Welcome to Our Caregiver Learning Community!

Caring for someone with intellectual and developmental disabilities, autism, or co-occurring mental health needs is a journey filled with both rewards and challenges. You don’t have to navigate that journey alone.

Our Caregiver Learning Community provides free educational workshops, practical resources, and opportunities to connect with other caregivers in a supportive, respectful, and inclusive environment. Our trainings are designed to help caregivers build confidence, develop new skills, and better understand the unique needs of the people they support while also prioritizing their own well-being.

Together, we’ll explore person-centered approaches, mental health, communication, behavior, crisis prevention, advocacy, self-care, and strategies that promote meaningful lives for individuals and families. Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, sibling, foster parent, or another important support person, you are welcome here.

Learn together. Grow together. Thrive together.

About the Topics

This eight-week series is designed to help caregivers better understand the unique strengths, needs, and experiences of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and co-occurring mental health conditions. Each session combines practical strategies, evidence-based information, and opportunities for discussion in a welcoming, supportive environment. Whether you are new to caregiving or have years of experience, these sessions will provide tools to help you better understand your loved one while also supporting your own well-being.

Every caregiver brings valuable knowledge, experience, and dedication to the people they support. This series is designed not only to provide information but also to foster confidence, connection, and hope. By learning together, sharing experiences, and building practical skills, caregivers can strengthen their ability to support their loved ones while also caring for themselves. Together, we can create environments where individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) and their families thrive.

WEEK ONE

Celebrating Differences: Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Intellectual Disabilities (ID)

Introduction

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

  • Describe the characteristics of autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability.
  • Understand similarities and differences between ASD and ID.
  • Recognize individual strengths and support needs.
  • Identify strategies that promote communication, participation, and independence.
  • Apply person-centered approaches that celebrate neurodiversity and individual differences.

WEEK TWO

Connecting the Dots: Understanding Mental Health and Mental Disorders in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD)

Introduction

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

  • Differentiate between mental health and mental disorders.
  • Recognize common signs and symptoms of mental health conditions in individuals with IDD.
  • Understand why mental health symptoms may present differently in people with IDD.
  • Identify factors that promote emotional well-being and resilience.
  • Learn when and how to seek additional support.

WEEK THREE

Executive Functioning 101: Practical Strategies for Supporting Independence

Introduction

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

  • Explain what executive functioning is and why it matters.
  • Identify common executive functioning challenges.
  • Recognize how executive functioning impacts daily living, communication, learning, and behavior.
  • Implement practical strategies to improve organization, flexibility, and independence.
  • Support executive functioning through environmental modifications and routines.

WEEK FOUR

When Behavior Tells a Story: Understanding Trauma in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD)

Introduction

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

  • Define trauma and understand its impact on individuals with IDD.
  • Recognize common signs of trauma that may appear as changes in behavior.
  • Understand how trauma influences emotional regulation and relationships.
  • Apply trauma-informed principles in everyday interactions.
  • Identify strategies that promote safety, predictability, and resilience.

WEEK FIVE

Looking Beyond the Behavior: Understanding What the Behavior Is Telling Us
Introduction

Introduction

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

  • Describe behavior as a form of communication.
  • Identify biological, psychological, social, environmental, sensory, and executive functioning factors that influence behavior.
  • Recognize early warning signs before behavior escalates.
  • Apply person-centered strategies that prevent and reduce challenging behaviors.
  • Develop a compassionate framework for understanding behavior.

WEEK SIX

Caring with Confidence: Understanding Common Medical Conditions for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD)

Introduction

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

  • Identify common medical conditions affecting individuals with IDD.
  • Understand how medical issues can influence behavior and mental health.
  • Recognize signs that may indicate pain, illness, or discomfort.
  • Communicate medical concerns effectively with healthcare providers.
  • Promote overall health and wellness through prevention and observation.

WEEK SEVEN

Supporting Yourself While Supporting Others: PERMA and Character Strengths for Caregivers
Introduction

Introduction

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

  • Describe the PERMA model of well-being.
  • Identify their personal character strengths.
  • Recognize the relationship between caregiver well-being and quality of support.
  • Apply practical strategies to build resilience and prevent burnout.
  • Develop a personalized self-care and well-being plan.

WEEK EIGHT

Navigating Treatment Options for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD)

Introduction

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

  • Describe common treatment and support options for individuals with IDD.
  • Understand the roles of interdisciplinary team members.
  • Recognize the importance of person-centered, coordinated care.
  • Identify questions to ask when considering treatment options.
  • Advocate effectively for services that support meaningful quality of life.

The caregiver Learning Community is Funded By