East; West; Czech Republic; Ukraine; Macrosystem; Social capital; Advocacy; Self-determination; Rights; Power.

In this chapter, the authors discuss how people with disabilities have expressed preferences and made choices in the context of growing up and living in Central and Eastern Europe. It is argued that the historical, cultural, and political context or macrosystems of the post-Soviet region have influenced choice making and self-determination of people living in the Czech Republic and Ukraine. A case is made for a fundamental difference in the development of self-determination in the post-Soviet region, in comparison to Western societies, that has manifested itself in the disempowerment of the individual and empowerment of the macrosystem. Choices people with disabilities make on daily basis as well as those about their lives are described in the context of the ecological model, and we argue that the relationship between macrosystems and people with disabilities and their families within societies has been decidedly understudied. In addition to making more general observations and comparisons relevant to people with disabilities living in Central and Eastern Europe vs. in Western countries, cases of the Czech Republic and Ukraine are illustrated in more detail. This chapter concludes by providing recommendations on how to enhance choice making for people with disabilities through social capital and advocacy regardless of where they live.

In this chapter, the authors discuss how people with disabilities have expressed preferences and made choices in the context of growing up and living in Central and Eastern Europe. It is argued that the historical, cultural, and political context or macrosystems of the post-Soviet region have influenced choice making and self-determination of people living in the Czech Republic and Ukraine. A case is made for a fundamental difference in the development of self-determination in the post-Soviet region, in comparison to Western societies, that has manifested itself in the disempowerment of the individual and empowerment of the macrosystem. Choices people with disabilities make on daily basis as well as those about their lives are described in the context of the ecological model, and we argue that the relationship between macrosystems and people with disabilities and their families within societies has been decidedly understudied. In addition to making more general observations and comparisons relevant to people with disabilities living in Central and Eastern Europe vs. in Western countries, cases of the Czech Republic and Ukraine are illustrated in more detail. This chapter concludes by providing recommendations on how to enhance choice making for people with disabilities through social capital and advocacy regardless of where they live.