It’s Their Future:
Self-Awareness
and
Self-Advocacy
Linda Ciancio-Brown
Parent Leader and
Parent of an I’m Determined
Youth Leader
Nancy Anderson
Region 4
I’m Determined Coordinator
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Core Components of Self-Determination
(combination of skills, knowledge & beliefs)
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Choice-making
Decision-making
Problem-solving
Goal-setting & attainment
Internal focus of control
Positive attributes of
efficacy and outcomes
expectancy
 Self-Observation
 Self-Evaluation
 SelfReinforcement
 Self-Instruction
 Self-Advocacy &
Leadership
 Self-Awareness
 Self-Knowledge
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To your child-
Self-determination means…
 Knowing and believing in herself/himself
 Knowing what she/he wants her/his future to
look like and how to plan for that future
 Knowing the supports she/he will need to
take control of her/his life
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When your youth feels some
control=Success for All
Parents
Teachers
Community
Youth
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Your child will need selfdetermination skills…
 To advocate for her/his rights and needs.
 To be able to explain to others what
he/she needs to be successful on the job,
in college or training environments, and
when living independently.
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Parents:
Did you know…
 Students who incorporate self-determination
goals into their IEP’s and transition plans are
more likely to earn higher incomes one year
after graduation.
 Incorporating choice-making opportunities into
behavior support plans improves behavior
outcomes.
 Instruction in problem-solving skills can lead to
improved employment outcomes.
(Wehmeyer, 2004; Shogren, Faggella-Luby, Bae & Wehmeyer, 2004; O’Reilly, Lancioni & O’Kane, 2000)
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What can YOU(Parent) do to encourage
self-awareness/self-advocacy behavior
in your child?
Increase Disability and ABILITY
awareness in your youth
Parents:
Have you talked to your
child about his/her
disability?
What it is all about?
Have you explained
his/her IEP?
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Ways We Can Begin and Continue
to Foster the Development of
Self-Awareness
and
Self-Advocacy
Skills
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Your child’s involvement
in the IEP
 Builds self-advocacy
skills and self-esteem
 Gives your child some
control over their
education
 Builds important social
and conversational skills;
 Teaches the
processes of
decision-making,
goal setting and
achievement
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HELLO TO ALL
MY DREAMS
My name is Zachary Brown
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I want you to know:
I am honored to be a Leader with
The I’m Determined project
I live in Hopewell, Virginia with my
mother
My girlfriend is Caroline, we met at
I’m Determined
I have a close relationship /support
with my sister Courtney & mom
My dad passed away when I was four
years old
•
Be a good student/citizen
•
Work with and teach young
children
•
Be more independent
•
Have self-determination
•
Be a successful swimmer
•
Have fun with friends
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Always be close to God
•
To manage in times of trouble
•
To be tall as my dad
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5 Tools/Strategies to help develop
Self- Determination
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One Pagers
Good Day Plan
Goal Setting & Attainment
Supplemental Worksheets (Rubrics,
Articles, All About Me Guide)
Student led conferences/IEPS
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Name:
Date:
My Strengths
My Preferences
My Interests
My Needs
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Name: Zachary Brown
Date: March 2011
My Strengths
My Interests
•Organized
•Patient
•Working with children
•Track
•Swimming
•Football Manager
•Music
•Video games
•Fun with friends
•Pray with others
•Teaching children
My Preferences
•Working with a partner
•Visual and hands-on
activities
•Rewrite notes before
tests
My Needs
•Extended time with all of
my work
•Short, concise directions
•Study guides
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I Like To
Accommodations that
Work
Verbal
Praise
Recycling
Delivering the Paper
Augmentative
Communication
System
Stocking at Wal-Mart
Shopping
Joe Marks
In the Future I Want To
Attend Homecoming
Parade
Attend Senior Breakfast
Attend Prom
Attend Senior Picnic
Graduate at the Siegel
Center
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What is missing from these
tools?

Parents:
What do you notice about the One
Pager? What are we not asking of the
student?
What is your Disability?
Identify your Disability.
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Student-led IEPs
Student Participation in IEPs
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The Parent’s Dream….
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LINDA
MY PRAYERS and DREAMS FOR ZACH
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To adapt to any environment
regardless of his disability
Happiness
Confidence
Success
Opportunity
Good Friends/special young lady
Continue to have a close
relationship w/ his sister Courtney
Independence
To always look to God
To have protection and favor in
his life
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Parent Benefits
 Positive relationships with student &
parent.
 IEP meeting centered on student needs
 The IEP process makes sense to
everybody involved . . . “It’s not just
paperwork anymore”
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ZACH
HOW the i’m determined project
helped me to reach my GOALS?
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Determine my goals
Think about what I want to
know and how to reach it
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Make a plan
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Deal with roadblocks
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List accomplishments
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GO FOR IT
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LINDA
How has the i’m determined project helped me to support
Zach Self-Advocacy and Self-Awareness Skills ?
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As a parent, the i’m determined project
has helped me to support Zach by
providing both of us opportunities
through i’m determined Youth/Parent
Summits……
Most Important
*the testimonies shared by the i’m
determined youth
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Tools/Workshops
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Encouragement
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Resource/Community Agencies
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Networking
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Fellowship/meet with families that have
a youth with a disability
Support
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Way To Go Zachary!!
His Future, His Way…
It Takes a Village to Raise a Child…
Zachary advocated for himself. He
learned about himself . Mom, sister,
girlfriend, teachers, all were there for
him.. but he lead the way…
He ‘s very successful!
What’s Next for Zachary?
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