2016 TASH Conference

A team of four diverse family members in the District of Columbia partnered to become person-centered thinking (PCT) trainers and designed a new curriculum for families for "Defining the Basics: Thinking About A Good Life for Our Families." The 4 part workshop series blended PCT and the LifeCourse Framework, as well as addressing cultural competency and the importance of supported decision-making. The curriculum was piloted simultaneously in English and Spanish with a group of family members from our Supporting Families Community of Practice. We will discuss the curriculum and share our experience training families, including the themes and trends we identified for systems reform, what we learned about how to sustain family engagement, and tips for future training sessions. 1. Learn about the pilot curriculum the District of Columbia used to train families on person-centered thinking, the LifeCourse framework, supported decision-making, and cultural competency -- in English and in Spanish. 2. Learn about how DC uses person-centered thinking and LifeCourse tools and skills as a vehicle for envisioning success, and for understanding and building a shared responsibility with families for the levels of change that must occur to advance our system of supports. 3. Describe families' visions for how we can better support them and their loved ones with IDD. 4. Gain tips for sustaining family engagement.