Social participation and development of self-determination for people with intellectual disabilities are at the heart of several international conventions (UN, 1971, 1975) and ministerial Quebec’s policies (MSSS, 2001). The implementation of the educational program CASP-I, A competency-based approach to social participation (Gouvernement du Quebec, 2019) in Quebec represents a change for teachers of students with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities. In this program, self-determination is positioned as an important objective for the development of students’ social participation (Algozzine et al., 2001 (...) ; Cobb et al., 2009). However, the appropriation of this concept within schools is still partial (Cho et al., 2011 ; Shogren et al., 2014), which requires to support teachers succeed (Shogren et al., 2015 ; Whemeyer et al., 2013). The article will present the results of seven research interviews conducted with primary school teachers working with students with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities. The analysis of their representations of self-determination highlights the links between their knowledge and their beliefs about it, as well as the teaching practices that they associate with it. Recommendations are made to promote the appropriation of the concept of self-determination within Quebec schools and to support the accompaniment of teachers towards the desired change. (shrink)

IntroductionIn the past three decades, there has been increasing interest in assessing children’s Executive Functions. However, studies on the conceptualization and operationalization of this construct are incongruent and guidance for clinicians and researchers aiming to assess EF is insufficient due to measurement variability.AimsThe purpose of this article was to examine current theories and models of EF in children, identify their assessment instruments, issues, and challenges, and discuss their impact on children’s cognitive, behavioral, social and/or emotional development.MethodsThis narrative review reflected on (...) English and French scholarly articles on EF assessment in children. References were identified through searches of PubMed, Medline, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and APA PsychNet throughout the last two decades up to June 2022.ResultsThere are commonalities despite divergence in the definition and operationalization of EF. Assessment of EF requires psychometric tests as well as rating scales that must be integrated and interpreted considering the child’s biological makeup, environmental background, and cultural specificities.ConclusionCurrent EF theories, assessment tools, issues, and challenges were discussed in addition to the impact of their components’ dysfunctions on children’s development. Further studies should be conducted to develop new measurement methods and technologies to improve the ecological and ethological validity of youth assessment, treatment, and interventions. (shrink)