Shogren, Wehmeyer, Palmer, Forber-Pratt, Little, and Lopez (2015) define self-determination as a “dispositional characteristic manifested as acting as the causal agent in one’s life. Self-determined people (i.e., causal agents) act in service to freely chosen goals. Self-determined actions function to enable a person to be the causal agent in his or her life” (p. 258). Individuals with disabilities who have higher levels of self-determination tend to have better transition outcomes and report higher satisfaction with their lives (Shogren et al., 2015). Because of the evidence linking self-determination to positive post-school outcomes, Texas educators are required to consider and address, if appropriate, “the use and availability of appropriate supplementary aids, services, curricula, and other opportunities to assist the student in developing decision-making skills; and supports and services to foster the student's independence and self-determination” (TAC §89.1055(j)(10)(A) and (B)).
References
Shogren, K. A., Wehmeyer, M. L., Palmer, S. B., Forber-Pratt, A. J., Little, T. J., & Lopez, S. (2015). Causal agency theory: Reconceptualizing a functional model of self-determination. Education and Training in Autism and Developmental Disabilities, 50(3), 251-263.
Explore the following links to learn more about self-determination.
The 2BSD provides information and resources for self-determination, using an action model for self-determination. You can use this website to learn about the concept of self-determination. This link goes directly to a manual that provides materials that early childhood education and care and support providers can use to infuse self-determination in their program offerings.
I'm Determined
The I’m Determined project, a state-directed project funded by the Virginia Department of Education, focuses on providing direct instruction, models, and opportunities to practice skills associated with self-determined behavior. This link leads to the educator page. The resources link on this page leads to materials such as videos of people with disabilities explaining self-determination.
University of Kansas Beach Center on Disability: Self-determination
The Beach Center on Disability focuses research, training, and advocacy on promoting abilities of people of all ages who experience disability, to assure a self-determined, goal-driven, and self-selected quality of life within communities where everyone lives. There is a link to a book, Self-Determination Across the Lifespan, that has a chapter on self-determination as a goal of early childhood and elementary education.
University of Wisconsin-Madison Waisman Center: Fostering Self-determination Among Children and Youth with Disabilities
This book can be used to learn about self-determination and how to increase it in children. You can also share this resource with parents, as the book was written by parents and for parents.