Beach Center Self Determination
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Self-Determination refers to the process of being in charge of one’s own life to the degree that an individual and that individual’s family unit believe is important. Self-Determination involves the capacity, the needed supports, and the opportunity provided for making choices and decisions that are individually determined to the greatest degree possible. The choices and decisions may be related to where we live, have a job, or spending leisure time, and may be made individually, or within a family or service-provision system.
Wehmeyer (1992, 1996) defines Self-Determination as “acting as the primary causal agent in one’s life and making choices and decisions regarding one’s quality of life free from undue external influence or interference.” A causal agent is someone who makes or causes things to happen in his or her life. This means that a person with or without disabilities should be encouraged to make choices that are important to them and that help these individuals to have a better life. It does not necessarily mean total and complete independence in any of these activities. But being self-determined does mean that when choices are made, the person making the choices must also consider the consequences and results of their actions.
When a person exhibits Self-Determination, their actions will reflect four essential characteristics: autonomous behavior – related to making choices and decisions, as needed, self-regulated behavior – having some personal control over actions, acting in a psychologically empowered manner – feeling capable and acting that way, and being self-realizing by understanding the effects of their own actions.
Beach Center on Disability
Recent Submissions
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Exploring Personal and Environmental Characteristics that Predict Self-Determination
(Taylor & Francis, 2013-07-02)This study examined the degree to which multiple personal (age, gender, disability, and need for educational support) and school environment characteristics (hours in academic classes with general education peers, hours ... -
Self-determination -- A life-span perspective
(2011-12-27) -
Infusing self-determination into 18-21 services for students with intellectual or developmental disabilities: A multi-stage, multiple component model
(Education and Training in Developmental Disabilities, 2006) -
Using Self-Monitoring to Improve Performance in General Education High School Classes
(Education and Training in Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, 2002) -
The Self-Determined Career Development Model: A Pilot Study
(Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 2003)Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of a model to enable Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) counselors and others to support VR consumers to self-regulate problem solving to enable them to set career ... -
The Relationship Between Self-Determination and Quality of Life for Adults with Mental Retardation
(Education and Training in Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, 1998) -
The Effects of Problem-Solving Instruction in the Self-Determined Learning of Secondary Students with Disabilities
(Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc., 2003) -
The Effects of Peer Delivered Self-Monitoring Strategies on the Participation of Students with Severe Disabilities in General Education Classrooms
(Journal of the Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps, 2001) -
Self-prompted Communication Book Use to Increase Social Interaction Among High School Students
(Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities, 2000) -
Self-Determination and Student Involvement in Functional Assessment: Innovative Practices
(Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 2004)The fundamental feature that distinguishes positive behavior support (PBS) from previous generations of applied behavior analysis is its focus on the remediation of deficient contexts that are determined to be the source ... -
Self-Determination and Quality of Life: Implications for Special Education Services and Supports
(Focus on Exceptional Children, 2001) -
Self-Determination and Positive Adult Outcomes: A Follow-up Study of Youth with Mental Retardation or Learning Disabilities
(Exceptional Children, 1997) -
Self-Determination and Individuals with Significant Disabilities: Examining Meanings and Misinterpretations
(Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities, 1998) -
Promoting Transition Goals and Self-Determination Through Student Self-Directed Learning: The Self-Determined Learning Model of Instruction
(Education and Training in Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, 2000) -
Promoting Self-Determination in Early Elementary School: Teaching Self-Regulated Problem-Solving and Goal-Setting Skills
(Remedial and Special Education, 2003)Problem solving and goal setting are important components of self-determination that young people learn over time. This study describes and validates a model of teaching in early elementary grades that teachers can use to ... -
Promoting Causal Agency: The Self-Determined Learning Model of Instruction
(Exceptional Children, 2000) -
Making Their Own Way: The Perspectives of Three Young People with Disabilities
(Harvard Education Press, 2003)
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