Family Tip Sheet: Supporting Independence and Self-Advocacy

Independence and self-advocacy grow through everyday practice, and families play a powerful role. Self-advocacy means a child can understand what they need and stand up for it. Use this tip sheet for practical ways to build those skills at home: encouraging your child to express needs and preferences, helping them name the supports that give them access such as interpreters or captions, building independence through daily routines, inviting them into family decisions, and reinforcing these skills out in the community. Each idea includes a home-and-school connection so you can match what your child is practicing at school.