Arab Educational Information Network

The aim of the current research is to identify the differences in self-determination and its subdomain (independence, self-regulation, psychological empowerment, self-realization) among adolescents with intellectual disability and with autism spectrum disorder. The sample consisted of 190 students (95 with intellectual disability, 95 with autism disorder) were divided into two equal groups to identify differences in self-determination. The Egyptian version of the self-determination scale (ARC'S SDS-E) was used. The results revealed the availability of self-determination at a moderate level among people with intellectual disability and a low level of autism spectrum disorder. The results indicated that there were statistically significant differences in the total score and sub-dimensions of self-determination according to the type of disability in the total sample in favor of adolescents with intellectual disability. and the existence of differences of statistical significance according to the degree of disability (IQ) in the overall degree of self-determination, respectively, in favor of adolescents with simple intellectual disability, high-functioning autism disorder, moderate intellectual disability, low-functioning autism disorder, except the dimensions of self-regulation and self-realization were respectively for intellectual disability, and then autism disorder. According to the gender variable, there were statistically significant differences in the total score and sub-dimensions of self-determination within intellectual disability in favor of males and for females in autism disorder. According to the chronological age there were statistically significant differences in favor of the elderly in the total and sub-dimensions, respectively, of late adolescence with intellectual disability, late adolescence with autism spectrum disorder, early adolescence with intellectual disability, and early adolescence with autism spectrum disorder. (Published Abstract)