ERIC Number: ED597208
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2018
Pages: 88
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
The Effectiveness of Engaging Parents and Family Members to Expand the Social Inclusion of Adults with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities Living with Families
Amado, Angela; Ortenblad, Kelly; O'Donnell, Kathleen
Institute on Community Integration
Since most individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities live at home, engaging families in social inclusion efforts is important to build more inclusive communities. This project was exploratory, mixed methods research about supporting families in how to expand social inclusion for their adult children who were living at home. There was interest from 111 families, with representatives from 81 families attending an information session, 49 families beginning the project, and 17 families with 18 children continuing to project end after 30 months. There were several successful outcomes as well as some challenges. Successful outcomes included the finding that strategies that had previously been used by human services agency staff to expand social inclusion for group home residents can also be successfully used by families, whether the adult child had a mild or more severe degree of disability. Families discovered the openness and willingness of community members to include and befriend their children. The project also affected family members seeing the gifts their children have, and what types of relationships with members of the larger community might be possible now and in the future. Besides the challenges of connecting individuals with disabilities with other community members, the three principal project challenges were in measuring and tracking social relationships, family recruitment, and type of project structure. Similarities and differences found between training families and agency staff may also be useful for those engaged in training families in future endeavors. There was a significant need expressed by many families for different types of social inclusion projects and efforts to impact this very important area of life.
Descriptors: Intellectual Disability, Developmental Disabilities, Family Involvement, Inclusion, Adults, Community Attitudes, Social Life, Friendship, Interpersonal Relationship, Intervention, Training, Program Effectiveness
Institute on Community Integration. University of Minnesota, 109 Pattee Hall, 150 Pillsbury Drive SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455. Tel: 612-624-4512; Fax: 612-624-9344; e-mail: icipub@umn.edu; Web site: http://www.ici.umn.edu
Publication Type: Reports - Research; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (ED/OSERS)
Authoring Institution: University of Minnesota, Institute on Community Integration; University of Minnesota, Research and Training Center on Community Living
Identifiers - Location: Minnesota (Minneapolis)
Grant or Contract Numbers: H1080005
Author Affiliations: N/A