Let’s Talk About It! The Power of Promoting Disability Awareness,
Understanding, Acceptance and Advocacy
Program Description
It is never too early to start teaching a child with a disability how he or she can advocate for
himself or herself. Like many other important life skills, self-advocacy is a critical tool a child
needs in order to achieve goals, increase self-sufficiency, and become a successful young adult.
It is a life-long process that begins with parents or caregivers “talking about it” with both the
child and others. Talking about a child’s disability involves promoting awareness, understanding,
acceptance and advocacy.
This presentation will focus on talking with a child about his/her disability as well as educating
family members, friends, neighbors, the school community and others. Assisting the adult child
advocating for him/herself with employers will also be touched on. A number of approaches will
be examined highlighting the importance of the child becoming a self-advocate and a valued
member of the community as they grow into adulthood and into the work world.
Program Objectives
Upon completion of this program, participants should be able to:
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Discuss the value of talking with a child about his/her disability;
Describe issues to consider and steps to take when talking with a child about his/her
disability;
Explain the benefits of talking to family members, neighbors, friends, peers, teachers and
school personnel;
Outline a program for presenting a child’s disability to teachers and peers;
Demonstrate the effectiveness of this program;
Understand the importance of teaching self-advocacy skills to children with disabilities;
Explain how self-advocacy skills can benefit children with disabilities as they grow into
adulthood and move into the work world.
Target Audience
Human Service Professionals, school personnel, parents or caregivers, self-advocates and anyone
interested in this topic.
Agenda
 Welcome, Introduction, Overview of the Day
 Define Awareness, Understanding, Acceptance and Advocacy in the context of children
and adults with disabilities
 Stages of Adjusting to the Diagnosis
 Talking About the Disability
o The Person with the Disability
o Siblings and Extended Family
o The School Community
o Four Step Process for Disclosing
o Formats for Sharing
o Telling Classmates
o Programs to Educate Classmates
o Friends, Neighbors, Church Community
o Employers
 Teaching Self-Advocacy
 Redefining Disability
Credit
1.5 to 3.0 credits
Faculty
Sherry Mergner, MSW, LCSW is a Clinical Assistant Professor and the AHEC Liaison at
UNC-CH, School of Social Work, where she coordinates continuing education programs for
mental health, substance abuse and developmental disability professionals. She is also clinical
social work faculty for the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disorders (LEND)
grant at the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, where she recruits social workers
for this specialized training in Developmental Disabilities. Sherry also provides clinical services
to families at the CIDD. Her passion is working with individuals who have social cognitive
challenges. Sherry completed Michelle Garcia Winner’s Advanced Clinical Training in San
Jose, California in March, 2016. From 2010-13, Sherry served as the Project Coordinator for an
Autism Masters Training Grant through UNC-CH, School of Medicine, Department of Allied
Health Services. The purpose of this training grant was to educate occupational therapy, speech,
and language pathology master-level students on Autism Spectrum Disorders. Sherry received
her MSW from Florida State University in 1987 and has worked in a variety of clinical and
educational settings for the past 30 years. She is the proud mother of Noah, 17 years old with
High Functioning Autism and Nathan, 15 years old who is typically developing. Sherry has
served as a Mother’s Mentor for UNC-CH, TEACCH and was on the board of the
Orange/Chatham Chapter of the Autism Society of NC from 2005-2007. She is very active in her
community and within her children’s school promoting autism awareness and education.
Contact Information
Sherry C. Mergner, MSW, LCSW
Clinical Assistant Professor/AHEC Liaison
UNC-CH, School of Social Work
Social Work LEND Faculty
Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities
919-962-6463 (office)
sherry.mergner@cidd.unc.edu