

►At school goal settinggoal setting using school using school

resources/personsresources/persons planning graduation planning graduation

(academic advisor)(academic advisor) planning for a planning for a

career/post-graduate career/post-graduate workwork

identifying and identifying and developing desired developing desired skillsskills

►At work/In life goal setting life-longlife-long education career planning financial planningfinancial planning using communitycommunity/

human resources planning for family, planning for family,

home, retirementhome, retirement planning for travel,

quality time, etc.

Self-Determination Skills:Self-Determination Skills:

► Self knowledgeSelf knowledge► Choice makingChoice making► Problem solvingProblem solving►Decision makingDecision making► Self-advocacy or Self-advocacy or

leadershipleadership►Goal setting and Goal setting and

attainmentattainment

► IndependenceIndependence► Risk-taking and Risk-taking and

safetysafety► Self-regulationSelf-regulation► Reflection Reflection (self-(self-

observation & evaluation)observation & evaluation)

►Negotiation and Negotiation and interpersonal interpersonal communicationcommunication

Taking Risks.Taking Risks.

I have missed over 9,000 shots in my career.I have missed over 9,000 shots in my career.

I have lost almost 300 games.I have lost almost 300 games.

26 times I have been trusted to take the game 26 times I have been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed.winning shot and missed.

I have failed over and over again in my life, I have failed over and over again in my life, and that is why I succeed.and that is why I succeed.

Michael JordanMichael Jordan

A F r amewor k f or S elf - D et er minat ion

E x per ience and Lear n

A ct

Plan

Know & Value Y our self

Model of Self-DeterminationModel of Self-Determination

Factors influencing adult Factors influencing adult success…success…

►Setting goals & planningSetting goals & planning►Understanding self Understanding self ►Courage & perseveranceCourage & perseverance►Control & proactivityControl & proactivity►Emotional coping strategiesEmotional coping strategies►Self-advocacySelf-advocacy►Support systemsSupport systems

Acronym spells…Acronym spells…

►SSetting goals & planningetting goals & planning►UUnderstanding self nderstanding self ►CCourage & perseveranceourage & perseverance►CControl & proactivityontrol & proactivity►EEmotional coping strategiesmotional coping strategies►SSelf-advocacyelf-advocacy►SSupport systemsupport systems

Research Summary states…Research Summary states…

►““These factors have a greater These factors have a greater influence on adult success and influence on adult success and happiness than gender, happiness than gender, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, academic skill or IQ.” academic skill or IQ.”

(Raskind et al, 1999)(Raskind et al, 1999)