Eliana+Echeverry


 * How are self-advocacy, person centered planning and self-determination connected **

The DCDT defines self determination as the "skills, knowledge, and beliefs, allowing for goal directed, self-regulated, and autonomous behavior."

Self-Advocacy is the realization of strengths and weaknesses, and the ability to formulate personal goals, being assertive, and making decisions.

Person-centered planning involves the collaboration between the student and those that work with them to develop goals, identify resources and barriers, and develop action plans.

I must admit that distinguishing between self-advocacy and self-determination is still a bit challenging for me. There is a lot of overlap between what composes each of them, but after reading the past two modules I feel that self-determination's inclusion of self-regulated omits the potential impact of outside sources on achieving goal directed/autonomous behavior. It may be that a student be determined to achieve specific goals, but cannot do so if they are unable to be assertive and advocate for themselves. Person Centered planning is a way to address the external barriers that exists in order for the student to formulate and achieve personal goals by ensuring strengths, weaknesses, interests, and fears are identified. As I mentioned in my quick posts, it empowers students by providing them with resources and establishing connections with those resources.

Eliana, I agree with you in regard to information on self-determination and self-advocacy. I found it overwhelming and a bit confusing but after the reading the last two modules, I felt that had a better understanding between the two, and a clearer picture of how PCP played a role in the process. I feel that self-determination is more about what the student needs to understand more about themselves and what they want. Self-advocacy is the means of asking and getting what they want and PCP helps the individual and those around them plan long terms goals. I am still not sure I completely understand it all, but getting closer! Maria

**//From Joe - I think you are both on the right track. And to let you know, I've studied this for more than a few years now, and I still see overlaps and some difficulty breaking out one from the other. Now I really believe that SA is part of the SD process. I encourage you to read Kate's posting and to look at the graphic she put up too!//**