Teaching Self-Advocacy Through ABA Therapy: Helping Kids Learn To Express Their Needs

A skill all children must learn as they grow up is self-advocacy. The ability to communicate needs, wants, preferences and feelings in an effective way can help pave the path toward greater confidence and independence. Children with autism can struggle to express themselves more so than others, but with the proper tools and techniques can certainly learn to advocate for themselves in the way that works best for them. Strategies implemented through Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) Therapy can help children learn not only the importance of self-advocacy, but how to put the practice into play in their own lives.

What Does Self-Advocacy Look like?

Self-advocacy can take many forms:

• Asking for help

• Setting boundaries / saying “no” to unwanted situations

• Expressing likes and dislikes

• Identifying and communicating emotions

• Asking for accommodations or support

While verbal communication is common, these things can look different for children with autism depending on their needs. Some may opt for alternative methods to communicate, such as sign language, visual tools, PECS, AAC devices and more.

Practicing self-advocacy is a valuable life skill that helps children develop a sense of control over their environment. Feeling heard and understood increases self-confidence, which has a positive impact across the board. Feeling comfortable to speak up on their own behalf can:

• Increase independence

• Reduce frustration

• Reduce challenging behaviors

• Improve relationships with others

• Improve problem-solving skills

• Improve decision-making skills

How ABA Strategies Are Used To Teach Self-Advocacy

A variety of ABA methods may be used to help your child feel more comfortable engaging in self-advocacy. These strategies are tailored to each child based on their specific needs, strengths and goals, planting the right skills for their unique environment so they are able to bloom and thrive. These strategies may look like:

• Request Skills: A simple yet important first step in self-advocacy is teaching children how to go about requesting the things that they want or need. This is known in the ABA world as Mand training. Mand training teaches children to use simple requests to communicate their needs. By modeling communication in everyday situations, we help them develop effective ways to express themselves. For example, an ABA therapist may hold up a cookie they know the child likes. The child would be encouraged to communicate that they want that cookie, either through words, pointing or a communication device. All forms of communication should be reinforced, meaning if the child indicates that they want the cookie, the cookie is given to them. The goal is to establish the connection between communication and response.

• Choice-Making: Giving a child choices goes a long way toward establishing a sense of control while teaching decision-making skills. We start simple, with two choices to consider - something like “would you like to use the blue pencil or the red pencil today?” As time goes on, the complexity of the choices can increase and become more involved, such as choosing their daily clothes or what they’d like for lunch.

• Preferences: It can be uncomfortable to speak up to share an opinion with the world. Encouraging children to express their personal likes and dislikes can empower them to understand that their opinions matter and should be heard. Structured activities can help develop this skill - this may look like asking them to rank their favorite games, snacks or activities. Of course, it’s also important for them to understand that while their preferences are important, they can’t always be accommodated. For example, a child may express they don’t enjoy brushing their teeth. The fact they can articulate that is a win, but it’s also something they have to do. In a case like that, it's still important to acknowledge their preference, potentially offering an alternative preference to allow for autonomy. You might say, “I know you don’t like brushing your teeth, but we have to do it to stay healthy. Would you like to use your yellow toothbrush tonight or your green toothbrush?”

• Emotional Identification: To be able to advocate for themselves, children need to be able to understand how they are feeling so they can express it and regulate it. To help children connect the name to the feeling, social stories or emotion flashcards can be used to illustrate what each one looks like. An emotional check-in chart can be used to point out how they are feeling to give it a name. From there, emotions can be paired with appropriate coping strategies that can be incorporated into their routine. For example, a child who feels frustrated can be taught to take a deep breath or ask for a break.

• Scripted Play: It can be particularly difficult for children to know exactly how to ask for help. Teaching phrases like “can you help me please?” or “I need to take a break” are beneficial, and even more so when put into practice. Role playing common scenarios (like talking to a teacher) can help prepare children for future self-advocacy.

• Reinforcement: It can take some time to develop self-advocacy skills, but every tiny step is one in the right direction. It's essential that even outside of ABA Therapy, progress is positively reinforced. Parents and teachers can play a crucial role in growing self-advocacy by acknowledging communication, honoring choices when possible and offering praise or a reward once they’ve successfully expressed their needs.

Support Your Child’s Self-Advocacy Skills Through ABA Therapy

Self-advocacy empowers autistic children to express themselves with conviction, fostering a sense of self-confidence. The research-backed strategies implemented through ABA Therapy help build these skills to allow for greater independence, better communication and a foundation to support continued growth. When children can effectively advocate for themselves, they can navigate the world with a little more ease and understanding. These skills have positive implications past childhood, empowering individuals to express boundaries and say no when something doesn’t feel right. When people feel confident in their ability to advocate for themselves, it can help protect them from discrimination and even abuse.

If you’re interested in learning more about how ABA Therapy teaches self-advocacy, improves confidence and fosters independence in children with autism, we’d be happy to answer any of your questions! To chat more or schedule a consultation for ABA Therapy for your child, please contact Bloom Behavioral Healthcare LLC today.