Self-advocacy
Self-advocacy refers to an individual's ability to effectively communicate, convey, negotiate or assert his or her own interests, desires, needs and rights. It involves making informed decisions and taking responsibility for those decisions (VanReusen et al., 1994). The resources in this section are intended to provide people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families the tools and information needed to become effective self-advocates.
Resources
- Partners Resource Network offers several free, online courses, including "Making Your Case," designed to help people with disabilities and their families create positive change through advocacy. (Registration and log-in is required.)
- The Autistic Self-Advocacy Network's webpage on Self-Advocacy and Representation includes articles about people's first-hand experiences as self-advocates.
- Autism Today hosts the article "Learning the Skills of Self-Advocacy and Disclosure," written by Stephen M. Shore, who has ASD.
- Kids As Self-Advocates, a national grass-roots project created by youth with disabilities for youth, offers resources on a variety of topics to help teenagers and young adults make choices and advocate for themselves.
- "Ask And Tell: Self-advocacy And Disclosure For People On The Autism Spectrum" is a book edited by Stephen M. Shore.
Updated: April 18, 2013