SELF-DETERMINATION
DEFINED
Individuals with disabilities and advocates
across the country have identified the key principles of Self-Determination.
These principles are listed below along with two statements of
Self-determination presented by advocacy groups in Idaho.
Key Principles of Self-Determination:
1.
FREEDOM
2. AUTHORITY
3. SUPPORT
4. RESPONSIBILITY
5. CONFIRMATION
The Idaho Self-Advocate Leadership Network:
Other people can give you advice, but it's your life.
You choose to do things in your community and get the right supports.
You take responsibility for your decisions.
Self-Determination gives you freedom, control, support and responsibility. |
Idaho Task Force on Self-Determination, Core Beliefs and Guiding
Principles
We Believe:
All individuals shall be treated with dignity and honor.
All individuals shall have authority and control over their life
decisions.
All individuals shall have the right to make and
be responsible for their choices.
All individuals with developmental
disabilities shall have the:
FREEDOM to plan their own lives;
AUTHORITY to control the resources allocated to them to acquire
needed services and supports;
RESPONSIBILITY for their fiscal
choices and the consequences of those choices; and the
RECIPROCAL
RESPONSIBILITY to participate and become contributing members
of the community.
Many people also include the idea of "CONFIRMATION"
to the list of principles above. This idea is the
capstone of the previous principles. It is a confirmation
of the important role that people with disabilities must play
in a newly redesigned system. As self-advocates would say,
"Nothing about us, without us." |
The following link includes a variety of other
definitions of Self-Determination provided by national and state
organizations.
click to enlarge
SELF-DIRECTED SUPPORTS
The goal of Self-Directed Supports is for people with disabilities to control the decisions and resources required to meet their individual needs. Self-Directed Supports include:
 Person-Centered Planning
Support Broker Services
Individualized Budgets and Budget Management
Traditional and Community-Based Supports
Quality Assurance and Safeguard Development
The key to understanding Self-Directed Supports is to realize that each person with a disability determines what service and supports are right for them. The Broker uses person-centered planning to create a system of support that is unique to the person's expressed needs and desires.
WHAT IS A SELF-ADVOCATE
The My Voice, My Choice program option is designed for individuals with disabilities who wish to be active leaders in how their lives are lived - or more simply - Self-Advocates. For many years, self-advocates have helped change policies so that individuals with disabilities have equal rights and equal access.
In this training program, you will sometimes see individuals with disabilities described as your employer, an adult with a developmental disability, and as an individual. In addition, some of your readings use the terms consumers, participants or clients. However, employer best describes the role that each person who chooses the My Voice, My Choice option will play. Self-advocates are far more than consumers of services and with their Broker and Circle of Supports, they can achieve self-determined lives.
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