Teaching Self-Determination Skills to Young Children: Integrating Disability, Culture, and Diversity

We will deconstruct the key components of self-determination for young children with disabilities. Reflecting on the current empirical studies and practice, we will have a comprehensive, age-appropriate, and culturally responsive understanding of the self-determination intervention for young disabled children. Implications for practice and future research will be discussed.Participants will be able to: 1. Describe the characteristics and key influencing factors of self-determination in early childhood, including how these factors vary across cultural and linguistic backgrounds. 2. Identify and explain at least two evidence-based instructional frameworks for teaching self-determination skills (e.g., choice-making, goal-setting, problem-solving) that are appropriate for young children with disabilities. 3. Apply culturally and developmentally responsive strategies to promote self-determination in early intervention and preschool settings, such as embedding decision-making opportunities in daily routines and collaborating with families from diverse cultural communities.