Parents and siblings provide a variety of supports for their family members with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Learn more about how these families give and get support, including how cultural background plays in, and how provider agencies can work with family members.
This brief covers some of the lessons learned in reviewing literature designed to engage with families about employment. It suggests some tips and strategies to use with families to increase effective involvement and collaboration.
Download the article here. Purpose: Recent policy changes expanding community employment for people with intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD) and awareness of the important role of family members as facilitators of these opportunities motivated this scoping review of the literature on family engagement with
Kramer, J. (2018). Family Experiences in Engaging in Employment: How Do We Improve Outcomes? In Society for the Study of Social Problems 2018 Annual Meeting (p. 22). Philadelphia, PA: Society for the Study of Social Problems. Retrieved from https://www.sssp1.org/index.cfm/pageid/1780/fuseaction/ssspsession2.sin… Schedule/
Read the brief here. We conducted an extended search of trainings provided by state agencies and service providers that are targeted towards families. Trainings in the form of written material (handbooks, brochures and computer-based courses) or given in person by service professionals, peers and others have been found to raise expectations that family members with IDD can become employed in their communities.
Youth with intellectual disabilities often face challenges when preparing to leave school settings to move into life in their communities. These young adults may experience high rates of unemployment, increased rates of poverty, and involvement in service systems that do not have the resources needed to provide quality services for all who need them.
Watch the recorded webinar here. Researchers Judith Gross (University of Kansas) and Grace Francis (George Mason University) work intensively with Hispanic families in rural Kansas. They talked about the importance of engaging culturally and linguistically diverse families in services for their children with IDD. Judith and Grace discussed the barriers these families face, and offered strategies for professionals to help ensure full access to services.