Self-Advocacy Workshop Lesson Plan

Materials - ppt projector, soundfield system, mics, chart paper,

markers
Set-Up - 4 tables with chairs on one side in semi-circle with opening
facing the front to accommodate small group discussion and attention
and visual access to front of classroom
Icebreakers, Energizers & Team-building (15 min)
Name Game
Organize yourselves into a circle in order of your birth dates. (Jan 1 Dec 31)
Form a circle with everyone standing up. The first person says their
name and makes a motion or Symbol to represent him/herself.
The next person repeats the name and symbol of the person before
them, then says their names and adds their symbol. The next person
repeats the name and symbol of the person before them and then adds
their own. Repeat until everyone in the circle has gone.
Hook
Video - A Perspective on Hearing- Kelsie: https://vimeo.com/44541800
(10 mins)
Discussion/brainstorming
Discuss what advocacy is. (5 min)
What is the definition of advocacy?
-easier to understand what advocacy is with real life examples
Small group brainstorming graphic organizers discussing what
they view as self-advocacy in different scenarios and what theyve
done for themselves before. (markers and chart paper) (15 mins)
Give different situations - what would they do in these
situations?

(1) Youre new at the school and youre standing around with new
acquaintances and they are talking about a party happening this
weekend but the hallway is too loud and you cant hear what they are
saying. what can you do?

(2) Youre in a new school/classroom and the teacher talks really

quickly and causes you to miss large chunks of information. what can
you do? (accommodations)

(3) You're at soccer practice and the coach often stops the
practices and explains new drills by shouting out directions. you miss
all the instructions and get blamed for messing up the drills. what can
you do? (space, distance, oral only instruction)

(4) You are at a large family dinner with everyone, even your
aunts/uncles and cousins. Everyone is talking at the same time and
you are having a hard time keeping up to the fast pace of the
discussion. This has happened before, and you are starting to feel left
out, what do you do? (multiple speakers, background noise, unaware
participants)

o Discussion: Share with the larger group (10 mins)

Conclude: the importance of advocating for oneself

Discuss ways they can advocate in less visible ways (shy

students)
Discuss the importance of advocating for oneself (Confidence,
Assertiveness)
Question Game (This could be good to do at the end, they could be
thinking/writing the questions as the hour goes on) (5-10mins)
Each person writes down a question they want answered in the group. Roll
up the questions into a ball. As a group we can discuss some of the
questions and have students volunteer suggestions. You can have
more than one round and ask students to ask questions that increase
risk.