Self-determination for students with disabilities during challenging times

In the field of special education and transition services, self-determination is understood as a dispositional characteristic whose development can be supported through effective interventions. However, limited research has explored how youth used their self-determination to navigate through the pandemic and barriers they encountered during and after this period. The purpose of this study was to look at self-reported self-determination scores on the Self-Determination Inventory over one year as students with disabilities returned to school after the onset of the COVID-19 public health emergency to inform future research and supports during challenging times. In a sample of 1,128 students with disabilities, we found statistically and practically significant growth in youth self-determination from the Fall of 2020 to the Fall of 2021, overall and particularly on the Decide subscale of the Self-Determination Inventory. Black youth tended to score higher than White youth overall and across all subscales. There were, however, substantial missing data and a lack of information on interventions and supports received. Limitations and implications for future self-determination research to build on student’s strengths and center their strategies to advance their self-determination are discussed.