Research Study 1

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Research Study #1

The Effects of Parent and Peer Mentoring on the Employment and Community Engagement Outcomes of Adults with IDD: An Intervention Efficacy, Scale-Up Study

Research by Vanderbilt University and University of Kansas

Purpose

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This study will develop and test a mentor-based, shared decision-making intervention for improving competitive integrated employment (CIE) and community outcomes for transition-age youth with IDD.

Overview

Vanderbilt University (VU) and University of Kansas (KU) will conduct an Intervention Efficacy study to evaluate the impact of combined peer and parent mentorship on the employment and community engagement of adults with IDD. In this enhanced intervention, both unemployed adults with IDD and their parents will receive: (a) information on evidence-based practices in supported decision-making, self-determination, and person-centered approaches to connecting to CIE, combined with (b) mentorship from an employed adult with IDD (for unemployed adults) and their parent (for parents of unemployed adults). Then, we will conduct a Scale-Up Evaluation of the enhanced intervention by: (a) expanding to 4 states: Tennessee, California, Kansas and Virginia; and (b) evaluating the impact through a larger randomized controlled trial.