Self-Determination and Creating a Society for All

Just societies – societies for all – are established based upon principles such as those articulated in the United Nations Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, including “respect for inherent dignity, individual autonomy including the freedom to make one’s own choices, and independence of persons,” as stated first in the CRPD general principles. This article asserts that at the heart of achieving principles such as these and, ultimately, to achieve just and inclusive societies, we must focus on enabling and empowering people with disabilities to become self-determined. The article provides an overview of the use of the self-determination construct, its application in the disability context, its development, and briefly examines research pertaining to self-determination and youth and young adults with disabilities. The chapter concludes with a return to why self-determination is important to establish societies for all.