Self-advocacy is the ability to understand your own needs and communicate them effectively to others. It is one of the most valuable skills you can develop at university. It doesn’t come naturally to everyone, and it takes practice. But it’s something your mentoring sessions can actively help you build.
What self-advocacy looks like in practice
Self-advocacy isn’t about being demanding or confrontational. It’s about being clear:
- “I need written instructions rather than verbal ones”
- “I find it difficult to contribute to large seminars, but happy to give written responses”
- “I need more processing time before I can answer a question”
These are clear, reasonable statements. They don’t require apology or extensive explanation.
Starting small
If self-advocacy feels difficult, start with lower-stakes situations. Ask a question after a lecture. Email a lecturer to clarify an assignment brief. Request a specific seat in an exam room. Each small act of self-advocacy builds confidence for the larger ones.
Using your mentor as a sounding board
Your mentor can help you prepare for specific conversations — drafting an email, rehearsing what you want to say, thinking through how a conversation might go. This preparation can make a significant difference to how confident you feel going in.
When things go wrong
If you advocate for yourself and don’t get the response you needed, that’s not a failure of self-advocacy — it’s information about what to do next. Your mentor and disability services advisor can help you escalate appropriately when needed.
The long-term value
The self-advocacy skills you develop at university will serve you long after you graduate — in workplaces, in relationships, and in every context where you need to communicate what you need. Investing in these skills now is investing in your future.
You deserve to have your needs met. Learning to ask for that is not weakness — it’s wisdom.