Dr. Laura Friedman’s paper titled: Description and predictors of self-determination in males and females with fragile X syndrome on the verge of adulthood, was recently published in the Journal of Intellectual Disability Research. Collaborators on this paper included former doctoral student, Dr. Carly Moser, and Dr. Jessica Klusek.

Self-determination refers to setting and monitoring personal goals, and this is an important skill as youth transition out of high school and into adulthood. To learn about best avenues for supporting young adults with fragile X syndrome (FXS) during this transition period, we examined self-determination skills and opportunities for both males and females. We also looked at how adaptive behaviors, language skills, and autism traits related to self-determination.

We used the AIR Self-Determination assessment to explore self-determination skills and opportunities in 45 young adults with FXS (36 males, 9 females). We found that parents reported high numbers of opportunities to set and monitor goals both at home and at school. Opportunities to practice self-determination at school were lower, though, for young adults with poorer social communication skills, which suggests that educators need to provide ample opportunities to identify goals regardless of their perception of students’ social skills. These findings help support current and future interventions for individuals with FXS in promoting improved independence and life satisfaction.

For more information and to read the article, use this link!