The Hidden Skills Behind Successful Reading
September 9, 2026
The Secret to Greater Independence? Self-Advocacy.
When people think about success in school, they often focus on grades, test scores, or academic achievement. While those things certainly matter, there's another skill that can have an even greater impact on a student's future: self-advocacy.
For students with learning differences such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, ADHD, or executive functioning challenges, learning to speak up for themselves is just as important as learning to read, write, or solve a math problem. It's a skill that helps students become more independent, more confident, and better prepared for life beyond the classroom.
What Is Self-Advocacy?
Self-advocacy is the ability to understand your own strengths and challenges, communicate your needs, and take an active role in your learning.
It might sound like:
- "I understand this better when I can see an example."
- "Could you repeat those directions?"
- "Can I use my text-to-speech software for this assignment?"
- "I need a quiet place to concentrate."
These simple conversations help students take ownership of their learning while building confidence and independence.
Why It Matters
Students with learning differences often spend years relying on adults to explain their needs, request accommodations, or solve problems on their behalf. While this support is essential, as students grow, they benefit from learning to take on those responsibilities themselves.
Self-advocacy helps students build confidence in their abilities, develop independence and problem-solving skills, understand how they learn best, communicate effectively with teachers and peers, and prepare for high school, college, and the workplace.
Perhaps most importantly, self-advocacy helps students recognize that asking for support isn't a sign of weakness; it's a strategy for success.
Self-Advocacy Starts with Self-Awareness
Students can't explain what they need until they understand how they learn. That means knowing what they're good at, what feels challenging, which accommodations and strategies are helpful, and when it's time to ask for assistance.
For example, a student with dyslexia might know that audiobooks help them access grade-level content. A student with ADHD may recognize that movement breaks improve focus. Another student may realize they remember information better when they write it down or use graphic organizers.
The more students understand themselves, the more confident they become in speaking up. It helps to take time to reflect on tasks: What worked? What didn’t work? What would help me move forward more smoothly next time?
Families Can Help Build Self-Advocacy
Self-advocacy grows through practice and encouragement. Here are a few ways families can help:
Invite your child into conversations.
Include them in discussions about school, accommodations, or goals so they begin to understand their learning profile and feel empowered to participate.
Encourage problem-solving.
When challenges arise, resist the urge to solve everything immediately. Instead, ask questions like, "What do you think would help?" or "How could you explain this to your teacher?"
Normalize and model asking for help.
Everyone needs support sometimes. Remind your child that successful adults ask questions, seek feedback, and use tools that help them do their best work. Model asking for help and talking through the situation so the student sees how advocacy can look.
Celebrate independence.
Whether your child sends an email to a teacher, asks for clarification, or remembers to use a helpful strategy, recognize those moments. They're signs of growing confidence and responsibility.
Looking Beyond the Classroom
Self-advocacy isn't just a skill for school – it’s a skill for life.
As students grow, they'll navigate new teachers, extracurricular activities, college or post-secondary training, and eventually the workplace. The ability to communicate their strengths, understand their needs, and seek appropriate support will serve them in every stage of life.
At Springer, self-advocacy is woven into everyday learning because we know that success isn't simply about completing assignments. It's about helping students become confident, capable individuals who understand themselves and are prepared to navigate the world with resilience.
When students learn to speak up for themselves, they're doing more than asking for help. They're discovering their voice, building confidence, and taking ownership of their future.
