Engaging Families

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.

Supporting Parents of Transition Age Youths with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: Findings from a Facebook Group Using Tools from Charting the LifeCourse

This brief shares findings from a research study conducted with parents of youths with intellectual and developmental disabilities who participated in a 6-month planning intervention. This intervention was based on content from Charting the LifeCourse’s (CtLC) Daily Life and Employment Toolkit. We delivered the intervention through a private Facebook group.

Raising Expectations for Better Futures

Raising Expectations for Better Futures is new curriculum developed by the Massachusetts Partnership for to Employment as a resource for advocates and professionals to help families of youth with IDD develop and support a vision of competitive integrated employment for their loved one.

Charting the LifeCourse via a Social Media Strategy

This video presentation shares findings from a Facebook intervention that used Charting the LifeCourse (CtLC) materials with families of youth with IDD, age 12-18. Presenters share how the intervention impacted families’ attitudes, expectations, and activities that can lay the groundwork for effective transition planning.

Key Findings and Lessons Learned from Research on Integrated Employment for individuals with IDD

This presentation highlights key findings and lessons learned from the RRTC on Advancing Employment for People with IDD (2014-2019). ICI staff discuss a “knowledge to action” agenda that applies empirical data towards the development of strategies to positively impact the employment outcomes of individuals with IDD and their families.

What Matters Most: Research on Elevating Parent Expectations

This brief outlines the impact of parental expectations on the employment and education outcomes of children with disabilities. It also offers suggestions for practitioners on how to encourage parents to explore and identify community based transition outcomes. Download the brief here.

Writing for Families: Tips to Increase the Impact of Training Materials

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 brief here.

Families and Employment of People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: Results from a Scoping Study

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 engageme

Family Experiences in Engaging in Employment: How Do We Improve Outcomes?

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/

44 Series - Defining the Employment Research Agenda

Watch the recorded webinar here. In the fall of 2017, researchers from the Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) will lead a series of online discussions on the "State of the Science" (SoS) in employment for people with IDD.

Beyond Training: Engaging Families in the Transition to Employment

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.

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