TAKE CHARGE OF YOURSELF Take control of your life.

TAKE CHARGE OF YOURSELF

Self-determination is a combination of skills, knowledge, and believes that enable a person to engage in autonomous, self-regulated, and goal-directed behavior.

An understanding of one's strengths and limitations as well as belief in oneself are essential factors for self-determination.

By acting on these skills and attitudes, individuals have a greater ability to take control of their lives and assume the role of successful adults.

To take control of your life, you must learn and then successfully apply several self-determination skills, such as setting goals, understanding your abilities and disabilities, problem solving, and social autonomy.

The assessment of these skills in various contexts, the personal process of learning and its use are at the heart of self-determination.

1. Define your own success: people define success in different ways.

a. Success is defined: by whom we are, what we believe in and what we think it means to be successful. For some it's money, for others it can be relationships, family, work, religion, or education. For most, success is about achieving a personal dream. Success is working

towards goals regardless of any disabilities you may have. For example, a blind student.

b. Success is having the ability to self-determine: self-determination is the ability to decide what I want to do with my life and then act on it.

c. A successful life: it is a life where I can be actively engaged in creative activities that contribute to the lives of others. Success is a kind of byproduct and NOT an end in itself!

d. Be able to do things independently: a successful life is being able to do things independently for yourself, and not always having someone to do things for you. It's about achieving your goals on your own terms and at your own pace.

2. Set yourself personal, academic and career goals: successful people set goals and maintain high expectations through.

a. A combination of people and events: for example, when a loved one pushed you to improve your academic skills. Remember that success builds on itself.

b. High standards: when you agree to do well and maintain high standards.

c. Never mention that you cannot: find a loved one or mentor who will help you maintain high expectations of yourself. People who will teach you never to say « I can't » to anything you try.

d. Be confident in your abilities: find someone like a teacher or manager who will make you confident in your ability to learn, which will help you maintain high expectations.

e. Unique talents: it is important to realize that everyone has their own journey in life with unique talents. However, knowing what talents you have, you should strive to be your best self.

f. Set goals: set personal, academic, and professional goals, knowing where your limits lie.

If someone tells you that you can't do something and you've never tried it before, that makes you even more determined to prove them wrong. If you fail, at least you tried. That is what matters.

g. High expectations: one of the biggest reasons people don't set high expectations is fear of failure.

Start by setting achievable goals that aren't long-term. Develop achievable one-week goals that lead to success. Build on every success and make every goal a little higher.

Consider them a representative high jump. However, don't set the bar too high in the beginning, or you might just be running into failure.

3. Understand your abilities and incapacity: play to your strengths. People with disabilities who see themselves as successful generally accept their disabilities as an aspect of their personality.

They do not define themselves by their disabilities, recognize that they are not responsible for their disabilities and know that they are not inherently disabled. They recognize their responsibility for their own happiness and future.

4. Develop strategies to achieve your goals: successful people use creative strategies to achieve their goals. They consider options and make informed decisions.

Successful planning requires you to know your rights and responsibilities, your strengths, and challenges, set goals, work towards those goals, and use the tools and resources available to you.

Remember that your life should not be defined by the assumptions of others.

5. Use technology as an empowerment tool: being technologically competent has become an avenue to academic and professional success.

Computers are one of the most powerful tools at your disposal.

Technology, including computers, adaptive technology, and the Internet, can help you maximize independence, productivity, and participation.

Without a doubt, it can lead to high levels of success, personally, socially, academically, and professionally.

6. Work hard. Persevere. Be flexible: knowing and valuing yourself, setting goals and planning helps build important foundations, but action is needed to achieve your dreams.