The Effectiveness of Engaging Parents and Family Members to Expand the Social Inclusion of Adults with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities Living with Families - abstract/executive summary - findings

Oct 15, 2026

Since many adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities live at home, engaging families is essential for building more inclusive communities. This exploratory mixed-methods project supported 49 families who began the initiative, with 111 families showing interest, 81 attending an information session, and 17 families completing the work over 30 months. Results showed strategies used by human services staff for group home residents can also work for families. Families reported greater community openness and clearer possibilities for relationships.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages88

Reading Time3 h 42 min

AccessFree to download

ABSTRACT/EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

I. INTRODUCTION

The Effectiveness of Engaging Parents and Family Members to Expand the Social Inclusion of Adults with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities Living with Families Angela Amado, Ph.D. Kelly Ortenblad, MSW, LGSW Kathleen O’Donnell, MSW University of Minnesota, Institute on Community Integration A huge Thank You and acknowledgments to all the families and individual family members who participated in this project. All the learning could not have happened without the generosity of your participation and efforts and sharing! Thanks also to the staff of the Arc Greater Twin Cities, who have provided invaluable partnership in having this project realized. ***************************************************************************** Recommended citation: Amado, A.N., Ortenblad, K., & O’Donnell, K. (2018) The effectiveness of engaging parents and family members to expand the social inclusion of adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities living with families. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota Research and Training Center for Community Living. ***************************************************************************** This product was developed under a grant from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research to the Research and Training Center on Community Living (RTC/CL) (Grant \#H1080005) at the Institute on Community Integration, University of Minnesota. The content, interpretations and conclusions are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of ICI or RTC/CL at the University of Minnesota or their funding sources. The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer. Alternative formats are available upon request. ************************************************************************************** For additional information or questions about this report, please contact Angela Novak Amado, Ph.D., [amado003@umn.edu](amado003@umn.edu) University of Minnesota, Institute on Community Integration ****************************************************************************** Photos on the cover, clock-wise from upper left: 1. Volunteering as an usher at a local community theater 2. Cribbage group that meets weekly at a local bar/restaurant 3. Daughter of a former staff person helping a friend learn to read 4. Ladies’coloring book club that meets monthly at a local coffee shop ABSTRACT/EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 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 b

FAQs

What is the main purpose of the project described in the executive summary?

To explore how supporting families can help expand social inclusion for their adult children with intellectual/developmental disabilities who live at home.

How was the project conducted and who participated?

It used exploratory mixed methods. Interest came from 111 families, 81 attended an information session, 49 began the project, and 17 families (18 children) continued through the end after 30 months.

What successful outcomes and key challenges were reported?

Successful outcomes included applying inclusion-expanding strategies used by human services staff to families, and increased understanding of community openness. Challenges included measuring and tracking social relationships, family recruitment, and determining effective project structure.

Oct 15, 2026

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