The Importance of Self-Determination to the Quality of Life of People with Intellectual Disability: A Perspective

Michael L. Wehmeyer
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Michael L. Wehmeyer: Department of Special Education, School of Education and Human Sciences, Joseph R. Pearson Hall, University of Kansas, 1122 W. Campus Road, Room 521, Lawrence, KS 66045-3101, USA

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 19, 1-7

Abstract: There is both an intuitive and theoretical link between self-determination and quality of life for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Theoretically, definitions of self-determination have framed the construct with regard to its contribution to a person’s overall quality of life, while theoretical frameworks of quality of life have included self-determination among the core dimensions contributing to enhanced quality of life. These theoretical linkages have been supported by research on the quality of life and self-determination of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and the relationships between these constructs. This article provides an overview of theoretical frameworks of self-determination, their relationship with theoretical frameworks of quality of life, and research pertaining to these constructs with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It is concluded that self-determination and quality of life are important constructs in designing supports that enable people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and that an important means to enhance the quality of life of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities is to promote and enable people to be self-determined.

Keywords: self-determination; quality of life; intellectual disability; causal agency; volitional action; agentic action; action-control beliefs; choice (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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