Choice-Making: Introduction
Welcome!
Choice-making is an intervention strategy
that can reduce problem behaviors, increase motivation and develop personal
freedom.
Think About It ...
Think of all the choices you make in your daily life.
Every day you make a myriad decisions: probably decide what time you
want to wake up, whether you want to eat cereal for breakfast or have
toast and coffee. You probably even decide if you are going to read
the newspaper or watch television before you head off to work.
Imagine, for a moment, what your life would be like if you were not
allowed to make any of these seemingly easy decisions for yourself.
Think of the freedom and control you
would lose over your own life.
Unfortunately, this is what many individuals with cognitive impairments
and developmental, physical and behavioral disorders, such as autistic
spectrum disorders, experience every single day! Individuals with disabilities
often lack the skills necessary to make choices. As a result, choice-making
opportunities are nonexistent or very limited for these individuals.
This topic introduces to you how you can
help children and adults gain independence by allowing them to express
their preferences through choice-making.
Lecture Content
Remember ...
Anyone who has the desire to help individuals with disabilities can
teach choice-making skills and provide choice-making opportunities,
thereby giving these individuals more freedom and control over their
lives.
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