May I use the restroom? Do we have glue sticks? Can you explain what you mean?

These are everyday questions in any classroom. But for students with a learning disability, even simple questions can feel daunting. At Northstar, students build the confidence and communication skills to advocate and speak up for their needs.

Northstar values educating students about social skills to help them reach their potential. Each month our advisory class focuses on a different theme.

“Teaching self-advocacy is one of the most important things we do for our students here at Northstar,” says Northstar teacher Hailey Shinault. It empowers students to ask follow-up questions, request breaks, and take ownership of their learning. We are setting them up for long-term success. “

Northstar Academy, in collaboration with UVA Child Development and Kluge Rehabilitation Center, has developed a proprietary social skills curriculum. Each day in Advisory Class, along with reinforcement throughout the day, students grow their executive function skills, self-regulation abilities and metacognitive (thought awareness, planning, and goal setting) abilities.

These building blocks not only help students while they’re in school, Shinault explains, but they prepare students and build the confidence to meet life challenges and grow.

Students practice raising their hands in front of the class and asking questions. As part of the lesson, the students learn to express how they feel when they advocate for themselves. Students offer words like empowered, brave, and capable.

Doc, an upper school student, says confidently, “I feel happy. I can do it.”

The teachers use their own experiences as examples of self-advocacy, too. Shinault asks the students to help her clean off the desks and put items in their proper place. “What am I doing when I ask you for help?” she asks the students.

There is a resounding response: “Advocating.”

At Northstar, self-advocacy is more than a skill, it’s a key to unlocking confidence, independence, and future success.