Self-advocacy is a student's ability to stand up for what they need; access advocacy is asking for the tools that give full access to information, such as interpreters, captions, or visuals. Use this checklist to reflect on how intentionally your program teaches and practices these skills. It looks at whether self-advocacy is built into the curriculum, whether students learn early to notice when access is missing and how to ask for it, whether students help set their own goals, and whether they practice these skills with different people and in different settings over time. Use it to name strengths and decide where to build students' independence next.
Because of your selected audience type, you may also enjoy the following related resources.
A student-friendly self-check learners use to reflect on how they learn, how they ask for the access they need, and how they take part in decisions about their own goals.
A checklist PreK and kindergarten teachers use to build young children's independence, communication, and early self-advocacy: asking for help, taking turns, and expressing needs.
A tip sheet staff use as a quick reference for what strong transition practice looks like, building the independence, advocacy, and autonomy deaf and hard of hearing students need.