Self Determination Skills

By: Carmen Willings
teachingvisuallyimpaired.com
Updated June 9, 2019
Self-Determination is all about believing in oneself while understanding one's abilities and limitations. It is important for all students, but particularly those with visual impairments, to learn to cope with failures, be resilient, and strive for success. Students must be taught that they can take control of their lives and learn to fully participate in the world and be successful. Students need to develop knowledge of their disabilities and needs, learn how to appropriately advocate for their needs, problem solve, and access visual impairment resources. 

Knowledge of Disability & Needs

It is important for students to understand their disabilities and unique needs. Help the student develop a knowledge of their visual impairment and any other disability as well as the unique needs it results in. As part of learning about their disability, the student should be instructed on how to:
  • Answer questions about being visually impaired in a polite manner.
  • Communicate their visual diagnosis in easy to understand terms.
  • Explain the purpose of related services that are receiving.
  • Name and describe their visual impairment.
  • Explain personal visual restrictions and side effects.
  • Communicate limitations in specific sports.
​As part of learning about their visual impairment, it may be appropriate, to help the student learn the different parts of the eye. The student can do this by examining their own eyes in a mirror and examining the color and shape and differences in the eye. Depending on the student's developmental and cognitive level, it may be appropriate to encourage the student to explore a pull-apart model to help students explore different parts of the eye and discuss the various functions.

Advocate for Needs

It is important for students to understand and be able to communicate with others about their unique needs. Students need to be taught how to:
  • ​Seek help by asking for assistance when needed; politely request assistance in new settings; solicit information/assistance from appropriate persons in various settings; inform another person when he can do something independently and does not want assistance; raise a hand to solicit assistance or gain attention.
  • Seek adaptations by asking for academic materials/equipment to appropriately match personal needs; express preferences for learning materials and formats presented in a variety of environments (e.g. braille menu, adapted software).
  • Seek accommodations by communicating eye fatigue and/or time limits during reading activities and communicating need for creating an environment which has fewer auditory distractions. It is also important for students to tell a teacher when he/she does not understand what has been presented.

Problem Solve

As with all students, it is important for students who are blind or visually impaired to learn how to problem solve and come up with solutions to problems. Encourage the student to develop the following problem-solving skills unique to their visual impairment: 
  • identify steps to be taken if visual problems arise;
  • ask a peer for assistance, to be a reader, or take notes as appropriate;
  • ask an appropriate person for assistance;
  • move self to/request a close view of materials presented at a distance;
  • utilize strategies for maximizing visual efficiency to complete classroom tasks positioning materials, highlighting, using a line marker, peer reader)
  • explain why particular visual device or technique is ineffective for a given purpose; read back personal writing;
  • use problem-solving methods when equipment malfunctions

ECC Instruction

Teaching Strategies
Compensatory Skills
Concept Development
Alternative Communication
Emergent Literacy
​Access Print
​Access Environmental Print
Pre-Braille 
Braille Code
​​Braille Formatting
​Braillewriter​​Slate & Stylus​​Tactile Graphics​Nemeth Code​Access Classes​Abacus ​Organize​​Study Skills​Time Management​​​​Listening Skills
Assistive Technology
Social Skills
Self Determination
Self Determination Skills
Sensory Efficiency
Sensory Input
​​​Sensory Areas & Rooms​​​Auditory ReadinessVisual Efficiency Skills​Optical Device Instruction​Tactual Efficiency​Tactile Readiness ​
Independent Living
Personal Care
Hygiene & GroomingPersonal HealthHousehold Skills
Shopping & Consumerism
  • Shopping
  • Grocery Stores
  • Grocery Shopping
  • Expiration Dates
Eating & Table MannersClothing IdentificationTelephone
  • Telephone Use
Food PreparationMoney & Budget
  • ​Money & Budget
  • Money Management
  • Receipts​
  • Payment Methods
  • Buying or Packing Lunch
  • Personal Belongings
  • Paying with Checks
  • Interpret a Warranty
  • School Fundraisers
  • Housing Decisions
  • Paying Bills
  • Vending Machine Purchase
Service Agencies
  • Service Agencies
​Safety
  • General Home Safety
  • Emergencies
  • Evacuations
  • Seeking Shelter
  • Accidents & First Aid
  • Internet Safety
  • Safety
  • Using Locks
Orientation & Mobility
Recreation & Leisure
Career & Vocational
Job AwarenessMaintain Job
  • Address Employer Concerns
  • Maintain Employment
  • Following School Rules
  • Work Related Skills
  • Assuming Responsibilities