Self-Determination: Hearing the Voices of Adults with Physical Disabilities.

Abstract

Most current self-determination research focuses on adults with developmental disabilities but neglects adults with physical disabilities who depend on caregivers for many or most aspects of daily living. This study investigated the perceptions of 12 adults with physical disabilities related to their self-reported abilities and opportunities to practice self-determination, the obstacles they encountered and strategies they used to attain self-determination, and suggestions they made for facilitating self-determination in other individuals with physical disabilities. Interview results indicated that participants’ definitions of self-determination involved the importance of family, overcoming obstacles, and having the ability to persevere and attain goals. Facilitators of self-determination centered around four themes: (a) intrinsic factors; (b) support from families, individuals, and support networks; (c) opportunities; and (d) setting goals. Participants consistently recognized and identified the need to experience self-determination through various opportunities. Barriers to self-determination were grouped into two major categories: (a) internal barriers such as personal attributes and (b) external barriers such as financial issues, lack of accessibility to public facilities, and attitudinal and school-related hindrances. Discussion includes implications and

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