The Arc’s Self-Determination Scale – Autonomy Subscale (SDS-Autonomy)
Measures the level of independent functioning and autonomous behavior in adolescents with developmental disabilities.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The The Arc’s Self-Determination Scale – Autonomy Subscale (SDS-Autonomy) was developed by Michael L. Wehmeyer (1995). It is designed to measure Self-Determination (Autonomy). The scale is intended for use with Adolescents with cognitive and developmental disabilities.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 32 items organized into 6 factors/subscales: Routine Personal Care and Family Oriented Functions, Interaction with the Environment, Recreational and Leisure Time, Community Involvement and Interaction, Post-School Directions, Personal Expressions.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Routine Personal Care and Family Oriented Functions | 1,2,3,4,5,6 | 6 |
| Interaction with the Environment | 7,8,9,10 | 4 |
| Recreational and Leisure Time | 11,12,13,14,15,16 | 6 |
| Community Involvement and Interaction | 17,18,19,20,21 | 5 |
| Post-School Directions | 22,23,24,25,26,27 | 6 |
| Personal Expressions | 28,29,30,31,32 | 5 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 0 = I do not do this, 1 = I do this sometimes, 2 = I do this most of the time, 3 = I do this all the time.
Scoring
Items are summed to produce a total score.
Total scores range from 0 to 96. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Autonomy: 0 – 32
- Moderate Autonomy: 33 – 64
- High Autonomy: 65 – 96
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Cronbach's alpha ranges from 0.80 to 0.90 for subscales.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.