Self-determination can be a driving force for students, especially those with moderate to severe disabilities. Self-determination provides the skills needed for these students to thrive in school, friendships, relationships, employment, community living and beyond. In fact, self-determination is a research-based predictor of positive outcomes for individuals with disabilities.
What is self-determination?
Self-determination is an individual defining what they want in life, and then planning and executing the steps to make it happen. Being able to set goals, self-advocate, remain present in making life decisions, and actively work toward accomplishing those goals are all components of self-determination.
Let’s first look at the skills that make up self-determination so that we can best identify how to teach students to engage in it.
Choice-making: navigating two or more options based on what an individual needs or wants in order to move closer to their goals
Decision-making: discovering different choices and then weighing the pros and cons of each to select the best one based on an individual’s ambitions
Problem-solving: recognizing and assessing various ways to overcome an encountered barrier as an individual works towards a goal
Goal setting and attainment: creating a plan and taking steps to achieve the goals an individual sets
Planning: thinking about the steps needed to take to reach a specific goal and then determining the most effective way to move forward
Self-advocacy: an individual speaking up for themselves based on their rights, needs and goals
Self-awareness: learning about an individual’s needs, dreams and goals
Self-management: determining if an individual’s actions are moving them closer to their goals, and then pivoting and adjusting to ensure the desired actions are taken
Self-knowledge: developing a strong understanding of what an individual’s dreams are, how others can support them in achieving those dreams, and then identifying how to build a long-term vision for the future.
How to incorporate opportunities for self-determination
You may already be presenting opportunities for self-determination in your classroom, and if so – these tips may be familiar. If you’re not, here are a few strategies to help get you started:
Integrate choice into your students’ day wherever you can
This teaches students that they have a voice in their outcomes, and that their decisions matter
Practice social problem-solving when teaching social skills
List options for each action, their pros and cons, and what the end result could look like
Teach and practice communication skills in as many settings as possible
Communicating your basic wants and needs are the building blocks for self-advocacy
Model negotiation and compromise as your students navigate both each other and their environments
This can work on almost all of the skill sets that make up self-determination at once!
Program student-directed learning strategies such as self-instruction and self-management into your students’ daily routines
Incorporate opportunities for checklists and schedules to increase independence
Use a Person-Centered Planning model, which includes a self-directed IEP for planning and goal setting purposes.
The beginning stages
If you’ve just started to teach self-determination in your classroom, you’ll want to identify where your students’ strengths are as far as deciding, acting and believing, as well as where you can help your students improve.
You can also utilize the Self-Determined Learning Model of Instruction (SDLMI) to teach self-determination skills. The SDLMI is an instructional framework that teaches students to set goals, make a plan to achieve those goals, and monitor progress toward goals.
With these tips and strategies, your students will be well on their way to building their self-determination skills!
Self-determination can be a driving force for students, especially those with moderate to severe disabilities. Self-determination provides the skills needed for these students to thrive in school, friendships, relationships, employment, community living and beyond. In fact, self-determination is a research-based predictor of positive outcomes for individuals with disabilities.