This research study is a partnership with the Temple University REACH Lab.
Why is this project important?
Transportation can be a barrier to independent living, employment, and full community inclusion after transition from school. Young adults, families, and professionals need a way to plan ahead and identify mobility options that work for each young person and their unique needs.
What is this project about?
This project will develop a personalized community mobility planning process to improve community mobility and related outcomes among adolescents and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
We need the help of young adults, professionals, advocates, and families to help us develop this process, especially those living in rural communities. We want to be sure the process meets their needs and can work in the “real world.”
What did we learn?
We first conducted 8 focus group with key community members from rural, urban and suburban neighborhoods were conducted. We learned what skills were identified as priorities by young adult with intellectual disabilities, their family members, and professionals.
We used what we learned to develop the Community Mobility Planning Process.
Programs in transition programs and disability service organizations then used the Community Mobility Planning Process. They shared what worked and what didn’t work about the process.
More information about what we learned will be shared soon!
Funding information
This project “Community Mobility Plans: Improving Community Participation through Travel Interventions for Adolescents and Young Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities” (90IFDV0034-01-00, PI Pfeiffer) is supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $600,000 with 100 percent funding by ACL/HHS. The contents are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACL/HHS, or the U.S. Government.