Self-Determination and Quality of Life: Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Abstract

Independence is the ability of an individual to be an active member of society by demonstrating the skills expected of him/her without being dependent on someone else. It is known that many limitations arising from disability that directly affect the independence of the individual can be reduced by educational arrangements and adaptations provided from early childhood. However, it is important that these supports prepare individuals for independent living not only in early childhood and childhood but also in adulthood and beyond. Like all individuals, young adults with autşsm spectrum disorder have the need and right to have a say in their own lives, to set goals for themselves, to make plans to realize these goals, to learn how to do all these things, and to improve their quality of life in this way. Self-determination is making decisions about one's life independently in line with one's own beliefs, will and value judgments. Quality of life, a multidimensional construct, is a concept that refers to an individual's well-being or satisfaction with life in many areas, including physical, emotional and material well-being, interpersonal relationships, social participation, rights and personal development and self-determination. The findings of studies conducted with young adults with autism spectrum disorder show that individuals with high levels of self-determination have increased independence and a higher quality of life for themselves and their families. In this study, the concept of self-determination, which is considered to be a new concept in the national special education literature, the importance of self-determination in the lives of young adults with autism spectrum disorder, the concept of quality of life and the relationship between quality of life and self-determination were explained.

Keywords

• autism spectrum disorder
• quality of life
• self-determination
• independent life
• adulthood

Öz-Belirleme ve Yaşam Kalitesi: Otizm Spektrum Bozukluğu Olan Genç Yetişkinler

Abstract

Bağımsızlık, bireyin kendisinden beklenen becerileri bir başkasına bağımlı olmadan sergileyerek toplumun aktif bir üyesi olmasıdır. Bireyin bağımsızlığını doğrudan etkileyen ve yetersizlikten kaynaklanan pek çok sınırlılığın erken çocukluk döneminden itibaren sağlanan eğitsel düzenlemeler ve uyarlamalarla azaltılabildiği bilinmektedir. Ancak bu desteklerin yalnızca erken çocukluk ve çocukluk dönemi için değil yetişkinlik ve sonrası için de bağımsız yaşama hazırlayıcı olması önemlidir. Bütün bireyler gibi otizm spektrum bozukluğu olan genç yetişkinlerin de kendi yaşamlarında söz sahibi olarak kendilerine ilişkin hedef belirleme ve bu hedefleri gerçekleştirmek için planlar yapma, bütün bunları nasıl yapacaklarını öğrenme ve bu şekilde yaşam kalitelerini arttırmaya gereksinimleri ve hakları vardır. Öz-belirleme, bireyin yaşamına ilişkin kararlarını yalnızca kendi inancı, iradesi ve değer yargıları doğrultusunda bağımsız olarak almasıdır. Çok boyutlu bir yapı olan yaşam kalitesi ise bireyin fiziksel, duygusal ve maddi refah, kişilerarası ilişkiler, sosyal katılım, haklar ve kişisel gelişim ve öz-belirleme dahil olmak üzere birçok alandaki refahını veya yaşamdan memnuniyetini ifade eden bir kavramdır. Otizm spektrum bozukluğu olan genç yetişkinlerle gerçekleştirilen araştırmaların bulguları öz-belirleme düzeyi yüksek olan bireylerin bağımsızlıklarının arttığını, kendilerinin ve ailelerinin yaşam kalitelerinin daha yüksek olduğunu göstermektedir. Bu araştırmada ulusal özel eğitim alanyazında henüz yeni bir kavram olduğu düşünülen öz-belirlemenin ne olduğu, otizm spektrum bozukluğu olan genç yetişkinlerin yaşamında öz-belirleyiciliğin önemi, yaşam kalitesi kavramı ve yaşam kalitesi ile öz-belirleme arasındaki ilişki açıklanmıştır.

Keywords

• Otizm spektrum bozukluğu
• yaşam kalitesi
• öz-belirleme
• bağımsız yaşam
• yetişkinlik

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