Self-Advocacy: The Ultimate Teen Guide (It Happened to Me (the Ultimate Teen Guide))

Young people come to realize, sometimes painfully early, that it isn't always possible to depend on adults to make sure they are treated safely, fairly, and legally. When teens are faced with situations that are unfair, immoral, illegal, and unjust, they do not need to be victims. They can learn to speak up for themselves effectively to improve their own lives and the lives of others. The skill of self-advocacy rarely comes naturally for teens. Self-Advocacy: The Ultimate Teen Guide offers a set of skills for young people to sort through and acquire and encourages them to speak up about what is bothering them. The book gives them helpful tools they can adapt to deal with adults they must work with—and in some cases against—in order to come to a solution to their problem. Self-Advocacy provides information teens need to have to advocate for themselves. The introduction and first three chapters explain what self-advocacy is; identify when and why it might be necessary for teens to speak up for themselves; provide a step-by-step guide on how to self-advocate successfully; and offer specific, real-world advice about how to wisely use the power of the media to publicize their cause. Seven issue-specific chapters follow. Each topic is treated in a dignified, organized, and comprehensive way, providing information teens can use and resources they can draw upon. The issues and information in those chapters deal with the real world and don't shy away from the difficulties young people encounter every day, such as personal rights, school issues, learning disabilities, physical disability, sexuality, legal issues, and foster care. Each chapter includes the voices and experiences of teens who have encountered issues and decided to speak up for and get what they need. Teens who learn how to advocate for themselves and then act are not only taking steps to right whatever wrong they have been facing, they are also preparing themselves for a successful adult life. Contents......Page 9 Acknowledgments......Page 11 Introduction......Page 13 1 Why You Should Be Your Own Advocate......Page 17 KNOW WHEN YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE......Page 19 THE HISTORY OF SELF-ADVOCACY......Page 20 BE FULLY INFORMED BEFORE YOU BEGIN YOUR ADVOCACY......Page 25 SHOULD I BEGIN SELF-ADVOCACY?......Page 26 “THE FIRST STEP IS ALWAYS THE HARDEST...”......Page 27 TAKING THAT FIRST STEP......Page 28 RESOURCES......Page 45 3 Dealing with the Media......Page 47 WRITE A LETTER OR OPINION ARTICLE......Page 48 WRITE A PRESS RELEASE......Page 49 KNOW YOUR MEDIA AND DEADLINES......Page 51 AT YOUR EVENT......Page 53 DEVELOPING A MESSAGE—AND STICKING WITH IT......Page 55 WHAT TO DO IF THE MEDIA MAKES A MISTAKE......Page 57 RESOURCE......Page 58 4 Personal Rights......Page 59 WHAT’S HAPPENING TO YOU?......Page 60 WHAT ARE YOUR RIGHTS?......Page 61 WHERE ELSE TO GO......Page 66 PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY, PERSONAL NEEDS AND WANTS......Page 68 PEER PRESSURE......Page 70 MORE RESOURCES FOR HELP......Page 73 5 School Issues......Page 75 WHAT’S HAPPENING TO YOU?......Page 77 FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION......Page 80 DUE PROCESS AND ZERO TOLERANCE......Page 83 HOW DO SCHOOL ISSUES AFFECT YOU?......Page 91 WHAT ARE YOUR RIGHTS?......Page 92 WHERE AND HOW TO START......Page 93 MORE RESOURCES FOR HELP......Page 94 6 Learning Disabilities......Page 95 WHAT’S HAPPENING TO YOU?......Page 96 WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO YOU?......Page 98 WHAT ARE YOUR RIGHTS?......Page 100 WHO HAS THE POWER TO HELP?......Page 103 TRANSITION PLANNING......Page 109 WHERE AND HOW TO START......Page 111 YOU MUST BE INVOLVED IN PLANNING YOUR FUTURE......Page 112 WHERE ELSE TO GO......Page 113 MORE RESOURCES FOR HELP......Page 117 7 Physical Disabilities......Page 119 WHAT ARE YOUR RIGHTS?......Page 121 WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO YOU?......Page 126 WHERE AND HOW TO START......Page 128 WHO HAS THE DECISION-MAKING AUTHORITY?......Page 129 WHAT OTHER RESOURCES MIGHT PROVIDE HELP?......Page 130 8 Sexuality......Page 133 WHAT ARE YOUR RIGHTS?......Page 134 SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY......Page 140 PREGNANCY DISCRIMINATION......Page 143 RESOURCES......Page 160 9 Legal Issues......Page 161 EDUCATION......Page 162 TEEN PARENTS......Page 168 IMMIGRATION......Page 170 EMANCIPATION......Page 171 WORK......Page 172 TESTIFYING IN COURT......Page 174 JUVENILE JUSTICE AND DELINQUENCY......Page 176 WHAT YOU CAN DO......Page 177 RESOURCES......Page 182 10 Foster Care......Page 185 HOW ARE YOU AFFECTED?......Page 187 YOUR FOSTER HOME OR GROUP HOME......Page 188 CONTACT AND VISITS WITH YOUR BIOLOGICAL FAMILY......Page 193 YOUR RIGHTS IN FOSTER CARE......Page 194 PARENTING TEENS IN FOSTER CARE......Page 195 INDEPENDENT LIVING......Page 196 AGING OUT......Page 197 WHAT YOU CAN DO AS A FOSTER CHILD......Page 204 RESOURCES......Page 208 Bibliography......Page 211 Index......Page 221 About the Authors......Page 227 Young people come to realize, sometimes painfully early, that it isn't always possible to depend on adults to make sure they are treated safely, fairly, and legally. When teens are faced with situations that are unfair, immoral, illegal, and unjust, they do not need to be victims. They can learn to speak up for themselves effectively to improve their own lives and the lives of others. The skill of self-advocacy rarely comes naturally for teens. Self-Advocacy: The Ultimate Teen Guide offers a set of skills for young people to sort through and acquire and encourages them to speak up about what is bothering them. The book gives them helpful tools they can adapt to deal with adults they must work with_and in some cases against_in order to come to a solution to their problem. Self-Advocacy provides information teens need to have to advocate for themselves. The introduction and first three chapters explain what self-advocacy is; identify when and why it might be necessary for teens to speak up for themselves; provide a step-by-step guide on how to self-advocate successfully; and offer specific, real-world advice about how to wisely use the power of the media to publicize their cause. Seven issue-specific chapters follow. Each topic is treated in a dignified, organized, and comprehensive way, providing information teens can use and resources they can draw upon. The issues and information in those chapters deal with the real world and don't shy away from the difficulties young people encounter every day, such as personal rights, school issues, learning disabilities, physical disability, sexuality, legal issues, and foster care. Each chapter includes the voices and experiences of teens who have encountered issues and decided to speak up for and get what they need. Teens who learn how to advocate for themselves and then act are not only taking steps to right whatever wrong they have been facing, they are also preparing themselves for a successful adult life. Gives young people the information they need to effectively pursue causes important to them and to stand up for their own rights