The following information is from the Aldercentre in Toronto and provides excellent ways that adults with learning disabilities can self advocate.

How to Effectively Self-Advocate

Adults with learning disabilities can learn how to self-advocate when curriculum shows how to: (a) make informed decisions; (b) set goals; (c) communicate interests, needs, and rights to achieve goals; (d) take responsibility for decisions and advocacy; (e) apply self advocacy information, skills, and strategies across a variety of situations; and (f) link with support resources or agencies in the community that will provide the adult with opportunities to develop self-advocacy skills over time.

To many people, literacy is more than being able to read. Being literate means being able to perform a variety of functions independently and to fully participate in and enjoy life. Teaching an adult to be a self-advocate involves a combination of strategies, social skills, and knowledge. Self-advocacy curricula should include the following characteristics.

Understanding of the Individual's Learning Disability

Adults need to know the characteristics of their learning disability and how these characteristics affect their learning. They should learn how to detect situations in which their learning disabilities may cause a learning or performance problem.

Learner's Legal Rights and Responsibilities

Adults should be fully informed of their rights under the law, the responsibilities of employers and agencies related to providing equal access to services for adults with learning disabilities, and the mechanisms that are in place to obtain these rights. Advocating for these rights should include instruction in self-understanding and self-assertion.

Social Skills for Seeking Help and Cooperation

Adults should be taught social skills for situations such as requesting the information they need about testing or other situations in which they may need accommodations. They also need to be taught the appropriate ways to share specific and relevant information with professiona ls and employers.