Promoting Self-Determination: Giving Individuals More Voice in Their Services

Written by Trent Kocurek

03/12/2025

When individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) have a genuine voice in their own services, programs become more meaningful, engaging, and effective. Encouraging self-determination not only supports personal growth, but also fosters a sense of ownership and empowerment. Below, we explore how to shift organizational culture to prioritize self-determination, from practical strategies for goal setting to building staff capacity and leveraging tools like Equip to drive meaningful change.

Encouraging Personal Outcomes Over Predefined Plans

Historically, many service plans are predefined by program requirements or staff assumptions. This can unintentionally limit an individual’s ability to explore, set, and act on personal goals. By contrast, a culture of self-determination starts with:

Individualized Goal Setting: Rather than presenting a list of generic objectives, invite each individual to share their personal aspirations—whether it’s mastering a new life skill, finding a specific type of community involvement, or aiming for independence milestones.

Flexibility in Planning: Offer space for changing or expanding goals over time. Life is dynamic, so plans should be too.

Ongoing Feedback and Adjustment: Regularly meet one-on-one to revisit and refine goals, ensuring they still align with the person’s evolving interests.

Equip supports these efforts by allowing each individual (and their support team) to create customizable goals and personalized routines, track progress through waypoints, and document achievements in real time. This focus on personalized objectives ensures everyone’s voice is heard and valued.

Tools and Strategies for Facilitating Choice-Making

Empowering individuals to shape their own outcomes goes beyond simply asking them what they want. It involves strategic support in developing self-advocacy and decision-making skills. Consider:

Visual Supports: Many people with I/DD respond well to visual aids—such as step-by-step routine cards, schedules, or pictorial decision trees—to better understand their options.

Accessible Communication Channels: Equip’s Communication Tools (e.g., group chat, announcements, in-app notifications) break down barriers by giving everyone a user-friendly way to share updates, express preferences, or ask questions.

Role-Play and Practice Sessions: Staff can organize small-group activities where individuals practice making choices—like selecting daily-living tasks or community outings—and receive positive reinforcement.

Supported Decision-Making Partnerships: Encourage the involvement of family, mentors, or peers as thought partners, not decision-makers. By focusing on supportive dialogue, individuals gain confidence in voicing preferences.

Building Staff Skills: Becoming Coaches Rather Than Directors

A significant part of shifting organizational culture is preparing staff to serve as mentors and coaches, rather than directors. This transition involves:

Training in Person-Centered Language: Encourage staff to use motivating, respectful communication techniques that emphasize a person’s strengths and abilities.

Active Listening Techniques: Equip team members with methods to facilitate deeper conversations—listening for personal goals, clarifying misunderstandings, and reflecting back what they hear.

Fostering Problem-Solving Skills: Instead of providing instructions, guide individuals to weigh their options, consider potential outcomes, and make informed decisions.

Collaborative Action Planning: Staff can leverage Equip’s Event Management features and Routine Library to co-create schedules and tasks, ensuring each choice is fully integrated into day-to-day activities.

Harnessing Equip’s Platform for Self-Determination

Equip was designed with self-determination in mind, offering a comprehensive suite of features to ensure individuals with I/DD have clarity, support, and autonomy. Key advantages include:

Goal Setting & Tracking: Individuals and staff collaborate to define outcomes and chart progress through visible milestones, fostering a sense of ownership.

Routine Management: Step-by-step routines, paired with reminders and visual cues, empower individuals to follow through on daily or weekly tasks with greater independence.

Independence Companion (Mobile App): With resources like the Mood Navigator and Weather Widget with Clothing Suggestions, individuals can make more informed decisions in their day-to-day routines.

Data-Driven Insights: Reporting & Analytics allow teams to see at a glance how individuals are progressing toward their goals, reinforcing a cycle of regular feedback and continuous improvement.

Ultimately, self-determination is about empowering individuals with I/DD to define, direct, and thrive in their own journeys. By providing real choice, tailored support strategies, and fostering a culture where staff act as coaches rather than directors, organizations can create truly person-centered services. With platforms like Equip, every step—goal setting, tracking, adjusting plans—becomes an opportunity for individuals to shape their destiny, resulting in richer engagement and better long-term outcomes.