Promoting Community Participation Among Young Adults with Disabilities: Development of a Community Engagement Training Program

Importance: This study supports community participation for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Objective: To develop and evaluate a program promoting community participation for young adults with IDD. Design: This applied research study involved program development and partial implementation. Although designed as a four-month intervention, a one-month pilot implementation was conducted. Data were collected via online surveys and analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Settings: The program was developed and implemented in collaboration with FOCUS, a local nonprofit organization supporting families of children with special needs. Participants: Participants included young adults (18+) with IDD who were active members of FOCUS. Eighteen individuals were recruited through FOCUS and volunteered to participate. Intervention: The program included virtual modules, in-person group events, and a toolkit resource. The full program consisted of 16 events across four months; however, only a subset was implemented. Outcome and Measures: Primary outcomes included participant confidence in community participation, measured using pre/post surveys. A feedback survey assessed participant experiences. Feasibility was evaluated through attendance rates. Results: The final program included 8 modules promoting community participation through volunteering. Attendance was higher for in-person events. Pre/post results indicated increased participant confidence following participation. Feedback survey data reflected generally positive experiences. Conclusions and Relevance: Findings suggest the program may enhance confidence and support community engagement among young adults with IDD. Results support the potential for occupational therapy–informed programs at a population level. Occupational therapy practitioners can assist organizations in developing resources that facilitate meaningful community engagement.