Home Programs & Services

MY Voice, My Choice

Developing important self awareness and advocacy
for an inclusive life

This class is designed for individuals who are seeking to strengthen independence, self-advocacy, executive functioning, social communication, and community participation in a small-group instructional setting.

Eligibility criteria are structured to ensure equitable access, reasonable accommodations, and appropriate instructional fit for participants while maintaining a safe and effective learning environment.

 

2 people interacting in program

Program Overview

This 10-week instructional series empowers individuals to build the skills necessary for self-advocacy, informed decision-making, and meaningful participation in community life. Through structured lessons, experiential learning, peer discussion, and individualized support, participants strengthen independence, confidence, and civic engagement.

MY Voice, My Choice- Developing important self awareness and advocacy for an inclusive life

When: Tuesdays starting April 14th at 6:00

Cost: $250.00 per person

Limited to 10 participants

Ages group 16-24

 

Register Here!

Week 1

Understanding Self-Advocacy & Personal Rights

Goal: Participants will develop a foundational understanding of self-advocacy and identify basic personal rights and responsibilities.

Week 2

Knowing Yourself: Strengths, Needs, and Preferences

Goal: Participants will increase self-awareness to support goal-setting and decision-making.

Week 3

Setting Goals and Making Choices

Goal: Participants will learn to set meaningful personal goals and practice making informed choices.

Week 4

Communication for Advocacy

Goal: Participants will strengthen assertive communication skills for expressing needs, opinions, and boundaries.

Week 5

Problem-Solving & Conflict Resolution

Goal: Participants will learn structured strategies to resolve challenges and disagreements.

Week 6

Understanding Community Systems & Services

Goal: Participants will increase knowledge of community resources and how to navigate them.

Week 7

Civic Participation & Community Voice

Goal: Participants will understand ways to participate in civic life and express community concerns.

Week 8

Rights, Responsibilities & Safety in the Community

Goal: Participants will strengthen understanding of personal safety, legal rights, and self-protection.

Week 9

Leadership, Peer Advocacy & Community Action Planning

Goal: Participants will develop leadership skills and design a small-scale community engagement project.

Week 10

Reflection, Presentation & Future Planning

Goal: Participants will demonstrate growth in advocacy skills and plan next steps toward community involvement.

General Eligibility Requirements

Participants must:

  1. Demonstrate higher-level cognitive and learning readiness, meaning the individual can:

    • Follow multi-step verbal or visual instructions

    • Participate in group discussions or structured activities

    • Engage in problem-solving tasks with support

    • Understand basic cause-and-effect relationships

    • Use functional communication (spoken language, AAC, or other systems)

  2. Possess foundational adaptive skills, with or without accommodations:

    • Manage basic self-care needs during class time

    • Transition between activities with minimal physical assistance

    • Remain engaged for structured learning periods

    • Navigate a community or classroom environment safely

  1. Demonstrate behavioral readiness for group learning:

    • Able to participate without ongoing one-to-one crisis support

    • Does not engage in behaviors that pose significant safety risk to self or others

    • Can utilize coping strategies with prompting

    • Responds to staff redirection

Behavioral readiness is assessed through observation and intake—not diagnosis—and supports and accommodations are considered first.

 

Register Here!