Kent Ballroom

Young people with disabilities often have limited opportunities to develop life skills and peer relationships. Residential immersive life skills (RILS) programs can provide meaningful opportunities for personal growth and support their transition to adulthood, transforming how youth with disabilities view their own capabilities, identity, and competence as they prepare for adulthood. This presentation summarizes a decade of research and presents a new evidence-based Life Skills Program Guide, which will be made available at no cost to all EKO Spring Symposium attendees. Reflections from youth, parents and staff who have experienced these programs first-hand are showcased throughout the guide.

3 Key Takeaways

1. RILS programs can have a life-changing effect on young people with disabilities, and a lasting positive impact into adulthood.
2.  These programs also affect the perspectives and practices of both the service providers who work in these settings and of the parents of youth who participate.
3. The new Life Skills Program Guide summarizes the characteristics of effective programs, which include: a supportive culture, a wide variety of topics, diverse learning contexts, and a variety of teaching and learning strategies.

Dr. Kate Einarson, Knowledge Translation Specialist, Bloorview Research Institute
Ms. Steph Di Martino, Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist/ Life Skills Coach, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital
Dr. Gillian King, Distinguished Senior Scientist, Bloorview Research Institute