Among different transitions that happen in a young person's life, transition to adulthood can be one of the most challenging. The new post-school environment requires increased self-determination, including self-awareness, self-advocacy, self-management, and other important skills that help one function as an independent adult. Because it takes…

"Autism at-a-Glance" is a series of practitioner and family-friendly documents created by the Center on Secondary Education for Students with ASD (CSESA) designed for high school staff members supporting students on the autism spectrum, as well as family members of adolescents with ASD. The purpose of the "Autism at-a-Glance"…

The purpose of this study was to conduct a national survey, aiming to (a)explore how self-determination instruction is implemented by elementary and junior high school teachers; (b)examine the frequency with which the components of self-determination are taught; and (c)investigate whether teachers' gender, class setting, and teaching experience…

The authors examine the meaning of independence for persons with a disability, note two prerequisites (access to the same opportunities of life and capacity to participate in those activities), and explore strategies to help disabled persons learn to choose how to live their lives (including personal life planning, problem solving instruction, and…

This paper discusses the development of self-determination skills by students with disabilities and the role of the professional in promoting these skills. It begins by providing a list of 25 elements of self-determination and then explains the importance of promoting the development of self-advocacy groups and other endeavors initiated by and for…

This paper discusses the development of the Basic Skills Model, a theoretical framework that has enabled North Carolina educators to propose to the Department of Public Instruction the development of a curriculum for high school juniors and seniors with disabilities. The curriculum is designed to enable students to gain the necessary skills to…

This paper examines the problems and barriers that individuals with severe disabilities often encounter in four areas of their lives: (1) dealing with medical professionals, (2) working with the public education system, (3) receiving rehabilitation services, and (4) socializing with others. The roles of the family, the individual with the…

A preliminary evaluation of a recently developed multicomponent educational and support program for enhancing the self-determination of youth with disabilities found that participating students (18 young adults with mental retardation) in the classroom-based competency building sessions demonstrated improved choice-making, interpersonal problem…

This book describes instructional methods for teaching basic self-determination skills to students with disabilities. The first section provides an introduction to self-determination as an educational and transition outcome, discusses the impetus for an educational focus on self determination, and describes the relationships between transition…