Wellness Works: March is the time to focus on Self-Advocacy
March 4, 2024
GUELPH, ON – As we move closer to the end of the school year, the Upper Grand District School Board and Wellness Works committee are using March as a time to reflect on self-advocacy.
The practice of self-advocacy is learning how to communicate your strengths, needs, interests and goals to others. It includes being able to self-identify in what areas of support would be beneficial.
Steps to self-advocacy involve:
- Speaking up for yourself
- Knowing where to find information you need
- Knowing your rights and responsibilities
- Finding people who support you and reaching out when you need help
- Solving problems
- And more
Different factors can impact someone’s ability to self-advocate, including aspects of their identity and their previous lived experiences. Self-advocacy can also be impacted by how spaces and people are working to include and celebrate the diverse identities that exist. For some, advocacy happens through another person.
If this is a conversation you can have with your child(ren) or students, there are important considerations to include.
This month, parents/caregivers and teachers can review some prompts that might be useful conversation starters:
- How do you know when things are not going well for you? How could someone else tell if things are not going well for you?
- What can you do to help yourself when things aren’t going well?
- Who can you go to (at home, at school, etc.) when you need a little extra help or support?
- What strengths do you have that can support you when you are experiencing challenges?
- What things make it easier or harder for you to talk about yourself and your potential needs?
- What might impact another’s ability to communicate their needs and why is that important to keep in mind?
Other ideas that you can consider when talking about self-advocacy include:
- Brainstorm a list of coping strategies. Write them down or put them on little cards/pieces of paper in an easy to find space so you can always have a “toolbox” close by.
- Make a list of your “go to” people. Consider who they are at home? At school? Other places?
- Ask your child or students to think of something they have done that they are proud of. Work with them to identify how that event demonstrated some of their skills and strengths.
Let us know what you learn about self-advocacy this month using #MHUG.
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The Wellness Works Committee
Categories: News Tags: Mental Health • Wellness Works