The research of the personal and professional self-determination of adolescents with mental disabilities

The article analyzes the personal characteristics of adolescents with intellectual disabilities mainly related to issues of self-determination. The research is devoted to the analysis of psychological factors of personal and professional self-determination of adolescents with intellectual disabilities, namely, motivation for success, perception of time and selfawareness of the image of the future. To study these personal factors of self-determination of adolescents with intellectual disabilities, we have adapted and tested the methods for studying the time perspective and attitudes towards the further education of adolescents with normo-typical development, which were developed by O.V. Kuznetsova. It is revealed that the decisive factors in the process of personal and professional self-determination is motivational, temporary competence, selfawareness of the image of the future. It is noted that the severity of the identified deficiencies in personal development depends on the structure of the defect in the contingent of the subjects. Thus, adolescents with combined defects are uncritical about their own activities, are unable to realize their past life experience and apply the acquired skills in the present, their motivation is impaired and reduced. An independent choice of profession and life path for this group of subjects is impossible. But the personal and professional self-determination of adolescents without a burdened medical history, having only a mild degree of mental retardation in the structure of the defect, is formed at a sufficient level. The self-awareness of such children is able to produce an image of the future, built on personal life experience, they are aware of their capabilities and are able to choose a profession on their own or with a small, recommendatory help from vocational guidance specialists.