Promoting Self-Determination in Students with Developmental Disabilities

Affordable and complete, this book provides evidence-based strategies to promote self-determination, and is the first volume to combine both theory and practice in this area. Because self-determination is a key issue for students with moderate and severe disabilities, this is an ideal resource for middle and secondary special educators, school psychologists, and other school practitioners.

Growing evidence suggests that self-determination is a significant factor in improving educational and transition outcomes in students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This volume reviews the breadth of available methods for teaching components of self-determination--including choice making, problem solving, decision making, goal setting, self-advocacy, and self-regulated learning--and provides best-practice recommendations that teachers can put to immediate use in the classroom. Grounded in theory and research, the strategies presented here have been shown to enhance students' involvement in educational planning and support them in meeting their goals in school, the workplace, and the community. Special features include reproducible worksheets and forms.

I. Introduction1. Overview of Self-Determination and Self-Determined LearningII. Promoting Self-Determination2. Assessing Preferences and Promoting Choice Making3. Teaching Problem Solving and Decision Making4. Teaching Goal Setting and Attainment 5. Teaching Self-AdvocacyIII. Promoting Self-Determined Learning6. Antecedent Event Regulation7. Consequent Event Regulation8. Self-Instruction9. The Self-Determined Learning Model of InstructionIV. Curriculum Modifications and Student Involvement10. Technology and Universal Design to Promote Self-Determination11. Student Involvement in Educational Planning

Michael L. Wehmeyer, PhD, is Professor, Department of Special Education; Director, Kansas University Center on Developmental Disabilities; and Associate Director, Beach Center on Disability at the University of Kansas. He is the author of 195 refereed articles or book chapters and has authored or edited 20 books on disability and education-related issues pertaining to self-determination, transition, universal design for learning and access to the general curriculum for students with severe disabilities, and technology use by people with cognitive disabilities. He is a member of the board of directors and a fellow of the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, a past president of the Council for Exceptional Children’s (CEC) Division on Career Development and Transition, and editor-in-chief of Remedial and Special Education. In 1999 Dr. Wehmeyer was the inaugural recipient of the Distinguished Early Career Research Award from the CEC’s Division for Research. In 2003 he was awarded the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities National Education award.