Self-Determination

• Knowing and believing in yourself
• Knowing what you want your future to be like and how to make plans to achieve this future
• Knowing the support you need to take control of your life

Core components

• Choice making
• Decision making
• Problem solving
• Goal setting
• Self-advocacy
• Leadership
• Self-reinforcement
• Self-awareness

Strategies for teaching self-determination

• Create goals that focus on self-determination (goal setting, making choices, saying “no”, self-advocating, etc.)
• Use person-centered planning meetings, such as MAP or PATH
• Include student in IEP process
• Designate a time to teach self-determination skills (part of a social skills curriculum)
• Integrate newly acquired skills throughout  the school day
• Embed instruction into vocational and community-based instruction
• Use a self-determination curriculum or other resource
  • I’m Determined    www.imdetermined.org
  • National Gateway to Self Determination https://www.ngsd.org/everyone/what-self-determination
  • PACER https://www.pacer.org/tatra/planning/self.asp
  • WVU Center for Excellence in Disabilities https://cedwvu.org/advocacy/what-is-self-determination.php
  • A student’s guide to the IEP https://www.nichcy.org/products/pages/default.aspx?productid=7018
  • Self-determination course  https://www.fldoe.org/ESE/esecourse/7963140.pdf

Books

• The Integrated Self-Advocacy ISA Curriculum  by Valerie Paradiz
• Self-Determination by Michael Wehmeyer and Sharon Field
• The PATH & MAPS Handbook: Person-Centered Ways to Build Community by John O’Brien, Jack Pearpoint & Linda Kahn
• PATH: Planning Alternative Tomorrows with Hope. A Workbook for Planning Possible Positive Futures by John O’Brien, Jack Pearpoint, and Marsha Forest