The purpose of this study was to investigate the self-determination levels and characteristics of college students with disabilities and examine whether students' gender, academic year, and disability type are factors that affect their self-determination. Participants were college students with disabilities, ranging from freshman to senior year (N = 402), recruited from each geographical area in Taiwan by using the probability sampling method. The Self-Determination Scale for College Students (SDSCS) was used to assess the self-determination levels and characteristics in four domains including Self-Awareness, Psychological Empowerment, Self-Regulation, and Autonomous Functioning. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t tests, and analyses of variances (ANOVAs). Findings showed that male students outperformed their female peers in the overall self-determination level. Academic year, however, does not have an impact on the level of self-determination. Additionally, students with varied type of disability demonstrated different self-determination characteristics. Specifically, students with visual impairments and emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) exhibited a significantly higher degree of self-determination compared to those with speech and language disorder, learning disabilities (LD) and autism. Nevertheless, students with intellectual disabilities (ID), hearing impairments, physical disabilities, and cerebral palsy demonstrated a moderate level of self-determination. Regarding the characteristics, students with visual impairments, hearing impairments, and EBD are quite similar, with all three groups showing significantly superior autonomous functioning skill, whereas those with ID, speech and language disorders, and cerebral palsy have relatively lower level on psychological empowerment and autonomous functioning. Suggestions regarding the promotion of the self-determination skills for college students with disabilities are provided.

Authors:
Pen-Chiang Chao, National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan
Yu-Chi Chou, Chung Yuan Christian University, Taiwan

About the Presenter(s)
Professor Pen-Chiang Chao is currently based at National Taiwan Normal University in Taiwan

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