Self-Advocacy Skills Training in New Hampshire
Empower your child to express needs, request accommodations, and speak up confidently for themselves through evidence-based ABA training.
Why Self-Advocacy Skills Matter
Building confidence, autonomy, and empowerment
Self-advocacy is essential for independence, self-determination, and quality of life. Research from Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) emphasizes that teaching self-advocacy skills helps autistic individuals participate meaningfully in decisions about their education, employment, healthcare, and daily lives.
Our BCBA-supervised self-advocacy programs in Concord, Manchester, and Nashua use evidence-based ABA strategies to teach children and teens to understand their needs, communicate preferences, request accommodations, and speak up confidently in various settings. These critical skills prepare individuals for successful self-advocacy throughout adulthood.
Key Benefits
How this program supports your child's growth
Increased confidence in expressing needs and preferences
Better self-awareness and understanding of strengths
Improved ability to request accommodations
Enhanced problem-solving and decision-making skills
Greater independence in educational and work settings
Stronger sense of personal agency and empowerment
More effective communication with authority figures
Preparation for successful adult self-advocacy
Skill Areas
Expressing Needs & Preferences
Teaching children to clearly communicate their wants, needs, boundaries, and preferences in various situations.
Requesting Accommodations
Learning to identify needed supports and confidently request appropriate accommodations in school, work, and community.
Self-Awareness & Understanding
Developing understanding of autism, personal strengths, challenges, and how to explain needs to others.
Speaking Up & Assertiveness
Building skills to respectfully disagree, express opinions, and stand up for rights and needs with confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is self-advocacy for individuals with autism?
Self-advocacy is the ability to understand and communicate one's own needs, preferences, rights, and necessary accommodations. For individuals with autism, self-advocacy skills enable them to explain their disability, request supports, express boundaries, and participate actively in decisions affecting their lives.
At what age should self-advocacy training begin?
Self-advocacy skills can be introduced as early as preschool with simple preference expression and choice-making. As children develop, we build more complex skills like requesting breaks, explaining needs, and requesting accommodations. Adolescence is a critical time for intensive self-advocacy training as teens prepare for greater independence.
How do you teach self-advocacy to children with limited verbal skills?
Self-advocacy doesn't require verbal speech. We teach children to advocate using their preferred communication method, whether that's AAC devices, sign language, written communication, or picture systems. The focus is on empowering children to express needs using whatever communication modality works best for them.
Will teaching self-advocacy make my child defiant?
No, self-advocacy is about respectful, appropriate communication of needs—not defiance. We teach children to express themselves clearly and politely, understand appropriate times and ways to advocate, and balance self-advocacy with cooperation and respect for others. These skills lead to more positive interactions, not conflict.
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Learn MoreReady to Get Started?
Our experienced team serving Concord, Manchester, Nashua, and Derry is ready to help your child thrive. Schedule a free consultation to learn more about our personalized programs.