State intellectual and developmental disabilities services systems support individuals with I/DD throughout their life span. Families play a significant role across the life span — most individuals with I/DD live with their families. Therefore, states need to partner with families and support them in the different roles they play in the lives of their family members.
“The goal of supporting families is to support families, with all their complexity and diversity, in ways that maximizes their capacity, strengths and unique abilities so they can best support, nurture, love and facilitate the achievement of self-determination, interdependence, productivity, integration and inclusion in all facets of community life for their family members.”
working definition from
ADD National Agenda on Family Support Conference
2011