This document discusses self-advocacy and strategies for effective self-advocacy. It defines advocacy and self-advocacy, and discusses the benefits of self-advocacy such as improved self-esteem and communication skills. It provides tips for using positive language, managing emotions, and overcoming self-doubt when advocating for oneself. Examples of positive affirmation statements and I-messages are given. Activities are included to help the reader assess their self-image, identify feelings, and gauge their use of positive language. Overall, the document aims to equip readers with tools for speaking up confidently and effectively on their own behalf.

1. Managing Myself
Module A Part 3
Self-Advocacy (1)

2. What is advocacy?
The definition of advocacy is the act of speaking on the behalf of or in support
of another person, place, or thing.
• An example of an advocacy is a non-profit organization that works to help
women of domestic abuse who feel too afraid to speak for themselves.
Source: http://www.yourdictionary.com/advocacy

3. What is self-advocacy?
• Speaking up or writing in support of yourself
• Standing up for your rights
• Standing up against discrimination

4. Activity #1: When have you advocated for
yourself? When have others advocated for you?

5. You need to be able to advocate on behalf of
yourself.
Why?
• Some people have advocates such as family,
friends or organizations that can help with
them. However,other organizations or people
can't meet all of your needs.
• Even when you have an advocate helping
you, being a part of the process can make you
stronger and help you feel good about
yourself.

6. Benefits of Self-Advocacy
• improved self esteem
• being able to communicate effectively
• improved problem solving skills
• being more assertive
Can you think of any others?

7. Other Benefits
• In order for others to know that you disagree with them or that your rights have been
disregarded, you need to tell them!
• You know best what you feel, think, need and what your life situation is. Do not wait for
others to speak up on your behalf – it may never happen!
• The people who have the authority to make decisions over your situation may think that
every thing is fine if you do not speak up.
• By speaking out, you may be helping other people in the same or similar situations.
• You have a responsibility to take care of yourself. Speaking out will help you to keep your
self-respect and dignity, even if you do not always get what you want.
• Remember that rules may not always be fair or suitable for you. You have the right to
question rules, as they may not apply to your situation.
Source: Advocacy Curriculum (Self Help Alliance, 2010), p. 11

8. In order to advocate on your own behalf
you have to believe in yourself.
Many people self-doubt.
Examples of self-doubt statements or thoughts:
• I can't do it
• I'm not smart enough
• I'm afraid other people will laugh at what I have to say
• I am afraid I will fail
Have you ever doubted yourself?

9. Activity #2: Things I cannot do

10. Your Inner Voice
• Do you have an inner voice?
You inner voice is the sum total of all your life experiences, values and morals.
Your inner voice is driven by your conscience. It helps you determine what is
right and wrong. It also expresses how you feel about yourself.
• Is your inner voice negative or positive?

11. Activity #3: How positive is your
self-image?

12. There are many ways a person can
change negative thoughts and self-
criticism to more realistic and positive
thoughts.
Focusing on all of them at once may be
overwhelming, but focusing on a few at a
time and reminding yourself of these
positive approaches regularly can
change your self-esteem.

13. Using Positive Thought Strategies
Positive thought strategies are tools
that can help you improve your self-
esteem and become a stronger self-
advocate.

14. 1. Avoid exaggerating
2. Stop negative thoughts in their tracks
3. Be positive
4. Accept your flaws and imperfections
5. Don't be a bully!
6. Don't feel guilty about things beyond your control
7. Be kind to yourself
8. Look on the bright side
8 Positive Thought Strategies
Follow along on the Positive
Thought Strategies handout and
circle or highlight strategies you think
might work for you.

15. Positive Affirmations
Affirmations are positive, specific statements that help you to overcome
self-sabotaging, negative thoughts. They help you visualize, and believe
in, what you're affirming to yourself, helping you to make positive
changes to your life and career.
Source:http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/affirmations.htm

16. You can use affirmations in any situation where you'd like to see a
positive change take place. These might include times when you
want to:
• Raise your confidence before speaking to other people, making
presentations or going to important meetings.
• Control negative feelings such as frustration, anger, or
impatience.
• Improve your self-esteem.
• Finish projects you've started.
• Improve your productivity.
Source:http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/affirmations.htm

17. Tip1:
Affirmations should be formed in the present tense, as if they're already
happening. This helps you believe that the statement is true right now. For
instance, "I am well-prepared and well-rehearsed, and I can give a great
presentation" would be a great affirmation to use if you often feel nervous
speaking in front of a group.
Tip 2:
The power of affirmations also lies in their repetition. It's useful to recite
your affirmations several times a day (have them pop up in your computer
diary). You also need to repeat your affirmation as soon as you start to
engage in a negative thought or behavior.
Tip 3:
Affirmations are more effective when they're thought or said with feeling.
Every affirmation you choose to repeat should be a phrase that's
meaningful to you. You need to want this change to happen.
Source:http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/affirmations.htm

18. Examples of Positive Affirmation Statements
• I have plenty of creativity for this project.
• I can do this!
• My opinion is respected and valued by my family.
• I am successful.
• I am honest in my life, and my work.
• I like completing tasks and projects on time.
• I'm grateful for the job I have.
• I'm bringing a positive attitude to school every day.
• I am excellent at what I do.
• I am generous.
• I am happy.

19. Activity #4: Positive Affirmation Statements
Complete the list of positive affirmation statements.
Write down four positive affirmation statements you can use that apply to
things that are happening in your life right now.

20. Emotions
• any of the feelings of joy, sorrow, fear, hate, love, etc.
Source: dictionary.com
How do you think your emotions affect your ability to be a good self-advocate?
Do you think there is a difference based on whether you are male or female?

21. Activity #5 - Positive and Negative
Feelings
• Review the list of feelings and decide if they are positive or negative.
• Think of a way to express the negative feelings more positively.

22. You are responsible for yourself.
One of the skills you need to be able to take care of yourself is to be
able to speak out and speak up.
Improving your communication skills can help you do that.
Using positive language when you communicate will help you be a
better self-advocate.
Using Positive Language

23. Using Positive Language
Feelings are our own and people are entitled to them. Saying “You make me feel” may
be taken as blaming others for our emotions as well as not recognizing they belong to
me.
• Taking ownership of feelings involves coming to the understanding that my feeling
reactions and experiences originate within me. They may be precipitated by external
experiences and it is a more appropriate characterization and more accurate to say
“When you did this” or “When that happened” “I feel” whatever feelings arose.
• “I messages” are a great way to own our feelings and still express our needs to
others.
Source: Advocacy Curriculum (Self Help Alliance, 2010), p. 28

24. Using Positive Language:
The "I-Message"
The formula for an I-message is:
• I feel _________________________________ (say your feeling)
• when you _____________________________ (describe the action)
• because _______________________________ (say why the action
connects to your feeling)
Source: Advocacy Curriculum (Self Help Alliance, 2010), p. 28

25. Activity #6 : Using Positive
Language
I feel.......when you ......because...........

26. Activity #7: Being Fearful
• Ask yourself: What is it that I am afraid of?
• Then ask yourself: What is the worst thing that can happen?
• Being afraid can cause you to act passively

27. Being Angry
• Being a good self-advocate doesn't mean being an angry
person.
• You can be assertive and speak up for yourself without
being aggressive and appearing angry.
• Anger might be the motivation for self-advocacy but you
need to be able to control your anger to get other people to
listen to you.
• Anger can cause you to act or speak aggressively.

28. Activity #8: Anger Checklist
• Complete the checklist to see if you
need to work on your anger
management skills.

29. This Power Point was created by Laubach Literacy Ontario.
The resources can be downloaded free of charge at www.laubach-on.ca.
This Employment Ontario Project was funded by the Ontario Government. 2015
All website links were accurate at the time of original distribution-March 2015.
All of the images and clip art used in this Power Point are from Clipart.com and
Microsoft Office.com.