• Start early! Begin to take on a coaching role and encourage youth to talk about their health condition and ask questions.
  
• Encourage health care providers and others to direct questions to your youth.
  
• Complete the Youth Quiz together every year – starting at age 12 – to identify where they are at.
  
• Work through the Youth Toolkit Activity Cards to help youth develop skills and knowledge as he/she is able.

Tips and Links

• Help youth understand why they need to talk to their doctor and care providers.Teach youth to use the 3 sentence summary:Sentence 1: My age, diagnosis and brief medical history
• Sentence 2: My treatment plan
• Sentence 3: My question/concern to talk about during this visit
• Before an appointment, talk about what questions they want to ask.
• Just TRAC it!: Try using the Notes app on their phone or tablet to write down questions before an appointment.
  
• Watch this video where youth with chronic conditions and their parents share their transition stories.
  
• Practice asking questions together before clinic visits, and on the way to appointments.
  

Tips and Links

• Together, make a list of signs, symptoms, and complications related to their condition or medications.
  
• Just TRAC it!: Record  “red flags” – signs and symptoms – as they occur on your Calendar app or paper calendar.
  
• Support youth in using mobile online tools to track their symptoms, like ‘Seizure Tracker.’
  
• Identify a health care advocate – others who can help in times of illness.
  
• Try the BC Health Services Locator app to locate services throughout the province.

• Ask health care providers about future health concerns, progression of illness/disabilities, or late effects to treatment and/or medications.
• Use reference websites and resources suggested by your health care providers – HealthLink BC.

Tips and Links

• The Advocate for Service Quality can help you and your youth understand government systems and services, and ensure your voice is heard.
• Find a Children and Youth with Special Needs (CYSN) office in your community for help accessing services.
• Practice shared decision-making and encourage youth towards independence in health care decisions.
• Learn about the laws in BC around confidentiality and consent.
  
• Learn about ‘Social Smarts: Privacy, the Internet and You,' a free graphic novel available online.
• Work through the My 5 Wishes Tool to discuss personal, emotional, and medical wishes.
• Help youth learn about their rights through videos and activities in the Youth Toolkit.