Self-Determination Assessment in Adults With and Without Intellectual Disability.
The SDI:AR is a reliable, ready-to-use self-report tool for tracking self-determination in adults with intellectual disability.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Shawler et al. (2021) tested the Self-Determination Inventory: Adult Report (SDI:AR). They wanted to know if it measures self-determination the same way for adults with and without intellectual disability.
The team ran a psychometric study. They checked reliability and factor structure across both groups.
What they found
The SDI:AR came out reliable and structurally valid for both groups. Adults with intellectual disability scored lower on self-determination than adults without.
The tool is ready for service planning and outcome tracking.
How this fits with other research
Mumbardó-Adam et al. (2018) did the same job for Spanish-speaking youth. Their Student Self-Report also showed strong psychometrics. Together the two papers show the SDI family works across age and language.
Lucas-Carrasco et al. (2012) gave us the SWLS for life satisfaction in adults with ID. Shawler et al. (2021) now give us the SDI:AR for self-determination. Both are short, self-report tools you can hand to clients during intake.
Chou et al. (2013) validated the Supports Intensity Scale for resource allocation. Pair it with the SDI:AR and you have both support needs and self-determination scores for the same person.
Why it matters
You now have a quick, valid scale that clients can complete themselves. Use it at intake to set self-determination goals and at review to show growth. Combine it with the SWLS or SIS to build a full picture of adult quality of life and support needs.
Want CEUs on This Topic?
The ABA Clubhouse has 60+ free CEUs — live every Wednesday. Ethics, supervision & clinical topics.
Join Free →Add the 16-item SDI:AR to your adult intake packet and set one self-determination goal from the lowest domain score.
02At a glance
03Original abstract
This article analyzes the reliability and factor structure of the Self-Determination Inventory: Adult Report (SDI:AR) in adults with and without intellectual disability. There is a critical need for contemporary assessment tools given the emphasis on self-determination outcomes in disability supports and services. The findings suggest that the same set of items can be used across adults with and without intellectual disability. However, there are significant differences in overall self-determination across adults with and without intellectual disability, with adults with intellectual disability scoring lower on the SDI:AR. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Intellectual and developmental disabilities, 2021 · doi:10.1352/1934-9556-59.1.55