Being Your Own Self Advocate A Key to
Being Your Own Self Advocate A Key to Success in the Field of Healthcare
Outline n Can’t means Won’t n Understanding your disability; Recognizing your strengths and weaknesses n How to adapt the healthcare environment to fit your needs n Self-advocacy n Clinical/ Co-op Experiences n How and when to ask for help
Can’t Means Won’t n Sarah Stonier, June 3 rd 1987. n 3 rd year University of New Brunswick, Bathurst Site, Nursing Student n Diagnosed in 1997 with Dysgraphia n Placed in special SLD program for Jr. High and High School. n Accepted into UNB in 2005 with an entrance scholarship
Understanding your disability n What is your disability? n How did you feel when you found out/realised that you had a disability? n What have you learned about yourself through living with your disability? n Can you describe your disability, to your self, to your friends, to your employer? n How have you adapted your life, your home to fit the needs of your disability?
Strengths Weakness n What are your strengths? n I have a “helicopter” brain I can connect the dots easily n I connect well with patients, I’m a good listener weakness? n I have poor hand writing, documenting is difficult n Working in the OR would be difficult. Keeping count of surgical instruments and sponges is hard.
Adapting the Health Care Environment n What additional needs for your work environment do you have? n What things are you bringing to the environment to help yourself? n What do you need your employer to provide?
Self-advocacy n Step 1: Introducing Yourself n Step 2: Explaining your Disability n Step 3: Strengths vs. Weaknesses n Step 4: Adaptations and accommodations n Step 5: Expectations and Accomplishments
Clinical/ Co-op Experiences n Challenges and difficulties n Frustrations n Rewards
How and When to Ask for Help n Ask politely “Please and Thank You” n “I” “Me” and “You” statements n Ask for help after you’ve tried at least once with no success n Ask for help when you’re able to accomplish something, but need help to accomplish it faster due to a deadline.
Thank you!!!
- Slides: 10