6-A Agostino Ragozzino-Response to Jennifer Cika

Jennifer your paper was informative, well written, and enlightening. When you commented that we took this for granted, you were right.  It was something, in all honesty, I never thought about the steps we take to make decisions that can affect our lives so dramatically. When I mentioned enlightened, I did because the fact that it would need to be taught was a bit astonishing to me. But, after reading your paper I understood why this seemingly very simple decision-making process would need to be taught.

The behaviors that children with EBD demonstrate has a direct correlation with the ability to make decisions. These children have a hard enough time dealing with the day to day activities of life, and then to be burdened with the inability to make decisions that affect their lives is incomprehensible to me. This reading has given me yet another tool to becoming a special education teacher, who is not just a teacher but a guide for their lives. Thank You.

1. What is self determination?

Self determination is the capability to make one’s own mind up or make choices without outside interference.

    2. What are Emotional Behavior Disorders (EBD)?

EBD can be characterized by a host of traits including difficulties learning in the classroom that are not stemmed from other factors, difficulties forming or maintaining interpersonal relationships, and displays of negative behaviors, moods, or reactions to normal events or stimulus.

    3.What is the connection between Self-Determination and Transition Planning?

Transition planning is part of the IEP, when students reach middle school or the age 13 and is typically taught in conjunction with Self-Determination. The connection between not teaching  them shows drastic differences: in lower self-esteem, lower grades, lower retention, a lower quality of life after graduation and difficulties finding and keeping a full-time job.

   4. How does a student’s lack of Self-determination affect their post-secondary education and life outcomes?

Their lack of self-determination affects both their post-secondary education and the possibilities for them for future employment. The abilities for them to finish college and receive a good job opportunities is diminished greatly. They participate in these opportunities at a lower rate.

   5. What is one strategy used in building a student’s self-determination?

Mapping is one strategy used in building a student’s self-determination, it involves taking a student’s relevant past and present experiences, situations, and strategies that have and haven’t worked and compare them to the expectation of they have for themselves and “maps” a plan for the future for them to show them how to reach their goals.