The Effects of the SDLMI on the Acquisition of Self‐Determination Skills for Youth With Autism Spectrum Disorder

ABSTRACT This study was conducted to examine the effects of the Self‐Determined Learning Model of Instruction (SDLMI) on the learning and maintenance of self‐determination skills in young people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Social validity data were also collected from participants and their parents before and after the intervention. A multiple‐baseline design was used as a single‐subject research design. Young people with ASD not only acquired self‐determination skills but also maintained these skills over time. In addition, following the intervention, they successfully performed the independent living skills they had personally selected as their own targets. Both the participants and their parents expressed high levels of satisfaction with the intervention process. Furthermore, compared to pre‐intervention reports, notable positive shifts were observed in the perceptions and evaluations of both youth and parents after the study. This study demonstrated that SDLMI can be an effective model for teaching self‐determination skills to young people with ASD in natural settings.