Important Self Advocacy Tools for Children to Learn?

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I care for a five year old with autism who struggles somewhat expressing himself verbally but generally can communicate his needs and desires. The ability to self advocate is a critical one and although he's young, I'd like to start teaching him. He's great at saying no, so that's a wonderful start. And I've worked with him on asking for help when he needs it.

Is there anything else I should be working on? I've looked for articles on how to do this, when to start teaching, etc, and all of them say 'it's never too early to start'...but then provide advice for teens, which is rather beyond this little boy. Thoughts?

Yes, and that is to reinforce his confidence. For those who are 'on the spectrum' (at whatever level), their own self-confidence is paramount. Being different, even if that is a positive difference, will be hard for anyone and especially a child. Knowing that he is worthwhile is the best defence against those bullies.

Helping with language to use to ask for what he wants is a good step. A script to use with people that is appropriate and likely to be effective. Helps make trying to communicate feel worthwhile to him.

LabPet, how would you suggest to go about reinforcing self confidence? I praise him a great deal when he does well, and when he does something bad, I don't tell him he's done something bad, just tell him the rule, the consequence for breaking it, and then enforce the consequence. I try to phrase things as bad decisions, rather than saying that he himself is being bad.

Is there anything else I can be doing?

As I continue to learn self-advocacy, here is something that works quite well for me:

1. Identify likely scenarios requiring self-advocacy (e.g. setting boundaries, requesting help).

2. Formulate and write-down short and direct things to be said in those circumstances (e.g. "Please do not do that", "Will you help me please?", "Yes I like that".)

3. Memorize and rehearse saying those sentences over and over. Actually saying them aloud many times is key so that they come automatically. That helps me get those words out when I am otherwise overloaded and less able to process thoughts.

It is much less effective if I get lazy and fail to say them aloud. It is almost like building the muscle-memory into my jaw, mouth, and tongue to form and say those words with minimal thought is key.