Special Educators in Inclusive Settings: Take STEPS for Self-Advocacy!

As schools increasingly move to adopt inclusive practices, special educators are on the front line and expected to provide services to students in new settings, collaborate with general education colleagues, and navigate difficult situations. Co-teaching and inclusion models can be stressful for the special educator because of the conflicts and challenges involved. In order to successfully negotiate these various stressors, special educators need to be able to self-advocate. This article provides steps, strategies and resources specific to self-advocating for and in inclusive settings. These steps include: stepping out of your comfort zone, stepping up to highlight your own strengths, stepping off from conflict and towards productive assertiveness, stepping away from “rescuing” kids, stepping back to help yourself physically and emotionally, and taking all of these changes step by step. Using strategies related to conflict management, Universal Design for Learning, parity, and mindfulness, special educators can develop collaboration skills that help them advocate for themselves, their students, and their program.