SELF-DETERMINATION This simply means that your son or daughter with a disability will take control of his or her life as much as possible. This can mean many things for different people. Why is this important? Self-determination is important for all people, including students with disabilities. The skills leading to enhanced self-determination, like goal setting, problem solving, and decision-making, enable students to assume greater responsibility and control. When students with disabilities show they can make things happen and take responsibility for planning and decision-making, others change how they view them and what they expect from them. People with disabilities have emphasized that having control over their lives, instead of having someone else make decisions for and about them, is important to their self-esteem and self-worth (Ward, 1996). Some resources in self-determination are: Center for Self-Determination Mini-Course: Supporting Self-Determination Summary: Support Self-Determination