Self-determination and persons with developmental disabilities

If students with developmental disabilities are to develop self-determination skills, instruction in targeted competencies must, of necessity, begin in the public schools. Wehmeyer, Field, Doren, Jones, and Mason (2004) have noted that “promoting access to the general education curriculum provides the chance to more fully infuse efforts to promote self-determination and student involvement actually provides a means to promote the participation of students with disabilities in the general curriculum” (p. 417). Teachers working with students with disabilities thus can (a) facilitate progress in the general education curriculum by teaching standards-based skills and knowledge associated with elements of self-determination (that are typically reflected in state and local standards); and (b) teaching specific self-determination skills, including self-regulation, self-management, goal setting, decision-making, and problem-solving (see Wehmeyer et al., 2004).