Three Helpful Tips for Effective Self-Advocacy

Cody Gotchall is an Oregon-based student working online toward a transfer degree in accounting. Aside from his academic responsibilities, Cody Gotchall enjoys volunteering in his community and serving on the Arc of Benton County board of directors as a self-advocacy representative.

Self-advocacy is the ability to express yourself and stand up for your interests. Self-advocacy skills can help you make life decisions more easily and have more control over what is best for you. Below are three useful tips for good self-advocacy.

1. Know your rights. Be aware of your lawful rights and recognize that you are entitled to equal rights according to the law. If unsure of your rights, find out about them through disability rights programs, community support groups, crisis hotlines, social networking, classes, and workshops.

2. Talk about your questions and concerns. Write down questions and concerns and discuss them by phone, in person, or in a letter with the relevant party. Speak politely while communicating your wants and listen carefully to the answers and explanations provided. If clarification is needed, ask for it.

3. Keep a written record of important information and decisions. Get information in writing by asking for it. If someone states something is a law, procedure or policy, ask for a written copy of it, or find out where it can be viewed. If you don’t agree with a particular decision, ask for the decision and the reasons behind it to be provided in a written format.

Key Highlights of Freddie Highmore’s Film Career

A resident of Corvallis, Oregon, Cody Gotchall currently takes online classes and is studying accounting. Outside of his academic pursuits, Cody Gotchall enjoys volunteering, playing cribbage, and watching the television series The Good Doctor.

The Good Doctor is about a young surgical resident with savant syndrome and autism who moves away from a peaceful country lifestyle to work in the prestigious surgical unit at St. Bonaventure Hospital. The main character, Dr. Shaun Murphy, is played by actor Freddie Highmore. A brief overview of Freddie Highmore’s highly successful film career is presented below.

Freddie Highmore became well known in the film industry as a young child and earned recognition early on as Empire Award's Most Promising Newcomer. He also won a Film Critics’ award for the World's Best Young Actor on two occasions. Mr. Highmore became most famous for his role in the film Neverland when he played the character of Peter and has also been seen in the films Two Brothers, Women Talking Dirty, A Good Year, August Rush, and Five Children and It, among others. Freddie Highmore also made his debut as a director after writing episodes for Bates Motel, an Emmy-nominated show in which he played Norman Bates and earned the People's Choice Award for Best Actor.

Tasty Side Dishes to Pair with Barbequed Ribs

Based in Corvallis, Oregon, Cody Gotchall is studying accounting online and working toward a transfer degree in business. Cody Gotchall has been a dedicated volunteer in his community over the past several years and enjoys playing cribbage, watching baseball, and eating barbequed pork ribs.

Barbequed pork ribs are a popular food that combines well with a variety of other dishes. Below are some of the tastiest side dishes to consider serving alongside any type of ribs.

Herbed Potato Salad is an ideal dish to help counter the richness of barbecued ribs. A tangy dressing such as shallot-and-Dijon vinaigrette featuring herbs including parsley, dill, and tarragon mixed with soft-cooked potatoes provides a refreshing contrast of flavor to ribs. Another dish bursting with fresh ingredients is easy corn and tomato coleslaw. This dish is comprised of cherry tomatoes, tomatillos, fresh corn, green cabbage, and a sprinkling of cilantro.

Cooked dishes that combine well with ribs include mac and cheese made creamy-style or sprinkled with panko breadcrumbs for a crunchy texture, and cheese grits baked into a casserole dish. Cheese grits are made using quick-cooking grits, milk, hot sauce, sharp cheddar, and eggs.