Comparisons of Self-Determination Among Students With Autism, Intellectual Disability, and Learning Disabilities: A Multivariate Analysis. (June 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chou, Yu-Chi; Wehmeyer, Michael L.; Palmer, Susan B.; Lee, Jaehoon
• Is Part Of: Focus on autism and other developmental disabilities. Volume 32:Number 2(2017:Jun.)
• Page Start: 124
• Page End: 132
• Publication Date: 2017-06
• Subjects: self-determination -- autism -- The Arc's Self-Determination Scale -- intellectual disability -- learning disabilities; Autism in children -- Periodicals; Autistic children -- Education -- Periodicals; Autism -- Periodicals; Developmental disabilities -- Periodicals; 616.8982
• DOI: 10.1177/1088357615625059
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1088-3576

Abstract

This study examined differences in self-determination among students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), students with intellectual disability (ID), and students with learning disabilities (LD). A total of 222 participants with an equal size group for each of the three disability categories were selected to participate in the comparison of total self-determination and domain scores. A multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) was performed on four dependent variables (DVs)/factors, including autonomy, self-regulation, psychological empowerment, and self-realization. The results indicated that students with ASD had significantly lower levels of autonomy compared with students in either other group; that students with ID had significantly lower levels of self-regulation than students with LD, but not significantly different from students with ASD; that students with ASD and students with ID had significantly lower levels of psychological empowerment than students with LD; and that students with ID had significantly lower levels of self-realization than students with LD, but not significantly different from students with ASD. Suggestions for future research and implications for educators were also discussed.