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Presentation
Using a Light Touch: Engaging Families Using Facebook Messenger
ThinkWork! Publications
  • John Kramer, University of Massachusetts Boston
  • John Shepard, University of Massachusetts Boston
  • Jennifer Bose, University of Massachusetts Boston
  • Jennifer Sullivan Sulewski, University of Massachusetts Boston
  • ThinkWork! at the Institute for Community Inclusion at UMass Boston, ThinkWork! at the Institute for Community Inclusion at UMass Boston
Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Publication Date
6-1-2018
Keywords
  • Employment,
  • Families,
  • Developmental Disabilities,
  • Social Media,
  • ThinkWork
Abstract

Research shows that families are essential in the employment process for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Frequently, however, messages they receive about employment are conflicting and can vary between service systems, often due to a lack of coordination across these systems. These conflicting messages can frustrate families and negatively affect their employment expectations and their efforts to support employment outcomes. The present study examines how a well-planned and individualized engagement strategy could improve families’ expectations about employment for their family member with IDD, and how those improved expectations impact the employment planning process. This pilot focused on engaging participants in completing the Employment and Daily Activities section of The Arc’s Center for Future Planning “Build Your Plan” tool. The purpose was to test the impact of an engagement strategy on the creation/maintenance of the employment plan as well as employment beliefs and attitudes of family members.

Community Engaged/Serving
No, this is not community-engaged.
Citation Information
Kramer, J., Shepard, J., Bose, J., & Sulewski, J. (2018). Using a Light Touch: Engaging Families Using Facebook Messenger. In American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Annual Meeting (p. 1). St. Louis, MO.