Self-advocacy is a student's ability to understand how they learn and ask for what they need. This checklist helps teachers reflect on how well they build that skill in everyday instruction. It covers five areas: giving students real ownership and choice, teaching them to recognize and request access to information, releasing responsibility so students work independently, involving students in setting their own goals, and helping skills transfer across settings and adults. Each section ends with honest questions about your impact and next steps. Use it to examine your own practice and decide what to strengthen, with expectations matched to your grade level.
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.