1. Self-Determination A Parent’s Role in Fostering Independence Carol Huntley, M.Ed. Transition Specialist Round Rock ISD carol_huntley@roundrockisd.org

2. 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.

3. What can parents do?

4. How can we help children become self- determined individuals?

5. Give children practice in 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

6. Help children get to know themselves 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

7. Give opportunities for 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

8. Help children with communication skills Help them make conversation; ask questions; make small-talk Help them understand non- verbal communication Help them to be better listeners

9. Promote problem-solving and 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

10. Teach assertiveness and 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

11. Help children learn how 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

12. Foster friendships and community 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

13. Help children understand their 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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 Learning Teaching 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