The self advocacy skills of students with hearing loss is a fundamental factor in determining success or failure across all educational, community, social, and work settings. Development of these skills should begin early so that students are able to start taking responsibility for their own communication accommodations and assume control over choices that affect their lives. Teachers can have a positive impact in the area of self advocacy by providing opportunities and activities that allow students to be involved in choice-making, decision-making, problem-solving, setting and attaining of goals, and development of self-awareness.
Throughout transition planning, students should continue to increase the following self advocacy skills:
- Ability to describe their own skills and needs
- Ability to set their own goals and create a plan to reach them
- Knowing the how, who, and when to ask for assistance
- Ability to make decisions and take responsibility for the consequences of those decisions