It is critical for individuals with disabilities to improve self-advocacy ability. Therefore, self-advocacy abilities have various components, but assertive behaviors and effective communication skills are critical components of self-advocacy. The study is to investigate strategies of teaching assertiveness and effective communication skills for improving self-advocacy ability. The specific aims of the study are as follows; First, to find out strategies on self-assertiveness skills training of students with disabilities. Second, to reveal strategies on effective communication skills training of students with disabilities.
The conclusions of the study are as follows;
First, assertive behavior consist of internal․external components. Instructional methods of assertive behavior include modeling, behavior rehearsal, coaching, structured feedback, contingent incentives, homework assignments and other instructional strategies including social skills, role playing, and assertive, nonassertive and aggressive behaviors training, which are to discriminate among assertive, nonassertive and aggressive behaviors and to express their wants, needs, or feelings in an assertive, rather than aggressive, manner.
Second, communication skills are important skills for self-advocate. Communication skills include conversation skills, listening skills such as active listening strategies, structuring the educational environment to improve listenins skills, and body language skills such as eye contact, facial expressions, gestures and body language.