The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) is a law. WIOA says people who have disabilities have rights. These rights include having information about self-determination, self-advocacy, and peer mentoring. This handout will help you understand what those terms mean. It also has a checklist you can use to help you achieve your goals.

Handout Text

W.I.O.A. It’s your choice. Where you live, work, spend time. What you should know.

The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) of 2014 is a federal law that says that people who have disabilities must be provided with information that can help them with self-determination, self-advocacy, and peer mentoring.
This is important to make sure that people who have disabilities have a voice and are able to make informed decisions about where they want to work, live, and spend their time.
Typically, agencies that provide these services do so at no cost to you.

Self-Determination:
Take control of your life.
Use your skills and life experiences to make decisions about your life that are based on your own preferences, interests, and goals.

Self-Advocacy:
Stick up for yourself or someone else.
Know that you have a right to make decisions about your life and a responsibility to make those decisions.
Communicate what you want and take action to reach your goals.

Peer Mentoring:
Receive support from a peer who has a disability.
Peer mentors who have disabilities provide information, support, and encouragement to others who have disabilities as they make life choices.

Your current provider of services has given you a list of resources to help you learn about self-determination, self-advocacy, and peer mentoring. You can also access a list of these resources at bit.ly/AAPPDself-advocacy (tab down to “W.I.O.A Sect. 511 – Self Advocacy Resources.”) This handout was created to help you decide which of these services might be the best fit for you.

Self-Determination:
Will this service help me to 1) know my rights and responsibilities; 2) communicate effectively; 3) be an effective listener; 4) learn basic leadership and team skills; 5) be comfortable expressing myself; 6) gain assertiveness skills and be respectful when I disagree; and 7) practice interdependence (be empowered to ask for help and support)?

Self-Advocacy
Will this service help me to 1) know my choices; 2) make good decisions; 3) understand the consequences of my actions; 4) identify, analyze, and solve problems; 5) be more self-aware and understand myself better; 6) set, track, and follow progress on my goals; and 7) talk to employers about my disability and the accommodations I may need?

Peer Mentoring
Will this service help me to 1) interact more with my peers; 2) learn alongside my peers; 3) practice peer to peer modeling; 4) show leadership; 5) be part of a team; 6) set high expectations for myself and my peers; and 7) learn new skills to share with others?
Developed by AZ Employment First, Job Opportunities Build Success. www.azemploymentfirst.org

*Note: Sometimes service providers are also called vendors.