Fostering Self-Determination Is a Developmental Task.

This discussion of the developmental underpinnings of self-determination for students with disabilities considers metacognition, self-perception, social problem solving, and autonomous decision making. It urges developing school policies contributing to self-sufficiency; ameliorating curricular, instructional, and service delivery systems fostering dependence; expanding students' opportunities to exercise choice and independence; and research on the emergence of self-determined behaviors in young children. (DB)