Skip to main content

Part of the book series: Springer Series on Child and Family Studies ((SSCFS))

  • 3134 Accesses

Abstract

Problem-solving and self-advocacy skills enable people to respond to threats and opportunities in the environment. Problem-solving skills enable one to sort out the nature and extent of the problem and generate solutions, while self-advocacy skills apply those skills to advocating on one’s own behalf or on behalf of others. In this chapter, we examine definitions of both of these constructs, explore research that has been conducted in the context of problem solving and self-advocacy for people with intellectual disability, and then conclude by examining interventions and supports that enable people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to solve problems and self-advocate.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 349.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 449.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 449.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Abery, B., Smith, J., Sharpe, M. N., & Chelberg, G. (1995). From the editors. IMPACT: Feature Issue on Leadership by Persons with Disabilities, 8, 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Agran, M., Blanchard, C., Wehmeyer, M., & Hughes, C. (2002). Increasing the problem-solving skills of students with developmental disabilities participating in general education. Remedial and Special Education, 23, 279–288.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Algozzine, B., Browder, D., Karvonen, M., Test, D., & Wood, W. (2001). Effects of interventions to promote self-determination for individuals with disabilities. Review of Educational Research, 71, 219–277.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Benjamin, C. (1996a). Problem solving in school. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Globe Fearon Educational Publisher.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benjamin, C. (1996b). Problem solving on the job. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Globe Fearon Educational Publisher.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berg, C. A., Skinner, M., & Ko, K. (2009). An integrative model of everyday problem solving across the adult life span. In Handbook of research on adult learning and development (pp. 524–552): New York, NY: Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bransford, J. D., & Stein, B. S. (1993). The IDEAL problem solver (2nd ed.). New York: W. H. Freeman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buchner, A. (1995). Basic topics and approaches to the study of complex problem solving Complex problem solving: The European perspective (pp. 27–63). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

    Google Scholar 

  • Butler, L., & Meichenbaum, D. (1981). The assessment of interpersonal problem-solving skills. In P. Kendall & S. D. Hollon (Eds.), Assessment strategies for cognitive-behavioral interventions (pp. 197–225). New York: Academic Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Castles, E. E., & Glass, C. R. (1986). Training in social and interpersonal problem-solving skills for mildly and moderately mentally retarded adults. American Journal of Mental Deficiency, 91, 35–42.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chang, E., D’Zurilla, T. J., & Sanna, L. J. (Eds.). (2004). Social problem solving: Theory, research, and training. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cote, D., Pierce, T., Higgins, K., Miller, S., Tandy, R., & Sparks, S. (2010). Increasing skill performances of problem solving in students with intellectual disabilities. Education and Training in Autism and Developmental Disabilities, 45, 512–524.

    Google Scholar 

  • D’Zurilla, T., & Goldfried, M. (1971). Problem-solving and behavior modification. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 78, 107–126.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • D’Zurilla, T. J. (1986). Problem solving therapy. New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Edeh, O. M., & Hickson, L. (2002). Cross-cultural comparison of interpersonal problem-solving in students with mental retardation. American Journal on Mental Retardation, 107, 6–15.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Elias, M. J., & Tobias, S. E. (1996). Social problem solving: Interventions in the schools. New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellis, N. R., Woodley-Zanthos, P., Dulaney, C. L., & Palmer, R. L. (1989). Automatic-effortful processing and cognitive inertia in persons with mental retardation. Americn Journal on Mental Retardation, 93, 412–423.

    Google Scholar 

  • Erez, G., & Peled, I. (2001). Cognition and metacognition: Evidence of higher thinking in problem-solving of adolescents with mental retardation. Education and Training in Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, 36, 83–93.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferretti, R. P., & Butterfield, E. C. (1989). Intelligence as a correlate of children’s problem solving. American Journal of Mental Retardation, 93, 424–433.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ferretti, R. P., & Cavalier, A. R. (1991). Constraints on the problem solving of persons with mental retardation. In N. W. Bray (Ed.), International Review of Research in Mental Retardation (Vol. 17, pp. 153–192). San Diego, CA: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gould, M. (1986). Self-advocacy: Consumer leadership for the transition years. Journal of Rehabilitation, 52, 39–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Howard, E. (1988). Bill of Rights series: Teacher’s Guide. Arlington, TX: The Arc National Headquarters.

    Google Scholar 

  • Howard, E. (1991). Handbook for high school teachers: Staff development on the topic of constitutional government. Arlington, TX: The Arc National Headquarters.

    Google Scholar 

  • Katsiyannis, A., Zhang, D., Woodruff, N., & Dixon, A. (2005). Transition supports to students with mental retardation: An examination of data from the National Longitudinal Transition Study 2. Education and Training in Developmental Disabilities, 40, 109–116.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin, J. E., & Marshall, L. H. (1995). ChoiceMaker: A comprehensive self-determination transition program. Intervention in School and Clinic, 30, 147–156.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martin, J., Van Dycke, J., Christensen, W., Greene, B., Gardner, J., & Lovett, D. (2006). Increasing student participation in IEP meetings: Establishing the Self-Directed IEP as an evidenced-based practice. Exceptional Children, 72(3), 299–316.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mason, C., McGahee-Kovac, M., Johnson, L., & Stillerman, S. (2002). Implementing student-led IEPs: Student participation and student and teacher reactions. Career Development for Exceptional Individuals, 25, 171–192.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Merchant, D., & Gajar, A. (1997). A review of the literature on self-advocacy components in transition programs for students with learning disabilities. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 8, 223–231.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Park, H.S., & Gaylord-Ross, R. (1989). A problem-solving approach to social skills training in employment settings with mentally retarded youth. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 22, 373–280.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pezzuti, L., Artistico, D., Chirumbolo, A., Picone, L., & Dowd, S. M. (2014). The relevance of logical thinking and cognitive style to everyday problem solving among older adults. Learning and Individual Differences, 36, 218–223.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sears, J., Bishop, A., Stevens, E. (1989). Teaching Miranda rights to students who have mental retardation. Teaching Exceptional Children, 21, 38–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seong, Y., Wehmeyer, M. L., Palmer, S. B., & Little, T. D. (2015). Effects of the Self-Directed Individualized Education Program on self-determination and transition of adolescents with disabilities. Career Development and Transition for Exceptional Individuals, 38, 132–141.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Short, E. J., & Evans, S. W. (1990). Individual differences in cognitive and social problem-solving skills as a function of intelligence. In N. W. Bray (Ed.), International review of research in mental retardation (Vol. 16, pp. 89–123). San Diego, CA: Academic Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Sinnott, J. D. (Ed.). (1989). Everyday problem solving: Theory and applications. New York: Praeger Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, T., Polloway, E. A., Patton, J. R., & Beyer, J. F. (2008). Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the criminal justice system and implications for transition planning. Education and Training in Developmental Disabilities, 43, 421–430.

    Google Scholar 

  • Test, D., Fowler, C., Brewer, D., & Wood, W. (2005a). A content and methodological review of self-advocacy intervention studies. Exceptional Children, 72, 101–125.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Test, D., Fowler, C., Wood, W., Brewer, D., & Eddy, S. (2005b). A conceptual framework of self-advocacy for students with disabilities. Remedial and Special Education, 26, 43–54.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Test, D., Mason, C., Hughes, C., Konrad, M., Neale, M., & Wood, W. M. (2004). Student involvement in individualized education program meetings. Exceptional Children, 70, 391–412.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tymchuk, A. J., Andron, L., & Rahbar, B. (1988). Effective decision-making/problem-solving training with mothers who have mental retardation. American Journal on Mental Retardation, 92, 510–516.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wehmeyer, M. L., & Kelchner, K. (1994). Interpersonal cognitive problem-solving skills of individuals with mental retardation. Education and Training in Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, 29, 265–278.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wehmeyer, M., Lawrence, M., Kelchner, K., Palmer, S., Garner, N., & Soukup, J. (2004). Whose future is it anyway? A student-directed transition planning process (2nd ed.). Lawrence, KS: Beach Center on Disability.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wehmeyer, M. L., Palmer, S. B., Lee, Y., Williams-Diehm, K., & Shogren, K. A. (2011). A randomized-trial evaluation of the effect of Whose Future is it Anyway? On self-determination. Career Development for Exceptional Individuals, 34, 45–56.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wehmeyer, M. L., & Sands, D. J. (Eds.). (1998). Making it happen: Student involvement in educational planning, decision-making and program implementation. Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael L. Wehmeyer .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Wehmeyer, M.L., Shogren, K.A. (2017). Problem Solving and Self-advocacy. In: Shogren, K., Wehmeyer, M., Singh, N. (eds) Handbook of Positive Psychology in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Springer Series on Child and Family Studies. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-59066-0_15

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics