The purpose of the Skills and Knowledge for Self-determination project was to (a) investigate the skills that promote self-determination and (b) develop and evaluate strategies that help individuals acquire these skills.

The methods used to gather data for the project included:

A review of the literature on self-determination and related concepts such as assertiveness, creativity, advocacy, and empowerment.

Structured interviews with adults, with and without disabilities, in order to determine the factors that facilitate or inhibit self-determination.

Structured observations in a variety of school settings.

The information that was gathered by means of the literature review, the interviews and the observations was used to develop a model of self-determination and an instructional program, Steps to Self-Determination, for teaching self-determination skills to youth with and without disabilities in integrated environments.

Steps to Self-Determination was piloted and field tested through this project. Field test results indicated, “a significant positive difference of pre-test to post-test gain of congitive knowledge and observed behavior associated with self-determination as compared to a control group.” (Field & Hoffman, 1994)

For more information about this project, please send e-mail to sdtalk@wayne.edu or write to Dr. Sharon Field, Wayne State University, 469 College of Education, Detroit, MI 48202.