Self-advocacy sentence starters for kids who learn and think differently

Self-advocacy is an important skill for kids who learn and think differently. It helps them ask for what they need. But kids don’t always know how to ask or what to say. Here are things kids can say to self-advocate, organized by age and learning difference.

Grade-schoolers

• ADHD: 6 self-advocacy sentence starters for grade-schoolers
• DCD: 6 self-advocacy sentence starters for grade-schoolers
• Dyscalculia: 5 self-advocacy sentence starters for grade-schoolers
• Dyslexia: 5 self-advocacy sentence starters for grade-schoolers
• Written expression disorder: 5 self-advocacy sentence starters for grade-schoolers

Middle-schoolers

• ADHD: 5 self-advocacy sentence starters for middle-schoolers
• DCD: 5 self-advocacy sentence starters for middle-schoolers
• Dyscalculia: 6 self-advocacy sentence starters for middle-schoolers
• Dyslexia: 5 self-advocacy sentence starters for middle-schoolers
• Written expression disorder: 4 self-advocacy sentence starters for middle-schoolers

High-schoolers

• 6 tips for helping your high-schooler learn to self-advocate

More resources on teaching kids to self-advocate

• Learn how IEPs can include self-advocacy goals.
• Listen to a podcast about preparing kids to self-advocate at their IEP or 504 meetings.
• See how one family started teaching self-advocacy skills in grade school.