Making it Real: Participatory Action Research in UCEDDs

2008

There is a need for training materials and opportunities to increase the capacity of UCEDDs to engage in Participatory Action Research with the individuals they serve, i.e., people with developmental disabilities and their family members. The project is developing a toolkit of resources, promising practices and tools to assist both individuals with developmental disabilities and their family members, COCA and CAC members and UCEDD programs with successful and meaningful strategies for partnering in research. The project?s PAR Toolkit is being developed in partnership with the Council on Consumer Advocacy (COCA), a standing Council of the Association for University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), and the Oregon Institute on Disability & Development (OIDD). The purpose of this project is consistent with the priorities and strategic plan of the Council, which includes individuals with developmental disabilities and family members. Through the creation of the toolkit, every UCEDD will be able to access resources that will enhance and increase Participatory Action Research and support initiatives that are most meaningful to people with disabilities and their families. It will also be available to individuals, advocacy groups and state consumer councils. The PAR Toolkit is being developed on a portal system that allows the centralization of information in a single web space and provides a large number of content management and collaboration functionalities in modules. These modules include online discussion groups, calendaring for research planning, and to-do lists, as well as other tools. Some but not all of the materials in the PAR Toolkit will also be translated and thus available in Spanish. At the end of the project, the PAR Toolkit will be web based and sustained by OIDD and/or AUCD. By providing tools and supports for enhanced participatory research, this project will serve to assure that research addresses issues that are most important to people with disabilities and their family members. It will also lead to inclusive research models across the AUCD network exemplifying strong partnerships and participatory action.

PAR, Research, UCEDDs, COCA

Performing Technical Assistance and/or Training, Developing & Disseminating Information

Quality Assurance, Education & Early Intervention, Child Care-Related Activities, Health-Related Activities, Employment-Related Activities, Housing-Related Activities, Transportation-Related Activities, Recreation-Related Activities, Quality of Life, Other - Assistive Technology, Other - Cultural Diversity, Other - Leadership

Professionals and Para-Professionals, Family Members/Caregivers, Adults with Disabilities

Specific Groups

National

N/A