Self-Determination of People with Developmental Disabilities: Concepts, Misunderstandings and Scale Development - The Conceptualization for Self-determination Scale Development

This study aims to conceptualize self-determination of people with developmental disabilities in order to develop a scale that measures their level of self-determination in the social work fields. This study employed a methodology designed as three phases including theoretical analysis, fieldwork and final analysis, following the Hybrid model suggested by Schwartz-Barcoot and Kim (1986, 2000). The results showed that self-determination of people with developmental disabilities is characterized by five main components such as autonomy, psychological empowerment, self-realization, self-regulation and awareness of their own rights. There is also possibility of dynamic relationship among all the components of self-determination of people with developmental disability. However, the results of fieldwork suggest that some terms and expressions should be modified. The findings provide theoretical implications that can be used as the important basis for developing the measurement scale of self-determination among people with developmental disabilities.