Trainings for professionals

Sharing the model of Self-Advocacy

YAC offers training to help professionals successfully empower teens to take control of their futures through employing techniques of self-advocacy. In developing Getting Beyond the System: Self-Advocacy Seminar, we carefully crafted a method that would motivate students to engage in and take responsibility for the learning process while relying on the creativity and talents of the program facilitator. YAC has deconstructed the elements that have made GBS successful and now offers trainings to provide tools for professionals working with teens facing transitions, career preparation and independence.

At YAC we believe the success of a program relies on the unique creativity and experience of its facilitator and its organization, therefore we strive to provide tools rather than rigid prescriptions. Training participants value exploring YAC's techniques, including the Socratic and Case methods. They have the opportunity to practice some of the techniques and share ideas for how to integrate the methods into their work. In the past, participants have used the experience in a number of different ways. Some have taken the opportunity to adopt the GBS Self-Advocacy Seminar, utilizing YAC's Casebook, Facilitator's Guide, and Video. Others have instituted new initiatives at their organizations and have partnered with YAC to develop a full GBS replication program. Still others integrated the methods into their pre-existing programming.

Click here to learn about one trainee's experience bringing GBS back to her organization.

YAC currently offers a two-day training on self-advocacy skills, Getting Beyond the System, held tri-annually in New York City. We also offer individualized trainings to organizations or communities that are (or desire to be) actively engaged in promoting self-advocacy.