Using a Light Touch: Engaging Families Using Facebook Messenger

Authors

John Kramer, University of Massachusetts BostonFollow
John Shepard, University of Massachusetts BostonFollow
Jennifer Bose, University of Massachusetts BostonFollow
Jennifer Sullivan Sulewski, University of Massachusetts BostonFollow
ThinkWork! at the Institute for Community Inclusion at UMass Boston

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

Summer 6-2018

Keywords

Employment, Families, Developmental Disabilities, Social Media, ThinkWork

Disciplines

Family, Life Course, and Society | Social Psychology | Social Work

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.

Recommended Citation

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.