"The most courageous act is to think for yourself out loud." --Coco Chanel
"Empowerment is when you have gained the confidence in yourself to have the lightbulb go on in your head. You realize you can take control of your life and you understand that now you have done it." --Nancy Ward
Although self-determination might be slightly different from culture to culture, students need to be involved and engaged in the transition planning process. Educators (and sometimes parents) have often made decisions for youth; we are trying to change that so youth are making their own decisions about what their post-secondary goals should be. During the teenage transition years we need to gradually turn the decision-making authority over to youth so they become better at making their own decisions.
The transition team meetings need to be attended by any outside agencies that will later be involved. Informal transition planning should happen at home. Family needs to be involved. The other team members need to listen to family concerns and input as to student's strengths and preferences.
Student preferences, dreams, and hopes should drive the whole process. This is what person-centered planning is. That means having the student take classes that might help with the job the student is interested in after high school. It means updating and changing goals if the student's preferences change. It also means family, school, and outside agencies working together. Family and school should help the student develop self-determination and planning skills both at home and at school.
The transition team meetings need to be attended by any outside agencies that will later be involved. Informal transition planning should happen at home. Family needs to be involved. The other team members need to listen to family concerns and input as to student's strengths and preferences.
Student preferences, dreams, and hopes should drive the whole process. This is what person-centered planning is. That means having the student take classes that might help with the job the student is interested in after high school. It means updating and changing goals if the student's preferences change. It also means family, school, and outside agencies working together. Family and school should help the student develop self-determination and planning skills both at home and at school.
"We must fertilize the education of youth with disabilities to assure that youth develop leadership skills." -Tim Harrington
Self-Determination:
- Knowing your strengths, abilities, how you learn, what your disability is and what your rights are; knowing what supports you need and being able to ask for them
- Make Choices
- Problem-Solving (when you make a choice or goal and have some challenges or barriers before you can achieve that goal)
- Decision Making (maybe it will take longer to get to a goal or maybe you need to change a goal)
- Being able to self-advocate
- Goal Setting & Getting to those Goals
- Keep track of your progress
- Learning to be independent and take some risks while still staying safe
How can I help my son/daughter become self-determined? | |
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Communication Skills:
- Learn to be speak up for yourself without being too aggressive
- Learn how to negotiate for what you want (both of you might need to give a little)
- Learn to use assistive technology to help with your communication skills if you need it
- Learn leadership skills
Why is Self-Advocacy Important?
So that you have the knowledge needed to succeed and are given the chance to participate in decisions that are being made about your life.
So that you have the knowledge needed to succeed and are given the chance to participate in decisions that are being made about your life.
“Self-Determination is what life is all about. Without it, you might be alive, but you wouldn’t be living-you would just be existing” (Kennedy, “Self-Determination and Trust” My Experiences and Thoughts.” p. 48)
According to the "Summary of Self-Determination" (2000) by the Self-Advocacy Assoc. of NYS, three key parts of self-determination are choices, ownership, and opportunity. First, it is important to have choices in things such as time and money, lifestyle, and where to live. Second, each person should be able to make the final decisions while being supported in that decision-making with a circle of support. He/she needs to be able to control finances, hire/fire service providers, and accept responsibility for the good/bad consequences of those decisions. Finally, a person with a disability needs to have the opportunity to have new experiences, be encouraged to participate in community events, make decisions about how to spend his/her money, make mistakes, and learn/grow from those mistakes and new experiences.
- People with disabilities have strengths, skills, abilities, and know-how to bring to a job and to the community.
- People with disabilities have rights and are entitled to be treated with respect.
- Teach self-determination and self-advocacy in high school. Use person-centered transition planning. People with disabilities should direct their own services, which will give them a sense of control over their own life.
- To read the entire Summary of Self-Determination, go to http://www.sanys.org/determination/deter_3.htm
Tools for Life Conference:
This secondary transition and assistive technology fair is held once each year. In 2018 it will be held in Moscow, Idaho. They have sessions for both parents and students such as employment, assistive technology, post-secondary education, and self-determination/self-advocacy. This conference is well worth attending. It also offers some scholarships to pay for students' hotel room.
Contact: Dan Dyer E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 208-292-1406
http://www.idahoat.org/Services/ToolsforLifeFair.aspx
This secondary transition and assistive technology fair is held once each year. In 2018 it will be held in Moscow, Idaho. They have sessions for both parents and students such as employment, assistive technology, post-secondary education, and self-determination/self-advocacy. This conference is well worth attending. It also offers some scholarships to pay for students' hotel room.
Contact: Dan Dyer E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 208-292-1406
http://www.idahoat.org/Services/ToolsforLifeFair.aspx