Promoting Self-Determination and Integrated Employment Through the Self-Determined Career Development Model

Self-determination has been identified as a key predictor of employment for people with intellectual disability. The Self-Determined Career Development Model enables support providers to support job seekers with intellectual disability to use a self-regulated problem-solving process to set and attain job and career goals. This single-case design study examined the impact of the Self-Determined Career Development Model on a component element of self-determination (knowledge of strengths, interests, and needs). Employment outcomes of participants were also tracked. Positive changes were demonstrated for two job seekers on knowledge of strengths and interests. Additionally, all three job seekers changed their employment status in line with their goals. The implications of these findings for future research and practice are discussed.