Self Determination
If you are self-determined, you have made an effort to learn about the different environments you function in and make decisions based on this knowledge.
Here are the stages in the process of becoming a self-determined person. Use the following questions to learn more about how your learning disability affects you.
Know Yourself
The first step is to know yourself well.
- What are my areas of strength?
- What tasks are difficult for me?
- How would I describe my learning disability?
- What do I love to do?
- What kinds of activities do I avoid?
- What would be my ideal job or ideal vacation?
- What is important to me?
Value Yourself
Valuing yourself means accepting responsibility for your successes and your failures and having the courage to find your way in life.
Answer the following questions to explore your view of your own value.
- How have my learning disabilities made me a stronger person?
- What are my recent successes, either big or small?
- Who helps me with things I don't do well?
- What do I do for others that they appreciate?
- What are habits I have that I know will get me into trouble?
Plan Ahead
Self-determined individuals are able to look to the future and set goals.
Some individuals with LD have trouble thinking ahead and figuring out the consequences of their actions. Other people with LD are great at planning because it taps their creativity.
- Do I set long-term goals?
- Do I know how to take a long-term goal and break it down into manageable steps?
- How well am I able to stick to a plan?
- Am I willing to get others' input when I am making a plan?
- How well am I able to match my strengths and work around my areas of need when I make a plan?
- How well can I predict others' reactions to my planned activities?
Act
Self-determined individuals take risks.
Taking action usually involves communicating with others. Skills such as listening, negotiating and compromising are important at this stage.
- What are my communication strengths and weaknesses?
- How well am I able to accept another person's point of view?
- How do I respond when I get a negative reaction?
- If necessary, am I willing to find another way to reach my goal?
Learn From Experiences
Taking steps to be self-determined is a learning process.
When your actions pay off and you get what you want, are you able to figure out what helped you be successful? If so, you can repeat those actions and meet with success again. When the opposite happens and your actions don't get you what you want, can you figure out what you might have done differently?
Environment
Another step in self-determination is becoming aware of your different environments.
In school, some instructors may do things that help you learn and feel successful, whereas others may teach in a way that makes it difficult for you to learn. Work environments are the same way. Some work environments may be set up in ways that make it difficult for you to use your strengths.
For example:
- How quickly must reading and writing be done?
- Is there time to check your work?
- How are directions given?
- Is competition or cooperation rewarded?
- Are you given enough time to learn new work skills?
Creating the right environment for you is important, and usually takes trial and error. The key is to keep learning what does and does not work for you. This self-knowledge can help you self-advocate for what you need to be successful.
For more information about learning disabilities visit www.ncld.org.