Which term means the ability to express one's needs, preferences, and rights and to participate actively in decisions that affect one's life?

• A. Adaptive Functioning
• B. Cognitive Development
• C. Vandalism
• D. Self-Advocacy

Answer: (D)

Self-advocacy is about expressing your needs, preferences, and rights and actively taking part in decisions that affect your life. It means speaking up for yourself, asking for the supports you need, and working with others to shape plans or services—like requesting accommodations at school, explaining what helps you learn best, or negotiating changes to a plan. This focus on personal voice and involvement distinguishes it from the other terms: adaptive functioning describes how well you can perform daily tasks and remain independent, not the act of speaking up or making decisions; cognitive development refers to how thinking and learning abilities grow over time, which is broader and not specifically about advocating for oneself; vandalism is unrelated behavior involving property damage.