Project Description:
The Sonoran UCEDDs one-day conference is Adulting: What It Means to Me and My Future. This theme was selected because adulthood is an important yet ambivalent time for youth who are transitioning into the next phase of life. The term adulting comes with mixed reviews, particularly in the media, and a set of defined behaviors, but it remains an important concept and deserves attention. A June 2016 Times magazine article shared the definition of adulting offered by the linguistics journal American Speech as to behave in an adult manner; engage in activities associated with adulthood. Becoming an adult can mean different things to a person with I/DD, their family, support networks, and community. It is influenced by a persons values, culture, environment, personal expectations, and societal expectations. It involves reflecting on future wishes and dreams, and integrating them within a person and family-centered planning approach.
Our conference supports the inclusion by taking a lifespan approach that 1) demonstrates how individuals and families can plan for their futures within a person-centered, family-centered approach, 2) decreases barriers to community life by empowering adults with I/DD to take an active role in their health, wellness, relationships and personal safety and, 3) links participants to tools and strategies that facilitate community engagement and inclusion. Most importantly, the planning of and delivery of information around adulting is reinforced by the active participation of adults with I/DD through their lived experiences and recommendations by peers.
The overall purpose of the conference is to empower youth and young adults with I/DD to take charge of their future. Our approach engages participants by implementing multiple strategies including role modeling, skill building, and utilizing a future planning tool developed by the SUCEDD for the ADDPC in 2018. The Future Planning: A Roadmap of Our Futures, Our Wishes serves as a resource and tool that can facilitate several aspects of the transition to adulthood and beyond. SUCEDD staff, along with the members of our partner organizations (youth and adults with I/DD), will serve as teachers who will demonstrate how to practice adulting skills while utilizing the Roadmap worksheets to facilitate future planning.
The Adulting conference originally scheduled for March 2020 as a full day in-person event, was adapted to 5 virtual interactive webinars in August 2020 due to COVID. The topics of the 5 sessions were Person-Centered Planning, Health & Wellness, Employment, Community Living & Relationships, and a Wrap-Up session.
Core Function(s):
Performing Research or Evaluation, Developing & Disseminating Information, Continuing Education/Community Training
Target Audience:
Professionals and Para-Professionals, Family Members/Caregivers, Adults with Disabilities, Children/Adolescents with Disabilities/SHCN
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances, Geographic Areas, Reservation, Rural/Remote
