Barriers and Struggles
Even though self-determination is incorporated into law, students and teachers are still struggling to gain an understanding of the concept. It is extremely difficult for students with special needs to be able to grasp the concept when multiple barriers such as NCLB and inclusion are placed in their way. The people that can help students break down these barriers may actually be the ones who are creating them (Arndt et al., 2006). Teachers, parents, and other professionals are usually the ones that are making decisions for students with disabilities. So it isn’t surprising that students with disabilities usually lack self-determination skills (Arndt et al., 2006). Students become so dependent on their teachers and parents for assistance that it makes it impossible for them to become the driving force behind their education.