Self-Advocacy and Resources

Self-Advocacy

Self-advocacy involves being able to identify your needs, understanding your rights and communicating effectively. In the early years of your child’s life, you as a parent have an important role in advocating for the rights of your child with a brain injury. As your child grows older, it is important that your child learn self-advocacy skills so he/she can advocate for needs when you are not around.

Self-Advocacy Characteristics

From Independent Living Research Utilization

General Resources

• What is Self-Advocacy, and Why is it Important?
  By Center for Parent Information and Resources
• Advocacy Tool kit: Skills and Strategies for Effective and Peer Advocacy
  By Brainline
• Self-Advocacy for Independent Life (S.A.I.L.)
  A Project of the Brain Injury Alliance of Colorado

Identifying Your Needs

• Speak Up! Self-Advocacy Worksheet
  From NYC Department of Education
• My Personal Self Advocacy Plan
  A worksheet from Connecticut State Department of Education (click here to view document in its entirety)
  Worksheet 1, Worksheet 2, Worksheet 3

Communication Skills

• Strategies to Improve Communication After a Brain Injury
  By Brain Injury Partners

Navigating Resources

There are a number of organizations who help families get connected to resources and services. Some of these are listed below.

Brain Injury Alliance of CO

• The Brain Injury Alliance of Colorado is the go-to resource for help and services for survivor of an injury to the brain, their families and providers. Click on “Kids with Brain Injury” on the top navigation bar for more specific resources for children/youth and their families.

HCP

• Supports families with a child who has special needs (ages birth to 21) to help connect them with services, provide information and address questions.
  (Brochure English, Brochure Spanish)

PEAK Parent Center

• Supports families of all disability conditions to ensure they have access to strategies to best advocate for their children.

Parent to Parent

• Parent to parent support for families who have a child with health needs or a disability.

The Arc of Colorado

• Provides advocacy services for families.

Parents Encouraging Parents (PEP)

• Provide family centered conferences to provide support and education to parents as well as professionals.

Disability Law Colorado

• Affordable legal services on civil or human rights for individuals with a disability.

Early Intervention Colorado

• Support services for children (0-2 years) who have developmental needs.

El Grupo Vida

• Support for Spanish speaking families who have a child with special needs.

Visit the Brain Injury Alliance of Colorado Resource Directory