ASSESSMENT OF SELF-DETERMINATION AND SELF-ADVOCACY SKILLS

In a position paper published in Career Development for Exceptional Individuals (CDEI), Division on Career Development (DCDT) has endorsed the following definition of self-determination:

• Self-determination is a combination of skills, knowledge, and beliefs that enable a person to engage in goal directed, self-regulated, autonomous behavior. Self-determination is an understanding of one’s strengths and limitations together with a belief in oneself as capable and effective. When acting on the basis of these skills and attitudes, individuals have greater ability to take control of their lives and assume the roles of adults in our society (Field, et al., 1998b).

It has been found that there is a positive relationship between self-determination and improved post-school outcomes (Welmeyer & Schwartz, 1998). Because self-advocacy and self-determination are important to success in the adult world, assessment in this area forms the basis for designing goals and objectives that will allow the student to have more control of his or her own ultimate post-secondary outcome, and enable the team to establish more appropriate measurable outcome goals.

• AIR Self-Determination Assessment
• ARC Self-Determination Scale
• ChoiceMaker Self-Determination Assessment
• Field and Hoffman Self-Determination Assessment Battery
• Informal Assessments for Transition Planning includes Transition Health Care Assessment and Self-Determination/Self-Advocacy Checklist.
• Social Skills Rating System (SSRS)