The American Institutes for Research® (AIR®), in partnership with Think College and co-PI Worth, proposes a three-year project to co-develop a new intervention, My Risk for Opportunity, Autonomy, and Dignity (My ROAD), to empower inclusive postsecondary education (IPSE) programs to evaluate and expand dignity of risk (DOR) for students with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD). DOR challenges the idea of risk as inherently harmful. Instead, risk is viewed as a human right and a pathway to meaningful relationships, self-determination, and increased quality of life. The project objective is to provide Proof of Concept and Proof of Product in a three-phase approach with co-leadership by a researcher with I/DD. The project centers the voices of people with I/DD throughout all phases. Phase 1 includes a national survey (N = 115) of IPSE programs and three in-depth IPSE case studies to explore the multilevel factors that influence DOR. Phase 2 includes rapid adaptation cycles to develop and refine the My ROAD intervention. Phase 3 includes a small pilot study with four IPSE programs from diverse geographic regions to determine feasibility and acceptability. An Equity and Empowerment Advisory Board with 10 IPSE students with I/DD and stakeholders from underrepresented groups will guide all phases to support the development of culturally responsive adaptations. The resulting product will be a dissemination-ready My ROAD intervention package including (a) intervention materials, (b) an implementation manual,
(c) resources to support culturally responsive adaptations, and (d) educational tools for families and students with I/DD (e.g., videos, informational guides) co-developed in English and Spanish. The proposal is aligned with the community living and participation domain.
