SELF-ADVOCACY
PRACTICES
Self-advocacy Practice
for Instructor Meetings
Questions you need to be prepared to address:
(Write out answers if needed to practice or role play)
1. What is your disability?
You do not have to give a medical diagnosis and/or
cause of your disability. You need to state that
you have verified disability documentation on file
in the DSS or EDC office.
For example: “I have documentation of
a disability on file in the DSS office and have
used services for the past two quarters.”
2. What are the educational limitations of your
disability for that class?
You do have to explain your disability as you understand
how it relates to the class.
For example: “I have a disability related
to my fine motor coordination, and as a result,
I can’t write quickly enough to take effective
notes” or “I take medication for my disability
and it slows my thinking skills and motor reaction
time.”
3. Emphasize your abilities, strengths, and special
interests in the class.
For example: “I have good long-term
memory - once I learn something, I’ve got it.”
or “I am in pre-law and political science is
my most important class this quarter.
4. What are you doing to maximize your abilities
and to compensate for your disability to succeed
in that class?
Explain what the DSP&S Counselor or Learning
Disability Specialist has recommended you do to
succeed in the class. Include the extra effort you
put forth.
For example: “I spend extra time studying,
using the SQ3R method” or “I use the Kurzweil
3000 to help me read my text” or “I use
DSP&S tutoring services.” or “I just
finished college study skills class last quarter”.
5. What accommodation(s) from the instructor would
help you learn in that class?
Explain what the DSP&S Counselor or Learning
Disability Specialist has recommended for classroom
accommodations or provide the accommodation letters.
What has worked for you in other classes? You have
to be specific to explain your need.
For example: “I will need a volunteer
note-taker to take notes because, due to my disability,
I have difficulty listening and taking good notes
at the same time.” or “Since I am a strong
auditory learner and a poor speller, I will need
to tape the class to get a good set of notes.”
6. What accommodation(s) from the instructor
would help you demonstrate your knowledge in that
class, e.g., type of testing procedure?
Explain what the DSP&S counselor or Learning
Disability Specialist has recommended. You have
to be specific to explain your need.
For example: “I will use extra time
to take tests because it takes me longer to write
due to the weakness in my hands” or “I
need to take major tests in an environment with
reduced distraction because I have difficulty concentrating
in a room full of other people which causes me to
forget the steps to solving the equations.”
7. Are these accommodations reasonable?
Based on the impact of your disability and the law, the DSP&S Counselor or Learning Disability Specialist will suggest accommodations that do not cause undue burden, and do not cause a fundamental alteration of the course content and procedures.
For example: If you asked the instructor
to give you the tests individually, that would be
unreasonable, causing an undue burden. If you asked
to be excused from taking tests, that would be a
fundamental alteration of the course which requires
testing. The instructor may have suggestions for
additional accommodations. If these suggestions
do not relate to your disability, inform the DSP&S
Counselor or Learning Disability Specialist who
will then discuss and help resolve the issue with
the instructor.
Questions you may also
want to ask the instructor:
a.What do you recommend that I do to succeed
in your class?
b. What is the best way for me to study for
your class?
c. What is the best way for me to prepare
for your tests?
d. Could I get into a study group?
e. What supplementary materials such as video-tapes,
study guides, etc. are available?
f. What are the alternative projects, assignments,
or ways to demonstrate an understanding of
class content?
g. Could I check in with you every two weeks
or so to see if my work is either satisfactory or
not satisfactory or to see if I have any outstanding
assignments?
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