Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD)
Self-Advocacy
What is self-advocacy?
Individuals with self-advocacy are able to represent their wants, needs, and views through effective means such as communication, action, and setting appropriate boundaries. Strong self-advocacy skills improve academic achievement, social relationships, and independence within the community. Strong self-advocacy skills ultimately lead to improved quality of life and sense of self.
Hear how Abbey Edwards, with her service and companion dog Kathy, use self-advocacy on a daily basis in this TedTalk video. Click HERE.
Do I have self-advocacy?
Determining your strengths and weaknesses can help you better understand your level of self-advocacy. Below are links to help you determine your self-advocacy skills.
Complete the self-advocacy checklist! Choose the level of help you need on a scale from 1 (never need help) to 5 (always need help). This simple and quick checklist tells you which areas you can focus on improving and which areas you already excel in! To complete the checklist, click HERE.
Know yourself! In this link you can find resources to help you learn more about your learning style, personality traits, strengths, and weaknesses. Resources are provided through Colorado State University. Click HERE.
Understanding My Disability
Understanding your disability is an important building block to develop your communication skills and support your self-advocacy efforts in academic and community settings. Even if your disability is not listed below, self-advocacy skills can be beneficial for anyone.
Click the links below for information on the following topics:
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Link with information about ASD – click HERE.
Video describing ASD – click HERE.
Anxiety Disorders
Link with information about anxiety disorders – click HERE.
Video describing anxiety disorders – click HERE.
Depression
Link with information about depression – click HERE.
Video describing depression – click HERE.
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Link with information about ADHD – click HERE.
Video describing ADHD – click HERE.
Communication Skills
Tips for successful communication with professors! Below are resources that will help you understand how to effectively communicate your academic needs to faculty and staff.
- Communicating with Professors and Potential Employees. Click HERE.
- Communicating Concerns or Issues with Professors. Click HERE.
- Tips on the Do’s and Dont’s for Emailing! Click HERE.
Don’t feel like reading? Check out this video from professors giving direct tips on communicating effectively with them (click HERE).