Question:

Dear Priscilla,

I would like to teach my high school resource class about advocacy skills. They get “bored” with what I (and other adults in their lives) have to say. Are there any websites that are student friendly, i.e., articles by students with disabilities, available that are safe for browsing? Thanks for any help you have to offer.

Pam

Answer:

Hi Pam,

Your request is very timely! In the Autumn 2005 issue of The Special Edge, the focus is on Behavior Programs for Older Students: What’s Helpful in Secondary School. There are articles dealing with issues that teens encounter daily such as peer relationships, emotional/health concerns, drugs and alcohol, safety, sex education, work, etc. There is one section titled, For Teens Only! Resources, which list websites, books, and hotlines to help teens get through life. Website subsections include: Physical Health, Emotional Health, Disabilities, Identity, Giving Back, and eMagazines. The list below highlights a couple of the websites under the disabilities subsection. Note: All messages are monitored for safety and appropriateness.

• www.ablelink.org

Ability Online Support Network lets teens log on and meet mentors, role models, and friends.

• www.bestbuddies.org/about/index.asp

Best Buddies connects non-disabled and students with cognitive disabilities. I observed a successful Best Buddies program and it not only works for the students with disabilities but teaches their non-disabled peers how to develop tolerance, friendships, and self-esteem.

• www.fvkasa.org

Kids as Self-Advocates offers ideas to students with disabilities on how to become leaders and learn advocacy strategies.

• Another teen self-advocacy website I recently reviewed is called Activteen located at http://www.disabilitycentral.com/activteen. Activteen is the disability central department managed by and for teens with disabilities. This is an online cyber community where students can socialize, educate one another and just have fun together.

Let me know how you and your students like this information. Encourage your students to submit a comment or question to me at our Ask a Specialist webpage as an initial step toward their self-advocacy development.