With the social restrictions surrounding COVID-19 pandemic, connecting with others via virtual and social media platforms has become much more prevalent. Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) may have barriers in accessing social media platforms, including experience in navigating and knowing appropriate ways of interacting and making connections virtually. aSuggestion for Wellness & Care, working in a collaborative partnership with The Arc Gloucester, offers a unique combination of features and services that allows for the Provider to leverage their Direct Support Staff to manage and moderate social media platform that includes healthy group discussions in an anonymous, secure, and private manner with the individuals they serve (patients, clients, family, service recipients, etc.). The application of this concept with the collaboration of partners like The Arc Gloucester has shown to be a one-of-a-kind solution to social engagement and education in a virtual context to support individuals with IDD. The platform allows for personal choice, independence, safe (moderated) social engagement, anonymity, staff facilitation, and (non-prescribed) 24/7 access 365 days per year. This presentation will share The Arc Gloucester’s experiences with the aSuggestion platform and present ways to get involved and become collaborative partners.
Learning Objectives
PLEASE NOTE
1. Webinars are free.
2. CEUs are not offered for the webinars.
3. Webinars and materials will be recorded and archived on YouTube.
4. For disability accommodations email Jasmina Sisirak (jsisirak@uic.edu).
COVID-19 Webinar Series is presented by the HealthMatters Program (https://www.healthmattersprogram.org), Department of Disability and Human Development, College of Applied Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago through continued partnership with Project SEARCH (https://www.projectsearch.us) funded by the Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council, Grant # 17CH03FA20 and Aspire (https://aspirechicago.com).
