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Next-Gen Voices: Using A.I. to Strengthen Self-Advocacy, featuring No Hate In The Garden State

The use of A.I (Artificial Intelligence) programs, like ChatGPT and Gemini, has sparked debates and discussions about it’s use in our daily lives. While A.I can be used in negative ways, there are many opportunities for youth and young adults to use it as a tool for self-advocacy and self-improvement. 

Self-Advocacy in the Age of AI  

Programs like ChatGPT are useful for editing work, producing ideas and titles, and answering questions. These functions are very useful for those that have difficulty with self-expression, or explaining their needs and thoughts to others. Giving ChatGPT prompts like “Generate this paragraph to be shorter” or “Generate this in simpler language.” are great ways to make something you’ve read more understandable. You can also ask “Does this read well?” to check if your writing is good, or if it’s missing something.

The YouTube video, “Sacha Connor v2: Self-Advocacy in the Age of AI” explains that today’s workplaces use both remote work and AI systems, so self-advocacy means making sure people and digital tools notice your contributions. Sacha Connor points out that AI can track your work, skills, and participation, which affects opportunities like projects or promotions. To be recognized, you need to show your value clearly through documented work, regular communication, and connecting with the right people.



Verifying A.I Information

While these A.I programs provide a lot of information, it’s important to remember that ChatGPT and software like it run off collections of data, and sometimes that data is not up to date. Always verify, or double-check the results of your A.I prompts, to prevent misinformation. Also, if the prompt has not already cited a source, then ask it to provide one, or see if you can find the source yourself. And be very careful of fake sources, as these programs can mistake these for valid sources. 

The Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) ‘s latest post, “ASAN Says No Generative AI in Plain Language”  talks about the issue of using A.I to interpret reading material, as sometimes the program makes mistakes and changes the whole meaning of the original text.




What are your thoughts on the use of A.I? Share your thoughts, ideas, and experiences in the comments below!

Featuring...

No Hate in the Garden State Youth Competition 2025-2026


The No Hate in the Garden State Youth Competition 2025–2026 invites New Jersey middle and high school students to create projects promoting inclusion and combating bias. Teams develop initiatives—like awareness campaigns, workshops, or art projects—focused on civil rights, diversity, and anti-discrimination. Participants gain leadership and civic skills, while past winners have advanced LGBTQ+ awareness, multicultural projects, and other youth-led advocacy efforts statewide.


Learn more here: https://www.njoag.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/No-Hate-in-the-Garden-State-Student-Comp-2025-2026.pdf

 The SPAN Youth Chat

On December 3rd, from 4:15 to 5:00 PM, join Jeremy Hayer and the Youth Engagement Team for a presentation on personal support networks. The focus will be on how to build strong and reliable circles of support that include family, friends, and trusted peers. These circles help youth navigate challenges, reach goals, and strengthen self-advocacy skills.





Resources...

Link to SPAN's website: www.spanadvocacy.org
Link to SPAN's Youth in the Know Resource Page: Youth in the Know
We're here for you! Call SPAN if you need assistance: 1-800-654-7726.

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