---
title: Self-advocacy sentence starters for kids who learn and think differently
description: 'See what kids can say to self-advocate when they have learning disabilities and ADHD. Get self-advocacy tips for children in elementary school and middle school. Learn how to teach self-advocacy skills to kids. '
slug: self-advocacy-sentence-starters-for-kids
author: The Understood Team
published: '2019-10-01T19:09:24.424Z'
thumbnail: https://cdn-images.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/7sVYcXlVhdYaP1ae2B8QiE/23566e1e39414452a74dbad7585864cc/G1161370242.jpg
source_url: https://www.understood.org/en/articles/self-advocacy-sentence-starters-for-kids
lang: en
---

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

[Self-advocacy](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/the-importance-of-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](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/6-things-your-grade-schooler-with-adhd-can-say-to-self-advocate)
- [DCD: 6 self-advocacy sentence starters for grade-schoolers](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/6-things-your-grade-schooler-with-dcd-can-say-to-self-advocate)
- [Dyscalculia: 5 self-advocacy sentence starters for grade-schoolers](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/5-things-your-grade-schooler-with-dyscalculia-can-say-to-self-advocate)
- [Dyslexia: 5 self-advocacy sentence starters for grade-schoolers](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/5-things-your-grade-schooler-with-dyslexia-can-say-to-self-advocate)
- [Written expression disorder: 5 self-advocacy sentence starters for grade-schoolers](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/written-expression-disorder-self-advocacy-grade-school)

## Middle-schoolers

- [ADHD: 5 self-advocacy sentence starters for middle-schoolers](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/5-things-your-middle-schooler-with-adhd-can-say-to-self-advocate)
- [DCD: 5 self-advocacy sentence starters for middle-schoolers](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/6-things-your-middle-schooler-with-dcd-can-say-to-self-advocate)
- [Dyscalculia: 6 self-advocacy sentence starters for middle-schoolers](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/dyscalculia-self-advocacy-sentence-starters-middle-school)
- [Dyslexia: 5 self-advocacy sentence starters for middle-schoolers](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/5-things-your-middle-schooler-with-dyslexia-can-say-to-self-advocate)
- [Written expression disorder: 4 self-advocacy sentence starters for middle-schoolers](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/written-expression-disorder-self-advocacy-middle-school)

## High-schoolers

- [6 tips for helping your high-schooler learn to self-advocate](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/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](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/can-i-ask-to-have-self-advocacy-goals-included-in-my-childs-iep).
- Listen to a podcast about [preparing kids to self-advocate at their IEP or 504 meetings](https://www.understood.org/en/podcasts/undefined/undefined).
- See how one family started [teaching self-advocacy skills in grade school](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/how-my-son-with-dyslexia-became-an-early-self-advocate).

---

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