The National Gateway to Self-Determination Publications

Research to Practice in Self-Determination - Issue 1

Self Determination and Self-Advocacy is the first in the series of issues which will focus on specific topics: self-advocacy, employment, health, aging, family roles, and siblings.

Please find links to self-advocates explaining the text of Issue 1 in their own words at SD Links.

Research to Practice in Self-Determination - Issue 2 PDF

Self Determination and Employment is the second in the series of issues which will focus on specific topics: self-advocacy, employment, health, aging, family roles, and siblings.

Research to Practice in Self-Determination - Issue 3 PDF

Self Determination and Health is the third in the series of issues which will focus on specific topics: self-advocacy, employment, health, aging, family roles, and siblings.

Research to Practice in Self-Determination - Issue 4 PDF

Family focus on Self Determination is the fourth in the series of issues which will focus on specific topics: self-advocacy, employment, health, aging, family roles, and siblings.

A key variable for a higher quality of life for people with disabilities is social capital. This paper focuses on the operation of social capital in the lives of people with disabilities and provides case studies of social capital at individual, group and community levels. It also discusses three necessary steps for the development of social capital among individuals with disabilities.

Accessing Social Capital Implications for Persons With Disabilities

Promoting Self-Determination: A Practice Guide

“Promoting Self-Determination: A Practice Guide” contains a review and summary of existing practices that enhance self-determination. Research literature is summarized, and existing empirical evidence of effective practices related to self-determination are included.

Promoting Self-Determination for Adults: A Practice Guide

“Promoting Self-Determination for Adults: A Practice Guide” contains summaries and reviews of the four current evidence-based practices for developing self-determination for adults. A definition of each practice and its implementation are included with a summary of the research literature and an analysis of the level of evidence.

A Series of Papers on Scaling-Up Efforts to Promote Self-Determination - Paper 1

“A Social-Ecological Approach to Promote Self-Determination” is the first issue in a series of papers to assist in the promotion of self-determination. This issue presents and outlines a social-ecological approach as a “model of intervention” to enhance self-determination interventions and efforts.

“Personal Self-Determination and Moderating Variables that Impact Efforts to Promote Self-Determination” is the second issue in a series of papers dedicated to scaling-up the promotion of self-determination. This issue details the self-determination construct and discusses variables that impact intervention design and implementation.

A Series of Papers on Scaling-Up Efforts to Promote Self-Determination - Paper 2

A Series of Papers on Scaling-Up Efforts to Promote Self-Determination - Paper 3

“Self-Determination Across the Life Span: Issues and Gaps” is the third issue in a series of papers dedicated to scaling-up the promotion of self-determination. This issue synthesizes self-determination literature across the lifespan and identifies gaps between theory, research, and evidence-based practices.

A Series of Papers on Scaling-Up Efforts to Promote Self-Determination - Paper 4

“Lessons Learned in Scaling-Up Effective Practices: Implications for Promoting Self-Determination within Developmental Disabilities”,fourth in the series of papers for scaling-up promotion of self-determination, details the many challenges to this effort. This paper looks at existing research on scaling-up, expanding 'lessons learned' to the area of self-determination within the field of developmental disabilities.

National Gateway to Self Determination: Self-Assessment

The UCEDD Self-Determination Self-Assessment Checklist is a tool and process to determine the degree to which UCEDD policies, practices, and personnel, at a given point in time, are promoting self-determination for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families. Using this tool will result in a profile used to identify areas to strengthen, and to suggest resources and strategies for desired improvements in promoting self-determination.

Advising Through Self-Determination

This guide provides advisors with a variety of resources, from general information regarding disability and advocacy to specific examples of activities that promote self-determination. Multiple organizations and individuals contributed to this guide, providing first-hand information from detailed traits of effective advisors to advice from both advisors and self-advocates.

Getting Involved in Research

Getting Involved in Research and Training: A Guide for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities" explains to people with disabilities how they can participate in research and training projects. This guide describes what research and training is and what a participant can do. It also provides examples of projects and of ways to address problems others have had when working on research and training.

National Gateway to Self Determination: A National Training Initiative

This booklet provides an overview of the activities of the NGSD project, highlighting and detailing activities such as the development of task forces and the currently available products. It also describes the beliefs behind the NGSD project and lists self-determination resources for both professionals and families.

What Is Self-Determination and Why Is It Important?

Michael Wehmeyer, KUCDD, provides the outline of a lecture on "What is Self-Determination and Why Is It Important?" to illustrate that self-determination is a multi-faceted construct that is meaningful in a number of contexts for a large number of individuals.

What is Self Determination and Why is it Important to People with Disabilities

10 Steps to Independence: Promoting Self-Determination in the Home

“10 Steps to Independence: Promoting Self-Determination in the Home” is a guide for parents to help their child become self-determined. It focuses on ten key issues including exploration and self-esteem.

This review provides a singular source for recent, influential research involving self-determination for youths and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, so as to better guide intervention and supports related to the promotion of self-determination. Wehmeyer provides summaries as well as citations of representative studies.

SD and People with ID & DD: What Does the Research Tell Us?

It's My Future! by Bolding, Wehmeyer, and Lawrence is a National Gateway for Self-Determination publication useful for adults with developmental disabilities to prepare for their planning, individual habilitation, or person-centered planning meeting. Chapters address elements of self-determination to support choice and decision making, goal setting, and communication in meetings. In addition, It's My Future! supports setting goals in finding community supports for jobs, living arrangements, and leisure activities.

It's My Future