Self-determination involves knowing what you want, setting your own goals and making your own decisions. Professionals should support individuals with ID in taking an active role in their own healthcare and health-related decision-making beginning in early adolescence and continuing through transition into adulthood.
RESOURCES:
Topic: Self-Determination and Health
Title: Respecting the Young Adult (Video)
Source: Utah Medical Home- Integrated Services Project
Find at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJVgU7aGUZw
Description: A panel of young adults with ID describe their experiences with transition and independence.
Title: Promoting self-determination in health and medical care: a critical component of addressing health disparities in people with disabilities. (Shogren et al, 2006)
Source: Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities
Find at: http://www.wihd.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Shogren-KA-et-al..pdf
Description: Quotation from the abstract- “As increased attention has been directed toward the disparities experienced by people with intellectual disabilities in achieving positive health outcomes, the importance of promoting the active involvement of people with intellectual disabilities in efforts to reduce such disparities and promote positive health and wellness outcomes has been acknowledged by researchers and policymakers…The authors…review the current research on self-determination and its impact on health, as well as the implications of this research for the development of strategies that promote self-determination in the achievement of health and wellness outcomes in people with intellectual disabilities…They also provide recommendations for future research and practice.”
Topic: Self-determination and Health Transition
Title: Got Transition website
Find at: http://www.gottransition.org/index.cfm
Source: Got Transition
Description: “Got Transition aims to improve transition from pediatric to adult health care through the use of new and innovative strategies for health professionals and youth and families.”