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Hello my name is Courtney Dolan My testimony today is intended for Special
Education Administrators, Counselors, and Educational Staff:
Good afternoon and thank you for this opportunity to provide this testimonial on the importance
of teaching students with learning disabilities the skill of self advocacy. I am one of the
15% of Americans with a learning disability that faces enormous challenges on an emotional,
social, and academic level. (Learning to Talk about LD, 2010, para. 5). As an individual
with a learning disability who has gone through the educational system, and works in the system,
I cannot stress enough the importance of self advocacy for success. There are “more than
6.8 million children ages 3 through 21 [who] receive special education and related services
each year in the United States” (NICHCY, 2009, para. 4). “Research studies have documented
that goals related to teaching self-determination are not being written into IEP’s, self-determination
skills are taught primarily at the high school level if at all, and students with disabilities
are not expected to demonstrate self-advocacy skills” (Student Involvement, 2004, para.
4). There is a gap in the educational system.
School districts are required to involve students in their learning process; however, the approach
that is being taken is insufficient. Students with learning disabilities are not being fully
educated about their diagnosis and their Individual Education Plans (IEP). As a result, they lack
self advocacy skills. In my discussion with professionals from several colleges including
Syracuse University, Cazenovia College and SUNY Geneseo, students’ awareness of their
services continues to be a problem. Students are entering college and are unaware of their
must be educated about why they are receiving the services and how the services can help
them. The skill of self advocacy is not something that a student is born with rather it is something
that must be taught. Without effective tools and the understanding
behind individual disorders, students with learning disabilities will not have the strategies
to be life-long learners. YOU MAY ASK WHAT CAN BE DONE? Lifelong self advocacy skills
are developed through early intervention and by providing students with a solid foundation
that includes coping and learning strategies to aid them throughout their lives. Because
I was taught the skills of self advocacy, I learned how to articulate my learning needs.
For example, while in college, every class I took I confronted the professor to explain
my learning needs. The skills of self advocacy have aided in my success. It is my passion
and goal to help educate and share these strategies to help students be life-long learners. Let
us work together to help students with learning disabilities develop lifelong self advocacy
skills.