1. Free Powerpoint Templates Page 1 Free Powerpoint Templates Self-Determination What’s the big deal? by Nina Gregory Developed from TIP Sheet from TILES Project, Florida Network on Disabilities of Florida

2. Free Powerpoint Templates Page 2 What is Self-Determination?  The National Center on Self-Determination defines self-determination as the ability of individuals to make the choices that allow them to exercise control over their own lives, to achieve the goals to which they aspire, and to acquire the skills and resources necessary to participate fully and meaningfully in society.

3. Free Powerpoint Templates Page 3 Why Teach Self-Determination ?  Teaching self-determination skills help students:  understand their strengths and needs  make choices  establish goals  work toward goal achievement  practice self-advocacy  make decisions  take responsibility  use appropriate communication skills  manage their behavior

4. Free Powerpoint Templates Page 4 Principles of Self-Determination  Freedom  Authority  Support  Responsibility  Confirmation

5. Free Powerpoint Templates Page 5  Freedom— Freedom to decide how one wants to live his or her life.

6. Free Powerpoint Templates Page 6  Authority— Authority over a targeted amount of dollars.

7. Free Powerpoint Templates Page 7  Support— Support to organize resources in ways that are life enhancing and meaningful to the individual.

8. Free Powerpoint Templates Page 8  Responsibility— Responsibility for the wise use of public dollars and recognition of the contribution individuals with disabilities can make in their communities.

9. Free Powerpoint Templates Page 9  Confirmation— Confirmation of the important role that individuals with disabilities must play in a newly redesigned system.

10. Free Powerpoint Templates Page 10 How Can Self-Determination Be Developed?  Practice Self-Determination Early and Often Students who demonstrate self-determination skills while in school have a greater chance for achieving postschool outcomes than students who do not acquire these skills. Examples of self-determined behaviors include:  Making one’s needs known to others  Evaluating progress towards meeting one’s goals  Adjusting one’s performance based on situations  Creating new approaches to solve problems

11. Free Powerpoint Templates Page 11  Gain Control of Your Life Repeated opportunity builds experience, and experience helps develop self-determination skills so a person can learn to gain control over major events in their life. Without strong self- determination skills, individuals with disabilities generally experience much higher levels of unemployment or underemployment.

12. Free Powerpoint Templates Page 12  Promote Self-Determination Help the individual to understand his/her disability. Explore and share information on ways other people with similar disabilities have been able to meet with success.

13. Free Powerpoint Templates Page 13  Establish Career Goals Participate in paid and/or non-paid work experience to explore employment options and interests. Use Dare to Dream to help identify career interests and goals.

14. Free Powerpoint Templates Page 14  Respect the Individual’s Opportunities to Act on His/Her Decisions Cultivate active, meaningful participation opportunities ranging from “what to wear” to developing Transition IEP’s.

15. Free Powerpoint Templates Page 15  Be Necessary to Learn Self-Determination Skills Many individuals with significant disabilities do not know how to travel around independently; Travel Training could help promote greater independence and self-determination.

16. Free Powerpoint Templates Page 16 Standing Up for Me- Pasco County’s Self-Determination Curriculum Standing Up for Me curriculum is a sequenced process that encourages students to:  Make decisions/ choices  Establish goals and evaluate progress toward achieving those goals  Uses self-determination skills  Actively participate in the entire IEP process to the extent possible

17. Free Powerpoint Templates Page 17 Family Network on Disabilities, TILES Program TIP SHEET on Self Determination

18. Free Powerpoint Templates Page 18 Nina Gregory, FDLRS Gulfcoast Parent Services and Assistive Technology Pasco County Schools Trainer for Standing Up for Me agregory@pasco.k12.fl.us 727-774-2630