Resource
Self-Advocacy Goals: 15 Ideas from the Field
Self-advocacy goals for students who are blind, visually impaired, deafblind or multiply impaired
In writing self-advocacy goals for my students, I asked colleagues about ideas they have on the topic. I have compiled their responses and share them below.
1. Try the goal bank from Texas School for the Blind.
They have a lot of goals that can be modified to meet your needs. These resources have been compiled from various schools and districts around the country and may not be formatted to conform to Texas State guidelines for IEP goals.
Anne Arundel County Public Schools (Annapolis, Maryland) share their goals on self-advocacy in their IEP bank.
2. Determine need for magnification and teach student to enlarge on a copier.
I have had a student with a goal to learn how to enlarge on a copier in the past. She was a senior and she needed to know how to do this herself in preparation for college. I am always a fan of students using magnification if they can, as it allows them to be more independent and efficient going forward. This may have already been done for him, but I wonder if you could do an informal reading inventory (part of LMA) to determine reading rate and comprehension using large print vs. using regular print with magnification to see which he is more successful with and then share that data with parents? Perhaps if he is just as (or even more) successful using a magnifier, they could see evidence of that in the form of data, they might be more open to having him use a magnifier. Or, if he really is more successful with large print, that data could be shared with teachers who might then be more motivated to ensure he has large print if they realized it was actually bringing down reading speed/comprehension to have to use the magnifier.
3. Invite your student to run an inservice or develop a powerpoint to train his teachers about needed accommodations.
Self-Advocacy is a great goal and will be very important for your student moving forward to high school, college, and beyond. I remember once at a CTBVI a panel of visually impaired college students who shared self-advocacy is the most important skill to learn. It sounds like your student does his job of asking for enlargements when needed. The teachers are the challenge here. I am sure they are very busy and don’t mean to not accommodate your student. From your student’s standpoint it probably is a lot easier to use large print over a CCTV or magnifier. What about low vision simulators and having the teachers be shown the difference between large print and using a magnifier or CCTV? Maybe your student could run an inservice. Or develop a PowerPoint for teachers about his vision condition and needed accommodations and email it to them. If the teachers are still not cooperating, I would speak to school admin because it is your student’s right to have the accommodations noted in his IEP.
4. Consider Using Assistive Technology
Possibly using an iPad Pro 12.9″ with an app like SnapType Pro where your student can take a picture of the worksheet, type on it and email it to the teacher? In truth, we use this set up with several elementary students – it might be harder with the volume of material in junior high. Also, the Matt Connect: Smart Tablet-Based Magnifer just came out. We are excited about it for our high school students. We just ordered and are waiting for it to come. I think looking forward to high school, your student will probably need to use his assistive technology as gen ed has a lot of unexpected twists and turns, as you well know. In high school do they use Google Docs or Google Classroom? Maybe a laptop or notebook would be for him. It would good to have that look into the future to encourage your student to be prepared and begin getting ready.
5. Writing Transition Goals and Objectives [PDF] – Connecticut
Writing Transition Goals and Objectives … Goal: Student will demonstrate self-advocacy skills in order to communicate learning style, academic and behavioral needs.
6. IEPs and Self-Advocacy | Can I Ask to Have Self-Advocacy Goals Included in My Child’s IEP?
Don’t hesitate to ask for one or more self-advocacy goals to be included in your child’s IEP. These are particularly important when designing transition plans for kids who are changing schools or preparing for life after high school. Keep in mind that there are many ways to reinforce your child’s self-advocacy skills.
7. Self-Advocacy | Families and Adults/Tool Kits/Transition Tool Kit
“Some individuals with autism can verbally communicate their goals and ideas for their adult lives. These conversations should serve as starting points to develop their transition plans.”
“Self-advocacy differs from advocacy in that the individual with the disability self-assesses a situation or problem, then speaks for his or her own needs. Learning how to do this takes practice and direct instruction.”
8. 35 Measurable Self Advocacy and Self Determination Goals
“Many people, both parents and educators, are intimidated by adding goals like these because they can be a bit more challenging to measure. Or at least that is the perception. It can actually be quite easy to measure, all you have to do is add a quantity.”
9. Transition and Self-Advocacy | LD Topics | LD OnLine
Self-advocacy is about enabling and empowering students to direct their own lives. Developing self-knowledge is the first step in self-advocacy skills.
10. Sample IEP Goals and Learning Objectives for GAP – Phonak
Self-Advocacy Competency Checklist: https://www.phonak.com/content/dam/phonak/HQ/en/support/children-and-par…
This checklist has suggested skills relating to personal health and medical information, hearing and other assistive technology use, and accommodations.
11. Self-Advocacy: A Valuable Skill for Your Teenager with LD
If your teen has a learning disability, self-awareness and self-advocacy are keys to her future success.
12. Promoting Student Self-Determination Skills in IEP Planning
“It may be that you or your colleagues have not received instruction in how to write self-determination goals and objectives for your students with disabilities. This article explores ways to increase the inclusion of self-determination and self advocacy goals and objectives in individualized education programs (IEPs) as a first step to increasing their inclusion in classroom instruction.”
13. Self-Advocacy and Personal Futures Planning
Connecticut State Department of Education/Bureau of Special Education Transition Task Force Transition Training Manual: http://www.ct.gov/brs/lib/brs/pdfs/guidepostdocs/SELFAdvocacyAndPersonal…
“Transition planning involves thinking about goals after high school and developing a long-range plan to get there.”
14. Self-Determination Units with Lesson Plans
http://www.tsbvi.edu/images/outreach/Documents/Self-DetermineUnitsTopics…
TSBVI Outreach Consultants, Scott Baltisberger and Chrissy Cowan, have created Self-Determination units with lesson plans. This document contains lessons for helping teach students how to explain their visual impairments to others and advocate for their visual needs in a variety of settings.
15. 26 Best Self-Advocacy and Goal Setting Images on Pinterest
Explore Carolann Cormier’s board “Self-Advocacy and Goal Setting” on Pinterest.
Editor’s Note: Check out our Pinterest board on Self-Determination too! https://www.pinterest.com/pathstoliteracy/self-determination-for-student…
