Included on the site are six modules that will give participants a complete history and understanding of both the self-determination movement for people with disabilities, as well an in-depth look at the I’m Determined Project in Virginia schools.
The Virginia Department of Education’s I’m Determined Project has recently unveiled a newly designed website that can be viewed by visiting www.imdetermined.org. Included on the site are six modules that will give participants a complete history and understanding of both the self-determination movement for people with disabilities, as well an in-depth look at the I’m Determined Project in Virginia schools. Self-determination skills help a student to know himself, his goals, and the supports needed to reach those goals.
Virginia schools’ teachers, administrators, and parents have participated in the development of self-determination activities that are provided during the school day. The activities on the newly designed website include: student-led IEP meetings, parent-teacher conferences, one-pager activities, and other strategies for engaging students in their education and assisting them with advocating for themselves. A student rubric for IEP participation helps to assess how involved a student is in their IEP process. There is also a checklist for elementary educators to help assess a student’s self-advocacy skills and another checklist for parents. The new website has a Youth, Parent, and Educator section with video clips of youth, parents, and educators discussing the impact of the I’m Determined Project on their lives. The hallmark of the project has always been the documentary films. Each complete film is on the site under the Films tab.
If you are interested in assisting your students with self-advocacy, another Web site to visit is the Virginia Center for Self-Advocacy Leadership www.virginiaselfadvocacy.org. The Center for Self-Advocacy Leadership increases opportunities for individuals with disabilities to learn self-direction and become community and state leaders.
