Treatment Options

Connect

A caregiver-mediated program designed to improve the wellbeing of people with profound intellectual multiple disabilities (PIMD) and their families.

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About Connect

Individuals with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD) and their families have needs that are often overlooked. Many programs for children and youth with disabilities focus on helping them catch up to their non-disabled peers. In Connect, catching up isn’t the goal. Instead, we recognize that every person with PIMD is an individual, with their own strengths, needs, preferences, and goals.

Each Connect plan is designed around the individual needs of the person and their family. In Connect, we believe wellbeing isn’t just for people without severe disabilities. Everyone deserves wellbeing.

Who may be a good fit for Connect?

We use the term profound intellectual and multiple disabilities, or PIMD, to describe children and adults who have disabilities or medical conditions that affect their ability to learn and develop in meaningful ways. People with these disabilities may need significant support in their daily lives, including help with things like getting dressed and communicating. It’s important to remember that labels do not define a person, and PIMD is not a diagnosis. We use the term as a descriptive way to talk about people with multiple needs related to their disabilities.

Parents are experts. Living with and parenting a child with these disabilities gives you a unique understanding of your child. In Connect, we believe parents and other family members understand their child in ways others may not.

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A boy with glasses smiling.

What does Connect look like?

One of the things your Connect Clinician will do is help you identify priorities for your child, yourself, and your family, priorities that improve your life, your child’s life, and the lives of siblings. In Connect, we understand that for a person to experience a sense of wellbeing, the people around them must also experience wellbeing.

Connect is a parent or caregiver mediated program, which means you will work directly with your child, with the support and coaching of your Connect Clinician. We developed Connect this way because research shows that working directly with parents and caregivers is an effective way to improve the lives of people with severe disabilities and their families.

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Focus Areas of Connect

Self-determination. Strength-based acceptance.

Modules

Connect is made up of 12 modules focused on the individual and their family.

  • Introduction to Connect
  • The Naturalistic Approach
  • Strengths and Acceptance
  • My Child’s Sensory Profile
  • Communicating with My Child
  • Imitation and Intensive Interaction
  • Play: Learning Through Play
  • Why Does My Child Do That?
  • Behaviors Can Be Hard
  • Planning for the Future
  • Taking Care of Yourself
  • Siblings

Is Connect evidence-based?

Yes. Connect is a program that includes intervention components that follow the National Standards Project (NSP) guidelines for established interventions. Connect is based on research and best practices for parent-mediated treatment and treatment for those with intellectual/developmental disabilities.

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