Visit Transition to Adulthood for more resources on the transition process.
What does self-determination mean?
Self-determination means making your own choices, learning to solve problems, and taking control and responsibility for your own life. People who are self-determined make things happen in their own lives. They know what they want and how to get it. They choose and set goals, then work to reach them. They advocate on their own behalf, and are involved in solving problems and making decisions about their lives.
Self-determination is important for everyone, regardless of the complexity of the of disability.
How does this fit into the IEP transition plan?
Self-determination is a set of skills can be taught as IEP goals.
- Youth Resources for Self-Determination from I’m Determined (Resources) – tools to help build self-determination skills in students
- 35 Measurable Self-Advocacy / Self-Determination Goals from A Day In Our Shoes
What about attending IEP meetings?
All students are capable of bringing knowledge and perspective to an IEP meeting. Students who participate in their own IEP meetings often know more about their disability, rights, goals and accommodations. By participating, they can practice skills that will help facilitate their independence, their ability to overcome obstacles, and their ability to lead more self-determined lives.
- Student Involvement in the IEP
- How Can My Child Be Involved in the IEP Process?
- Be Your Own Best Advocate
How do I support this at home?
Parents can help develop skills like choice making, goal setting, self-advocacy, and self-management.
- 10 Steps to Independence: Promoting Self-Determination in the Home
- Fostering Self-Determination Among Children and Youth with Disabilities
The “Charting the LifeCourse Framework” was created by families to help individuals and families of all abilities and all ages develop a vision for a good life, think about what they need to know and do, identify how to find or develop supports, and discover what it takes to live the lives they want to live.
Self-determination and adult services in Michigan
The Michigan Mental Health Code establishes the right for all individuals to have their Individual Plan of Service developed through a person-centered planning process.
- Michigan’s Self-Determination Initiative MDHHS
- Self Determination from Community Living Services CLS
Self-determination and Person Centered Planning
Person-centered planning (PCP) is a central element of self-determination. The purpose of person-centered planning is to provide a process for an individual to define the life that they want and what components need to be in place for the individual to have, work toward and achieve that life.
- My Plan: A Guide to Person-Centered Planning MDHHS
- Person Centered Planning Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council
- Independent Facilitation of the PCP The Arc Michigan
- Independent Facilitation Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council
- Find an Independent Facilitator Near You Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council
Self Determination Resources
- Be Your Own Best Advocate PACER
- It’s My Choice Workbook Minnesota Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities
- Possibilities video series presents a vision of how individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities and their families can lead the lives that they envision, without barriers and in the direction they truly wish to go
- Partners Advancing Self-Determination a new project in Michigan, more details coming in 2018.