The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, in partnership with key stakeholders will, across this five-year project, develop HEELS 2 Participation (H2P), innovative eLearning Modules and a virtual tool kit to improve community participation for young adults with intellectual disabilities (ID). H2P will move our existing Higher Education, Employment, and Living Success (HEELS) curriculum and materials to a digital eLearning platform (eLearning Modules) that incorporates instructional design industry best practices of interactivity, gamification, and narration/storytelling, while a virtual toolkit will house customizable resources for participants, instructors, and coaches to use in working on individualized community goals. The goal of this project is to use technology to promote long-term, sustainable, and meaningful community living and participation for young adults with ID. The objectives are to 1) refine and expand previously created HEELS transition curriculum into the H2P eLearning Modules and virtual toolkit (Proof of Concept); 2) develop a fully working prototype of H2P eLearning Modules and virtual toolkit (Proof of Product) and 3) Conduct a pilot study of H2P (Proof of Product). Anticipated outcomes include 1) increased community living and participation outcomes that are personalized to young adults’ with ID desired participation goals; 2) increased young adults’ community living and participation skills (e.g., self-management, daily living skills, coping skills, safety skills), functional outcomes (self-determination), and quality of life; 3) improvements in coaches’ and instructors’ knowledge and understanding of how to support young adults with ID in community goals; 4) increased coach and instructor knowledge of H2P content and 5) a technology transfer plan for sustainability of H2P. The expected product is the H2P eLearning Modules and virtual toolkit incorporating evidence-based practices through interactive technology-bas
ed instruction and downloadable resources.
