Transition Supports for Parents with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Partnership (Georgetown UCEDD)

October 2, 2020

The Georgetown University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (GUCEDD) is one of 10 programs awarded a Community Based Transition Partnership Planning grant from the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Administration on Disabilities (AoD) (https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USACL/bulletins/29bbc5e). The goal of the grant is to convene a partnership in the District of Columbia to develop a sustainable plan that addresses the unique needs of parents with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to support the transition of their children with and without disabilities throughout the life course.

All parents face challenges as their children transition from infancy to toddler and from preschool through high school and young adulthood including post-secondary education opportunities and employment. Parents with IDD however, face greater challenges including how to support their children's successful growth, development, education, health, and emotional well-being. Parents with IDD face stereotyping, biases, and other barriers about their capacity to parent because of their disabilities and even more challenges when their children have developmental delays, disabilities, and special health care or behavioral health needs.  This partnership extends across child- and adult-servings agencies in the District of Columbia and will result in a comprehensive plan of action for cross-system supports and services that all parents with IDD will need to support their children's developmental transitions.