Beyond Self-Determination: Causal Agency Theory

Promoting and enhancing the self-determination of children, youth, and adults has become a priority in several disability-specific disciplines, including special education, vocational rehabilitation, and community-based services and supports. The construct has a rich and complex history tied to its multiple meanings and, unfortunately, that complexity has resulted in confusion and misunderstanding associated with the constructs application in these fields. This paper provides a comprehensive examination of the self-determination construct and presents Causal Agency Theory as a theoretical foundation to move beyond confusion associated with the broader self-determination construct.