Self-DeterminationSelf-DeterminationA Parent’s Role in Fostering A Parent’s Role in Fostering

IndependenceIndependence

Carol Huntley, M.Ed.Carol Huntley, M.Ed.Transition SpecialistTransition Specialist

Round Rock ISDRound Rock ISD

carol_huntley@roundrockisd.orgcarol_huntley@roundrockisd.org

Self-determination is….Self-determination is….

• Believing you can control your own destiny• Attitudes and abilities that lead people to set

goals and take the initiative to reach these goals• Being in charge, but is not necessarily the same

thing as self-sufficiency or independence.• Making your own choices, learning to solve

problems & taking responsibility for one’s life• Experiencing the consequences of making

choices.

What can

parents do?

How can we help children become self-determined individuals?

Give children practice Give children practice in basic skillsin basic skills

• Doing chores• Helping in the kitchen• Helping with laundry• Gaining money skills• Knowing personal

information• Learning time

management• Keeping up with

hygiene• Learning safety skills

Help children get to know Help children get to know themselves betterthemselves better

• Everyone is a unique individual

• Help them know their strengths and talents

• Talk about what they like to do and not do

• Help them think about what they need to succeed

Give opportunities Give opportunities for them to make choicesfor them to make choices

• Give plenty of opportunities for choice-making

• Give them opportunities to make different kind of choices

• Ask for their choice in a lot of different ways

Help children with Help children with communication skillscommunication skills

• Help them make conversation; ask questions; make small-talk

• Help them understand non-verbal communication

• Help them to be better listeners

Promote problem-solving Promote problem-solving and decision-makingand decision-making

Teach a system for solving a problem, such as:

• What is the problem?• What different things

could be done?• List the pros and cons

of each• Choose the solution

that is best

Teach assertiveness Teach assertiveness and self-advocacy skillsand self-advocacy skills

• Help them know the difference between assertiveness and aggressiveness

• Use modeling and role-playing to show possible differences in outcomes

• Help them to know their rights and responsibilities

Help children learn Help children learn how to set goalshow to set goals

• Help your children to think of their strengths and talents

• Ask them to set goals for something they want or want to accomplish

• Make an action plan to accomplish one step at a time toward a goal, with support from others

Foster friendships and Foster friendships and community supportscommunity supports

• Find/set-up play groups• Encourage inviting a

friend over• Help them organize a

group activity• Explore extra-curricular

activities at school• Explore activities at the

Y or activity center• Don’t forget camps

Help children understand Help children understand their educational goalstheir educational goals

• Attend teacher conferences together

• Help them begin attending ARD meetings early and increase participation each year

• Help children understand why they are learning various subjects and topics in school

• In high school start early discussing post-secondary schooling and careers

• Make sure they are given the chance to talk about their long-range goals and dreams

Plan for the future NOW!Plan for the future NOW!

• Talk to someone about financial planning

• Give your children chances to volunteer and gain pre-vocational skills

• Start talking to your children about jobs people have and do informal observations

• Learn about Medicaid waiver programs and interest lists

Parents Can:Parents Can:

• Give real-life experiences to their children that will help them become as independent as possible

• Help their children become responsible for their own lives

• Raise a happy, productive child with a good quality of life

Resources:Resources:• Teaching Self-Determination to Students with Disabilities

Basic Skills for Successful Transition,

by Michael L. Wehmeyer, Martin Agran, and Carolyn Hughes,

Brookes Publishing Co., 2003

• Student Directed LearningTeaching Self-Determination Skills,

By Martin Agran,

Brooks/Cole Publishing Co., 1997

• Promoting Self-Determination in Students with Developmental Disabilities

by Michael L. Wehmeyer,

The Guilford Press, 2007