How do I get started?

Are you a student who experiences difficulties at times with learning?

When anyone struggles with learning, it can be frustrating.  For some teens, it can feel like they don’t have any control over what they learn or how they learn at school.  By working through the learning modules in this site, it is hoped that you will develop some strategies to take control over your learning.  We often refer to some of these strategies as self-advocacy.  What is self-advocacy?  Maybe it’s a mindset or “a choice to take control over your life.”

Watch the video below to learn more about someone who felt like things were out of control, and how she found ways to gain it back.

How do we define self-advocacy for teens?

Self-advocacy is the ability to speak up and ask for what you need.  Self-advocacy is very important as it can help you to take control over your life.

To get a sense of why self-advocacy is so important, watch the next video:

Overview of the Learning Modules:

On this website, you can work through three learning modules to assist you in speaking up for yourself.  They are designed for students who have struggled with learning and want to perform better in school.  All of the modules will help you develop the self-advocacy skills to take more control over your school and life.

Module 1: Learning About Yourself: To be a good self-advocate, you need to have a good understanding of your strengths and needs.  Explore the activities in this section to learn more about your self.  You must know what you need and what supports exist before you can ask for it.

Module 2: Know Your Rights: To be a successful self-advocate, you must know what your rights are as a student.  Explore the activities in this section to learn more about your rights as a student and the supports you can access to best perform in school.  You must know what you are entitled to before you can ask for supports.

Module 3: Communication: To be an effective self-advocate, you need to have confidence and communication skills.  Explore the activities in this section to develop your communication skills and learn some strategies for expressing yourself.  You must communicate clearly in order to get the supports you need.

The NDC has provided a great graphic below to help teens understand the concept of self-advocacy. Check it out:

Explore the Self-Advocacy: Learning Modules