What We Do
What Have We Learned So Far?
We partner with our Disability Experience Expert Panel to make clear language summaries of our scientific papers.
Learn more and get tools to guide your team’s work:
Knowledge Translation Guidelines – Clear Language Product Development
Click on the arrows below to expand each section and explore what we have learned from our research.
What does it mean to be healthy?
Our team defines health as an ability to balance different areas of wellbeing (e.g., physical, mental, social, and spiritual health) and adapt to challenges across life.
Why is it important that we include ALL adults with ID/DD in research?
It is important to include more adults with IDD in health research because very little is known about this population. Tips are provided to help researchers connect with adults who do not get disability services or supports.
Research about us, with us: An inclusive research case study
We found that including research partners with IDD: (1) increased the knowledge and skills of all research team members, and (2) improved the quality of the project. Helping to make important decisions and translate scientific papers into clear language summaries were key parts of the research model.
Importance of including people with ID in health research through accessible surveys
It is important to ask individuals with IDD about their own health and quality of life. Health surveys should be clear (e.g., use short sentences and common words) and accessible (e.g., use photos, text-to-speech, and visual supports).
Hear me: Getting mental health information from individuals with ID
Health surveys need to be clear and accessible to include individuals with ID in mental health research. Tips are provided for healthcare providers, persons receiving services, and researchers.
Developing a new measure of health and wellbeing for adults with ID
Adapted health surveys are useful for adults with ID. Including research partners with ID to adapt the survey and using technology to deliver the survey were helpful strategies.
Detecting mental distress in individuals with profound ID
We talk about best practices for therapists to use when working with individuals with profound ID who are experiencing mental distress. A care provider tool is available for teams to create a communication profile and track subtle changes that may indicate distress.
Helping clinicians enhance mental health therapy for clients with ID
We talk about the most useful and helpful types of treatment practices and supports found in research. Tips are provided for mental health professionals and for adults with intellectual disability who get mental health therapy.
Learning from clients with ID and clinicians to improve mental health treatment
We describe ways to improve mental health therapy for clients with intellectual disability. Groups of therapists and clients told us that building rapport, supporting self-determination, and using accommodations were important strategies.
For therapists: How to adapt therapy for adults with ID
We describe promising practices for treating mental health conditions in adults with ID. The detailed guide is based on research reviews and group discussions with mental health professionals and clients with ID who had experience in the mental health services system.
Mental health therapy toolkit: A guide for adults with ID
This worksheet supports open communication between clients with intellectual disability and their therapists. Clients can fill out the worksheet before an appointment to describe their preferences, interests, and needs. A video playlist (below) explains how to use the toolkit.
Therapy Helper Tools
These worksheets, which also include visual supports and video links, support open communication and partnership between clients with intellectual disability and their therapists. Clients can fill out the worksheets to prepare for appointments, review sessions, and practice therapy skills.
Therapist Checklist
This one-page checklist serves as a quick reference poster for therapists to learn best practices in treating clients with intellectual disability.
