If your child has completed high school, made academic progress, or even been accepted to college, does that necessarily mean they’re ready to transition into young adulthood? Exploring the importance of personalized timelines and the academic, social-emotional, and employability skills essential for long-term success can help answer these questions and guide your decision-making as you consider the next steps for your child after high school and beyond.
One of the most critical pieces of the puzzle is the development of “soft skills”—a set of abilities essential for success in all areas of life for neurodiverse and neurotypical individuals alike. They include strong verbal and written communication skills, teamwork, problem-solving, adaptability, leadership, and, most importantly, self-advocacy skills, the ability to effectively communicate one’s needs in school, work, and daily life.
Strong advocacy is closely tied to self-awareness, self-reflection and self-regulation. If an individual isn’t aware of their own needs, can’t manage their emotions, or struggles to recognize when and why they need support, their ability to advocate for themselves will likely break down or not develop. This can lead to decreased resilience and contribute to what’s often referred to as “failure to launch,” where a person feels stuck and unable to move toward independence.
How to Develop Advocacy Skills
Developing these important skills starts with introducing advocacy early, ideally in school, but also at home. Below are a handful of suggestions to get you started:
- Help your child reflect on their actions, understand natural consequences, and feel safe speaking up or asking for help during challenging moments.
- Model advocacy. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, employer, or mentor, showing what it looks like to speak up respectfully and confidently can have a significant impact.
- Create opportunities for role-playing, problem-solving in real-life situations, and discussing challenges in school, work, or relationships. If they are dysregulated, the most effective approach is to respond calmly and without judgment. By acknowledging their emotions and guiding them through a step-by-step process to understand and manage the situation, you can help de-escalate the moment and support them in regaining control.
- Participation in the community is paramount and can be done through volunteering, internships, part-time jobs, or extracurricular activities such as sports or clubs that require communication and teamwork. These experiences can help strengthen your child’s ability to self-advocate over time by honing their self-awareness, communication, and problem-solving skills in a real-world setting.
Ultimately, sustainability in any environment, whether academic, professional, or everyday life, requires self-reflection, self-regulation, effective communication, and self-advocacy for one’s needs. Knowing why you need help, when you need assistance, and who to go to for support is key to successfully navigating the complexities of adulthood.
John Civita is the Director of Transitions Programming for the Winston Preparatory School and has over 20 years of experience supporting neurodiverse individuals.