Self-Advocacy: It is all about the preparation

In this presentation, Dr Cheryl DeConde Johnson discusses the essential steps required to influence a student’s ability to successfully self-advocate.

Dr Johnson assists participants to understand the importance of preparation when supporting students to undertake the journey of self-advocacy. The presentation will describe medical and social models of disability, highlighting efforts in schools to focus on the wellness of all students rather than individual challenges.

Dr Johnson discusses the concept of resiliency, inviting participants to reflect on certain characteristics in their own students and the positive impact that resiliency has on student interactions and wellbeing. Dr Johnson shares resources to assist participants to guide and monitor students on their self-advocacy journey.

VDEI recommend the use of Google Chrome, Firefox, Edge or Safari (Macintosh users only) as the preferred web browsers to seamlessly register and access this learning.

Please note – Victorian Department of Education staff can access this professional learning offering free of charge. Enter your @education.vic.gov.au email address during the registration process to ensure the registration fee is waivered.

Through her practice, The ADE-vantage, Dr Cheryl DeConde Johnson provides audiology and deaf education consultation to agencies, school districts, state departments of education, and professional organisations regarding children and youth who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH).

Dr Johnson is a former consultant with the Colorado Department of Education where she was responsible for deaf education, educational interpreting and audiology services from 1998-2006. Prior to that time she was an educational audiologist and program coordinator for the public school deaf and hard of hearing program in Greeley, Colorado.

Dr Johnson is currently Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Arizona in the Deaf Education Master’s Degree Program, and a lecturer in the Salus University International Audiology Certificate Program. She is active as a consultant, program evaluator, writer, and has been a trainer for the National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE).

Dr Johnson is a founding member of the National State Leader’s Summit in Deaf Education and a co-founder and President of the Board of Directors for Hands & Voices. Dr Johnson has a grown daughter who is deaf/hard of hearing.

Participants will be able to:

• describe the four key steps that influence a person's ability to successfully self-advocate for themselves
• differentiate medical models and social models of disability
• describe the impact of social communication and social cognitive skills on social relationships
• learn about the self-determined learning model

Download On-Demand Flyer 

This On-Demand presentation is delivered in spoken English with captioning

Participants who successfully complete this On-Demand Presentation will receive a certificate noting 2 hours of professional learning.