Self-Advocacy & Learning Disabilities

Self-advocacy gives students with learning disabilities the confidence to ask for the tools they need to be successful in the real world. The strategy not only benefits children at school, but in explaining their learning disability to friends and family members.¹

While self-advocacy was originally taught to adults with learning disabilities, educators and parents have found that teaching the strategy at a younger age gives students the chance to practice and build confidence in asking for what they need.²

Four steps to self-advocacy

Know your strengths
Be aware of your weaknesses
Identify strategies to overcome those weaknesses
Effectively communicate those needs to others

how parents can encourage self-advocacy

When your child is struggling in school, the impulsive reaction is to jump in and speak on their behalf. In the long run, though, the best approach is to teach your child to be his or her own best advocate.

For Younger Students: Talk with Your Child’s Teacher
When your child is younger, it’s up to you to make his or her teacher aware of any learning disabilities. The more information that is on the table, the better the relationship can be between parent, teacher, and child.

For Older Students: Involve Them in the IEP Process
An Independent Education Plan (IEP) is a legal document that lists a child’s learning needs, the accommodations the school will provide, and how progress will be measured.³

As early as fifth and sixth grade, students can begin attending their own IEP meetings to advocate for themselves. Participating in the IEP meeting is an important and empowering opportunity for the student to speak up about what they need to be successful in the classroom.

Teaching Self-Advocacy: Kindergarten through Fourth Grade

Identify Strengths, One Weakness, and Strategies
Work with younger students on identifying their strengths, one weakness, and strategies for overcoming challenges. Specifics are important here, so encourage the child to come up with detailed answers, for example:
- Strengths: “I’m great at math facts.”
- Weakness: “I have trouble reading because I have dyslexia.”
- Strategies to Help: “Books on tape.”
Start Conversations Through Literature
Literature can be a great way to get younger children thinking about learning disabilities through the lens of other characters. A Walk in the Rain with the Brain by Edward M. Hallowell, MD, is a picture and rhyming book that talks about how the brain works in a way early elementary students can understand.

Teaching Self-Advocacy: Grades Five through Nine

Research Strengths, Weaknesses, and Strategies
Pull in interactive resources for students to study and discuss, for example:
- Share articles or excerpts from LD Online and start a class discussion about how students can apply these strategies to their own lives
- Have students explore the Headstrong Nation site, where they can take interactive assessments to identify their specific areas of strength and weakness
Start Conversations Through Literature
Literature is another way to open up a deeper conversation about strengths, weaknesses, and strategies for success. Two great recommendations for older students are:
- The Survival Guide for Kids with LD by Gary Fisher, PhD and Rhoda Cummings, EdD
- The Survival Guide for Teenagers with LD by Gary Fisher, PhD and Rhoda Cummings, EdD
Invite Guest Speakers to Share Their Experiences
Older students also benefit from seeing how self-advocacy works in the real world. Have guest speakers share their own stories, providing examples of how they’ve used self-advocacy at school, at home, and among friends.