About SDLC

Self-Determination Learning Center

The Self-Determination Learning Center (SDLC), housed at the KU Center on Disabilities (KUCD) at the University of Kansas, works to expand access to evidence-based practices that support people with disabilities to build self-determination and pursue goals that matter to them. Through Goal Time, our evidence-based self-determination instructional practices are packaged for use with and without disabilities and across a variety of settings, including schools, employment and career services, and other disability support settings.

Our work is grounded in the belief that everyone can make things happen in their own lives as they work toward their goals. Goal Time practices use the DECIDE, ACT, BELIEVE framework to support people to set goals, develop plans, take action, learn from their experiences, and build the skills and beliefs needed to become self-determined goal chasers.

process chart showing DECIDE, ACT, and BELIEVE framework; DECIDE: i use my strengths and areas of need to identify goals, i choose goals based on my vision for the future; ACT: i work to solve my problems as i move towards my goals, i think about different pathways to get around barriers to my goals; BELIEVE: i feel empowered to take action toward my goals, i know i can do things and be supported as i work towards my goals

The SDLC helps turn these evidence-based practices into meaningful, sustainable action. Through professional learning, coaching, technical assistance, tools, and resources, we partner with people with disabilities, families, educators, service providers, organizations, and communities to support high-quality implementation of Goal Time and other self-determination practices.

What is Self-Determination?

Being self-determined means acting or causing things to happen as you set and work toward goals in your life. Self-determined people are ‘goal chasers.’