A publication of the Technology and Media Division of the Council for Exceptional Children
JSET Articles Index
Volume 26 Number 1
Technology And Self-Determination in Transition Planning: The Impact of Technology Use in Transition Planning On Student Self-Determination
Michael L. Wehmeyer, Susan B. Palmer
University of Kansas
Kendra Williams-Diehm
University of Oklahoma
Karrie A. Shogren
University of Illinois
Daniel K. Davies, Steven Stock
AbleLink Technologies
Promoting student involvement in transition planning and the self-determination of youth with disabilities has become best practice in secondary and transition services. Increasingly, a critical feature of eἀorts to promote student access to and involvement with curricular content, including transition-related content, has involved the use of universally designed instructional technologies. Ḁe extant research does not, how-ever, provide a causal link between eἀorts to teach skills related to student involvement and self-determina-tion utilizing technology. Ḁis study utilized a randomized-trial control group design to examine whether or not the use of cognitively accessible technology would improve outcomes related to self-determination for students receiving instruction in transition planning designed to promote student involvement. We also evaluated the impact, over time, of instruction in transition planning designed to promote student involvement on student self-determination. Participants were 194 high school students receiving special education services in multiple disability categories in school districts in six states. About half the students received instruction with the support of cognitively accessible computer software programs designed to support greater independence in decision making and to facilitate exploration related to transition. Results provided support for the relationship between student involvement in transition planning and enhanced self-determination and provided evidence of a causal relationship between student involvement combined with technology use and enhanced self-determination.
