Self-Advocacy Workbook for SEND Transition

Self-advocacy and Preparing for Adulthood workbook for SEND students aged 14 to 22: student voice pages, one-page profile, goal planner, and review prep.

Young people should have a real say in their own plans. Too often they sit in their own review meeting while the adults do all the talking. This workbook helps students work out what they are good at, what helps them, and what they want after school, and then say it in their own words.

What’s inside (13 A4 pages, 10 of them for students):

• All About Me self-check: 16 statements rated Not yet / Sometimes / Usually / Always
• My Strengths and Interests: 24-word strengths finder, top 3 strengths, and a proud moment
• What Helps Me: 15 supports to tick, plus “I learn best when…” sentence starters
• Speaking Up for Myself: 12-item rating scale scored in 4 areas (knowing myself, goals, choices, speaking up)
• Asking for What I Need: 6 real-life scripts to finish and role-play (school or college, work, a shop, the doctor, a friend, the bus or train)
• My Future Snapshot covering learning, work, where I live, friends and free time, and staying healthy (the four Preparing for Adulthood areas)
• Independent Living Check: 24 skills across daily living, money, health and safety, and getting around
• My Goal Planner with steps, helpers, deadlines, and check-ins
• My Review Meeting planner: pick a role, then plan what to say
• My One-Page Profile: what people like and admire about me, what is important to me, how best to support me, my plans, and my questions
• Teacher page with quick-start steps and tips

How to use it:

Spread it over several short sessions. Start with the positive pages (All About Me and strengths), then move on to supports and speaking up. Try the scripts out loud with a partner. Before the review meeting, students complete the future snapshot and goal planner and finish their one-page profile to share. Students can write, draw, dictate, or point. Any way of answering counts as their voice.

Good to know:

• Works for any kind of review: an annual review, an EHCP or IEP meeting, or a transition review
• Families can fill in the Independent Living Check at home too, which makes a great comparison
• Redo the self-checks each year so students can see their own growth
• Country neutral: no laws, benefits, or agency names
• No real student information

Who it’s for: SENCOs and SEND teachers, post-16 and college staff, careers and transition leads, key workers, and families.

Made by a working transition coordinator with 20+ years in special education.