Teaching Self-Determination in Alaskan Schools: A Toolkit for Teachers

“Teaching Self-Determination in Alaskan Schools: A Toolkit for Teachers” is a project sponsored by the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development. The toolkit has been developed for teachers, parents, students and other professionals who are interested in promoting self-determination within home, school and community settings. If students with disabilities are to be successful in maximizing opportunities for self-determination in adulthood, they need to be equipped with the knowledge, beliefs, and skills that lead to self-determination in their educational programs. 

The project began in 2003 and has been providing technical assistance and training on teaching self-determination skills. Training for staff include strategies to support students in special education with developing skills that lead to successful transition to adulthood. Research has found that students who are more determined are more likely to be employed and live independently in the community after completing high school than students who are less self-determined.  The toolkit has been designed to provide materials, which include activities, lessons and resources on implementing self-determination skills that meet the requirements for self-determination content, found in the Alaskan Content Standards and the Alternate Assessment.

Survey results from teacher participants this past year indicate strong support for promoting self-determination instruction, involving students in their individual educational planning process and continued involvement in the project. Activities available to you include: 

  1. Technical assistance:  Project Coordinator will offer technical assistance via telephone (800-243-2199). Call in costs for audio-conferences will be paid by the project.
  2. Site Visits:  Site visits by Project Coordinator to consult and gather data on the implementation process may occur.  The likelihood of this rests on the availability of funds and any needs identified by participants.
  3. Web-based resources:  The Center for Human Development’s Website, will have a site for the Teaching Self-Determination in Alaskan Schools Project.  The site will contain the Tool Kit, contact information, resources, and other useful information dedicated to self-determination in the classroom, student led-IEPs, parent and student support.
  4. Presentations/Conferences:  Funding is available for those teachers interested in sharing information regarding successes, implementation challenges, potential solutions and new directions for the implementation of self-determination in educational settings.

Visit the table of contents of this toolkit

Participate in Project Evaluation: Your feedback during phone interviews as well as completion of a  project evaluation survey to gather specific information regarding your experience with the Tool Kit will be most helpful in evaluating the effectiveness of the Tool Kit. This information, along with information from the bulletin board, phone contacts, audio-conferences and site visits will be used to make any changes.