Self-determination is the core belief in your ability to control your own destiny. It’s a blend of attitudes and skills that empower individuals to define personal goals and proactively work towards achieving them. This concept emphasizes taking charge of one’s life, but it differs from being entirely self-sufficient or independent. Instead, it focuses on making informed choices, effectively navigating challenges, and embracing responsibility for the direction of your own life. Furthermore, self-determination includes understanding and experiencing the consequences that result from your decisions.
Developing Self-Determination Skills: A Lifelong Journey
Cultivating self-determination skills is a continuous process that starts in childhood and evolves throughout life. While crucial for everyone, it holds particular significance, and often presents greater challenges, for young individuals with disabilities. Unfortunately, sometimes, out of a desire to protect them, well-meaning individuals might inadvertently hinder the development of these skills by making decisions on their behalf. Also, sometimes people wrongly assume that people with disabilities lack the capacity for independent thought.
Self-determination encompasses a diverse range of attitudes and skills, including self-awareness, assertiveness, creativity, pride, effective problem-solving, and strong self-advocacy skills. Taking control of your life necessitates the ability to set meaningful goals, carefully evaluate available options, make informed choices, and then dedicate yourself to realizing those goals.
Because self-determination skills are most effectively learned and refined through practical application, students with disabilities should be provided with ample opportunities to practice self-advocacy, decision-making, and socialization skills well before transitioning from high school. This crucial preparation equips them for successful employment and independent living within their communities.
The Power of Mentoring
Experienced adults with disabilities can be invaluable assets in fostering self-determination in younger individuals. Serving as role models, they can also directly mentor youth. Mentors can share experiences and strategies that propelled them towards successful employment and independent living. This guidance helps navigate challenging transition periods, offers problem-solving advice where parents lack direct experience (or when youth hesitate to confide in them), and provides essential encouragement.
Numerous agencies provide mentoring programs that pair youth with adult mentors. Some programs specifically cater to youth with disabilities. Explore potential programs within your community by contacting Independent Living Centers for People with Disabilities, parent centers in your state, community organizations (such as YMCAs, YWCAs, Boys’ Clubs, and Girls’ Clubs programs), and your state vocational rehabilitation agencies.
Family Support: A Cornerstone of Self-Determination
Families play a critical role in supporting their young adults with disabilities as they develop self-determination skills. Parents can contribute by progressively offering opportunities for independent decision-making. Furthermore, families should facilitate exploration of employment, housing options, and community recreation programs by leveraging their network of relatives and friends and engaging with formal service systems. Above all, families must prepare themselves to embrace their child in their new adult role and empower them to actively participate in decisions shaping their future – even if it entails allowing them to learn from mistakes.
Resources to Further Explore Self-Determination
Several resources are available to further explore and understand the principles of self-determination. PACER (Parent Advocacy Coalition for Educational Rights) offers a collection of resources that can provide additional insights.
Additional Reading
- Consider the Alternatives: Decision-Making Options for Young Adults with Intellectual Disabilities: This brief, produced by Think College partners at the Pacer Center, highlights alternatives to guardianship, exploring options available to families and their implications. It details power of attorney, supported decision-making, and guardianship, providing examples and additional resources.
Self-determination is not merely about making choices; it’s about empowering individuals to actively shape their lives, contributing to a more inclusive and equitable society. By fostering self-determination, we help create a world where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
