Date of Completion
5-31-2026
Degree Type
Open Access Capstone
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
First Advisor
Robert Ricketts
Second Advisor
Jeremy Szteiter
Community Engaged/Serving
Part of the UMass Boston Community-Engaged Teaching, Research, and Service Series. //scholarworks.umb.edu/engage
Abstract
This synthesis addresses the need to support older individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in their engagement in continued work. The project traces the journey from an initial focus on supporting older individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to work as long as they wish to an eventual shift toward a phased retirement approach. It considers issues such as a reimagined visualization of the support team structure, integration of tailored job supports and Community Life Engagement (CLE). The author's familial history sparked a sense of injustice that would not stay buried, shaping a career path in disability services and access. Personal reflection, notes of musical inspiration, and evolving best practices form the sense-making that expose a gap in supporting older individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across the life domains. This gap is especially visible in the loss of work identity and increased risk of social isolation resulting from abrupt, full retirement. By considering further how to extend work with this community, this project culminates in the design of a professional training series responding to these needs, supporting a structured, holistic response that is grounded in maintaining choice, voice, and inclusion.
Recommended Citation
Quarles, Leslie, "Empowering Lifelong Choice: Supporting Older Individuals With IDD to Thrive at Work, Transition to Retirement with Dignity, and Maintain Community Connections" (2026). Critical and Creative Thinking Capstones Collection. 432.
https://scholarworks.umb.edu/cct_capstone/432
Included in
Disability Studies Commons, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commons, Gerontology Commons, Training and Development Commons, Vocational Education Commons
Comments
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