The transition to adulthood of young adults with IDD: Parents' joint projects

'It's a 24/7 Deal': Parents of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities discuss natural supports

BACKGROUND

Natural supports are widely used by adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. However, little research has been conducted on this topic. This study adds to the literature by examining the role of parents as natural supporters, other members of the natural support network, challenges families face as they secure natural supports, and advice parents have for other families.

METHOD

Twenty-three parents of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities were interviewed. Data was analyzed using a constant comparative approach.

RESULTS

Family members and friends were key natural supporters. However, parents provided the bulk of support. A hesitation with asking others for support was a common barrier to building natural support networks. Parents encouraged others to connect with families with similar circumstances.

CONCLUSIONS

To ensure proper care for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, we must develop supports that meet family members' needs and identify ways to strengthen natural support networks.

The prevalence of obesity and lifestyle behaviors of parents of youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities

BACKGROUND

Parents of youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) may have a higher prevalence of overweight and obesity and poorer weight management behaviors compared to the general population.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the prevalence of overweight/obesity and related socioeconomic and lifestyle factors including diet quality, physical activity, and reported health habits in parents of youth with IDD.

METHODS

We assessed: BMI (kg/m2), moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), fruit and vegetable intake (FVI), parental diet and physical activity habits, and socioeconomic characteristics. Associations of BMI on MVPA and FVI were assessed with Spearman's correlation; differences in BMI by parental diet and physical activity habits were assessed with Kruskall-Wallis tests; and the relationships of BMI to household income, race, and education were assessed with Kendall Tau-b and Mann Whitney U tests.

RESULTS

Data was obtained from 110 parents (97.3% female) who were study partners for their adolescents/young adults with IDD participating in a weight loss clinical trial. Approximately 81% of parents were overweight or obese (25.7% overweight, 55.1% obese), with 46.3% and 20% meeting the recommended U.S. guidelines for MVPA and FVI, respectively. Higher FVI and higher income were significantly associated with lower parent BMI. BMI was significantly lower in parents who reported to be physically active and choose healthy food.

CONCLUSION

We observed a high prevalence of overweight/obesity, low FVI and low levels of MVPA in parents of adolescents with IDD. These observations suggest that interventions designed to address these factors have the potential to improve the health and wellbeing of both parents and adolescents with IDD.

CLINICAL TRIALS NUMBER

NCT02561754.

Caregivers' Experiences with School-Work Transitions for Their Children with Disorders of Intellectual Development

During the period of school-work transition, caregivers of young adults with disorders of intellectual development (ID) often play an extended and leading role in supporting their children. This article explores caregivers' overall experiences with their children's school-work transition. Ten qualitative in-depth interviews were carried out with eleven parents/guardians of ten young adults with disorders of ID. Through reflexive thematic analysis, the following themes emerged: (i) varying degrees of preparation for employment during school years; (ii) the experience of transition collapse; (iii) struggling to navigate the system; (iv) caregivers' ambitions and high expectations; and (v) positive meetings with professionals. All caregivers in our study had clear ambitions about employment for their children, and they supported them by advocating for their rights and by collaborating as best as possible with the support system. However, their experiences bring to light how the transition process often appears random and without an overarching implementation strategy. The overall picture of the transition process is a time of concern and stress for caregivers, with room for improvement in most areas.

Weight management recommendations for youth with Down syndrome: Expert recommendations

Youth with Down syndrome (DS) have a higher prevalence of overweight and obesity compared to the general youth population. Due to physiological and cognitive differences observed in youth with DS, weight management recommendations developed for the general population, may not be suitable for youth with DS. However, there are no recent recommendations for weight management in youth with DS. A workgroup of clinicians and researchers with extensive experience working with youth with DS came together to give clinicians and families guidance for weight management in youth with DS. Recommendations were developed by the workgroup via a methodical, deliberative process. After the initial development of the recommendations, they were shared with an expert review panel and caregivers who rated the strength of the recommendation and strength of the evidence. The workgroup moved forward the recommendations which the review panels rated as strong. Eight recommendations were developed which focused on screening for overweight and obesity, screening for health conditions that may impact dietary intake and physical activity, screening for feeding difficulties, setting appropriate recommendations for dietary intake and physical activity, and well as prevention and treatment of overweight and obesity using evidence-based strategies. These recommendations can be implemented by clinicians working with youth with Down syndrome as well as the family, school, and other relevant entities.

What do stakeholders understand by self-determination? Consensus for its evaluation

BACKGROUND

Advances in international studies on self-determination point out the need for continuous efforts to deepen its understanding and implications. The aim of this study is to obtain a comprehensive pool of items to operationalize the self-determination construct that serves as a starting point towards a valid instrument based on the reports of others.

METHOD

We conducted a Delphi study of three rounds involving three panels of experts: ten professionals, five people with intellectual disability and six relatives of people with intellectual disability. Data analysis required both qualitative and quantitative methods.

RESULTS

The initial pool of 131 items was refined through the different rounds to a final set composed of 115-some were removed and new ones were added. Content-based evidence is provided. In this study, the present authors generated a potential valid pool of items to develop a new measurement tool based on the latest advances on the self-determination theoretical framework.

CONCLUSIONS

The implications for future research focus on strengthening the knowledge of self-determination.