The purpose of this three year research project is to identify and describe the naturally occurring processes between parents of young adults with intellectual disability as they navigate the transition to adulthood. This study focuses on describing how parents co-construct the transition to adulthood for their son or daughter with intellectual disability. The qualitative action project method is being used to collect and analyze data. The analysis of data focuses on goal-directed actions over time, during the transition to adulthood. Findings will be reported as identified projects, detailing meaning (goals), actions steps, cognitive and emotional steering and regulation, and behavior and resources used. This study will shed light on the particular challenges that parents in this group face relative to the transition to adulthood, and how they jointly go about addressing them. Practitioners will be able to base interventions and support on information about parents’ specific goals and strategies.
Investigators: Richard Young, Sheila Marshall, Tim Stainton
Research Team: Deirdre Curle, Sophie Hzuma, David Munro, Filomenda Parada, Jessie Wall, Anat Zaidman-Zait