This paper is to study the level of self-determination of adults with developmental disability; the parent’s
recognition on the importance of self-determination; and the impacts and causal relationship of the
instruction of self-determination. For this study, we surveyed a group of adults with developmental disability
and their parents, and it was analyzed under the structural equation. The analysis showed that the level
of self-determination of adults with developmental disability stands at 1.98(on 3 points scale), and the
parent’s self-determination level had the most impact on their adult children’s level of self-determination.
The recognition of the parent’s on the importance of self-determination did not have a direct impact on
the level of the adult children’s self-determination, but the recognition actually improved the parent’s
self-determination, resulting in enhancing their children’s self-determination. Based on these findings, we
would like to highlight the importance of parent’s role in improving the level of self-determination of
adults with developmental disability, and suggest the ways to support from social work perspective.