Self-Advocacy and leadership are important skills for every aspect of life. However, this is even more so when it comes to taking charge of your own healthcare and other medical needs.
As you may already know, many youth and young adults with disabilities and/or complex medical needs often have advocates while growing up. You, yourself, may have had an advocate, but it is very possible that you have decided that it is time to begin developing the skill of self-advocacy in order to take leadership in your own healthcare as it is an important skill in the development of becoming your own self-advocate.
Self-advocacy and taking leadership in your own healthcare does not happen overnight. These skills are a process and you can continue to learn and grow in these areas throughout your entire life. However, beginning as a youth or young adult will allow you to build a firm foundation before venturing out on your own.
Learning Objectives:
- Be prepared for transitioning from having an advocate to taking leadership in your own healthcare
- Understand what it means to be a self-advocate
- Understand how to become a self-advocate
- Understand what it means to take leadership in your own healthcare
- Learn the resources available to you while becoming a self-advocate and leader in your own healthcare