In this episode of 'Advancing the Conversation,' Dr. Christi Carnahan and Dr. Kate Doyle from the University of Cincinnati's Special Education Department are joined by Ashley Barlow to welcome Dr. Amie Duncan, a clinical psychologist from Society Children's Hospital Medical Center. The discussion centers around self-determination, especially in supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Dr. Amie Duncan delves into her research on life skills and executive functioning interventions for adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. She discusses the critical role of planning, prioritizing, and developing daily living skills, all contributing to fostering independence and successful transitions to adulthood. The episode emphasizes the importance of early intervention and explicit instruction in building self-determination skills.

Takeaways

• Self-determination is a lifelong journey that starts at a young age and involves developing a sense of self, directing one's own path, and problem-solving.
• Executive functioning skills, such as planning, prioritizing, and time management, are crucial building blocks for self-determination.
• Teaching and fostering executive functioning skills should start early and involve explicit instruction and the use of compensatory strategies.
• Daily living skills, such as cleaning, cooking, and organizing, can be taught using task analysis and checklists, which help individuals with executive functioning challenges become more independent.
• Fostering independence and providing tools and strategies for individuals with executive functioning challenges can lead to increased self-determination and motivation.
• Explicit instruction and support from parents, teachers, and professionals are essential in helping individuals with executive functioning challenges develop self-determination skills.

Connect With Us:

• For more information about the University of Cincinnati's special education programs, visit online.uc.edu/SPED.
• To learn more about the programs for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, visit cech.uc.edu.
• Contact us with your thoughts and questions at advancetheconversation@uc.edu.

Join us on this journey as we advance the conversation on self-determination and its crucial role in supporting individuals with disabilities.