Every person’s story has the power to make a difference. When you speak up, you help others understand what life is like for you and why change is needed. Disability rights have improved because people shared their experiences and asked for better laws and support. Your story can help others see what’s working, what’s not, and what needs to change in your community.  

People choose to share their stories for many different reasons. Some reasons include: 

• Personal growth: Your story can help you understand your own experiences, values, and goals. 

• Community learning: By sharing your story with others, you can help them understand the challenges and impact of systems and services.  

• Creating change: You can be in a classroom, local meeting, statewide agency, or with state or national leaders; your story can help others see what’s working and what needs improvement. 

Whether its in the classroom, community meeting, or with state leaders, sharing your story can motivate others to speak up and influence positive changes.  

PAVE offers Speak Up and Be Heard! coaching sessions for self-advocates in Pierce County. These sessions include both individual and group feedback to help make your story clear, strong, and ready to share. To sign up, check the PAVE calendar  and type: be heard in the search bar. 

Before you begin, take a moment to think about what you want to say. Your story can help others understand what needs to change. 

1. What is the problem or challenge? 
   Think about a challenge you experienced. It could be something that affects you, or someone in your family. Try writing one sentence about how this problem affects people in general, and one sentence about how it affects you personally. 

2. Who else is affected? 
   Does this problem affect other people in your school, community, or state? Think about how others might feel or struggle with the same issue. 

3. What happens if nothing changes? 
   Imagine what life will be like if this problem continues. Will things get harder for you or others? 

4. What needs to change? 
   Think about what could make the situation better. What would help you and others? 

5. What can be done? 
   Are there actions or ideas that could improve things? What do you think would help solve the problem? 

6. Who can help? 
   Think about who has the power to make change like lawmakers, school leaders, or community groups. These are the people you want to share your story with. 

This video introduces a strategy for telling a potent story in two or fewer minutes, using your own hand to guide the process.  

Think of this as a hand model for an inspirational elevator speech to improve or inspire: 

• Speaking up for yourself 

• Public comment 

• A meeting with state leaders 

• Legislative forums or candidate meetings 

• Community education 

For support to create your story, fill out a PAVE Support Request, and a trained staff member will contact you. 

1. Start with who you are. Be sure to say your name and the district, city, or town you live in. 

2. Be careful with private information. If you want to include information about other people be sure you have permission before sharing anything confidential, such as names, ages, or health information. 

3. Say what the problem is. Clearly and simply describe the problem or challenge. 

4. Explain why this is important. Tell why this issue is important to you and others. 

5. Share a short story. Write 4–5 sentences about how this issue has affected you or your family. If you can, share a positive example of something that went well and why you want others to have the same chance. 

6. Make a clear request. 
   Say what you want to happen in one short sentence (30 words or less). Provide a clear action: 

• “I ask you to vote for…” 

• “I want you to change this policy in order to…” 

• “I want you to fund a program that…” 

• “I’m asking our school principal to consider…” 

• “I want the community board to support…”  

7. Focus on solutions. 
   Make sure your message is respectful. Don’t blame or criticize. Instead, talk about how fixing the problem can help others in your community. 

8. End with thanks. 
   Repeat your request and say thank you. If you know something good the lawmaker has done before, mention it. For example, thank them for voting for a bill or supporting a program.  

We have provided a worksheet for easy practice. Steps to How To Tell Your Story Worksheet

Once you’ve written your story, it’s time to make it shine! Read it out loud until it feels natural. Practice with a friend or family member. Try to keep it short – just 1 to 2 minutes is perfect. That’s called an “elevator speech,” because it’s short enough to share in a quick conversation. 

Ask someone you trust to read your story and give feedback.  

Keep sharing your story! Talk to friends and family about why it matters. Share your story on social media, like Tik Tok, Instagram, Facebook, and other sites. Use hashtags, like #AccessibilityForAll and #InclusionMatters, so more people see it. Follow and share posts from groups that care about the same things you do. Stay involved and keep learning about the issue. 

You might be asked questions like, “Why is this important?” or “How does this affect others?” Practice your answers ahead of time. If you don’t know something, it’s okay to say, “I’m not sure, but I’ll find out.” You can look up the answer later and share what you find. This shows you care and want to keep the conversation going. Always offer to send more information, so they know you’re open to talking with them again. 

You can call the lawmaker, community leader, or other person involved in decision-making. You may also ask for a video meeting. Before you talk, write down the main things you want to say. Practice with a friend or family member so you feel confident. You can also write a short letter or email. Share your story and ask for their help. Add a photo if you want – it helps show why this matters. You can send the same message to more than one person. 

You can also attend rallies and community events that support disability rights or other causes you care about. These events are a great way to meet others, show support, and raise awareness. Sometimes, lawmakers and leaders attend these events too, so it’s a chance to be seen and heard. 

Legislative forums are public meetings where lawmakers listen to people in their community. You can go to learn, listen, or share your story. These forums happen during the lawmaking season and sometimes all year long. You can also attend other public meetings where lawmakers hear from the public. Bring your story and a question to ask. Be polite and thank them for their time. 

The Arc of Washington State provides pathways for people to participate in legislative advocacy. The Arc serves people with intellectual and developmental disabilities of all ages and their families.  

The How To Tell Your Story worksheet is part of the  STEP into Your Voice: A Guide for Young Leaders. Be sure to check it out and get some more tips to help you to be the best advocate.

Click on Get Support at the top of this page to submit a Support Request and receive individually tailored support, training, information, and resources. 

Military families are likely to switch schools more often than other families. This can require learning new rules and finding new resources. To help plan, here are five valuable tips for a smooth PCS (permanent change of station, which is the military language for “relocation”) with a special educational or medical needs child.

Records are critical for planning and stability. Accessing records once you have left a duty station is far more complex than getting copies to take with you. Keeping track of your child’s records can make the transition to a new assignment far easier. With your child’s information and records organized and up to date, you can quickly find any new trends, needs, or program changes to consider when you PCS.

• Save copies of evaluations, educational plans and programs, work samples, and behavior plans.
• Monitor regression by comparing student work samples and grades before, during, and after your PCS.
• Note what has worked to support your student through previous transitions and share these successes with the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP), Individualized Education Program (IEP), or Section 504 team.

If your student comes from a Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) school, you may also have records and evaluations from a Student Support Team (SST) or Case Study Committee (CSC).

When you are moving to a new place, it is important to know who can help you. Contact the School Liaison and Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) family service office as soon as possible. They have useful information about things that can support your child’s health, well-being, and quality of life, like assignment locations, schools, housing, and other essentials. In your new state, you can also reach out to the Family Voices program. They can help you apply for public benefits such as extra money (SSI) and healthcare (Medicaid). It is also good to know your child’s rights as a military student when switching schools between states. Learn about the protections under the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children and use this Step-by-Step Checklist for resolving school issues with the Interstate Compact.

Download the Essential Contact Form
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Building strong communication links with your child’s teachers and other school officials can be critical. Remember to keep track of notes, emails, texts, and conversations. Always follow up on agreements with a note summarizing what was agreed to and any timelines. Building a solid relationship with your child’s teachers will help you address potential difficulties while they are minor issues and build trust among all team members. Discuss all the efforts that are helping your child. Keep communication lines open by responding promptly and respectfully, and reach out to school staff with positive feedback, as well as for problem-solving concerns.

The Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) and Individualized Education Program (IEP), or Section 504 Accommodations Plan, are the heart of how your child will receive services, accommodations, and modifications tailored to their unique needs. Never feel that you shouldn’t ask questions. Terms can change from place to place, but what the service includes will follow strict guidelines set up through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Since you will be the single consistent factor in your child’s educational career, the more you know, the better you can collaborate and plan within the IEP or 504 teams. Locate and contact the Parent Training and Information (PTI) center in your new state to assist you in navigating this process. Students and families in Washington State may contact PAVE for one-on-one support, information, and training through our Get Help request form.

All people need the ability to understand and communicate their needs and wants. The ultimate goal for our children is to help them become self-advocates to the best extent they are capable and comfortable. Providing them with tools early and on an ongoing basis will help them plan for their future. In the long run, it will help them to be the driver of services they need and want.

It’s PCS Time! Social Story

This original social story, “It’s PCS Time!”, is made to help military kids understand and handle the feelings that come with moving. A PCS can be confusing and emotional for children who might not know why they have to leave their home, friends, and routines. This story uses simple words and pictures to explain what happens during a move, helping kids feel more ready and less worried. Parents can read this story with their child to talk about the move, help them feel understood, and make the change feel a little less scary. Reading it before, during, and after the move can help kids feel more comfortable in their new home.

Download It’s PCS Time! Social Story:
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These are just a few tips on navigating the special education and medical systems when PCS’ing. If you want to learn more, register for an upcoming STOMP workshop or webinar.