This study was carried out by the Shalem Foundation and a consortium of expert Israeli researchers in the field of intellectual disability Teenagers with intellectual disability face changes and challenges that cause anxiety for them and their families at least as much as their peers do, and often more. The developmental transition from adolescence to young adulthood is a challenging period that determines future quality of life to a large extent

Most cases in this field depict a specific situation at a specific point in time, without allowing for a dynamic understanding of the changes that are taking place

The Shalem Foundation will shortly begin a study that examines community life as perceived by people with developmental intellectual disabilities. Its goal is to give these young people and their families a voice in the processes of change and development as they prepare to leave school and begin living and working in the community

This extended study will be carried out by the Shalem Foundation in conjunction with three top researchers: Professor Michal Alyagon of Tel Aviv University, Professor Malka Margalit of the Peres Academic Center, and Professor Arie Rimmerman of the University of Haifa

This study was conceived in the spirit of the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities, which emphasizes equal rights, free choice, and the right of people with disabilities to live their lives as they see fit. Over the five years during which it has taken place, it has followed changes in the perception of community life among young Israeli people with intellectual disabilities, investigated their options and freedom of choice, and examined the factors of consistency, change, satisfaction, adjustment and coping with difficulty in the quality of their lives. The study, which placed special emphasis on empowering the young people and working for their success over time, also examined the role of family members in these perceptions

This study is different from previous ones, which provide only a snapshot of young people’s challenges. For the first time in Israel and in the world, a study has examined the way young people with developmental intellectual disabilities look at their lives and social environment over time, as well as the role of parents and family in risk and empowerment factors

The study is in its second year, and we are impressed with the level of satisfaction in families that have been revisited to assess changes. They express appreciation for the ongoing interest in their lives and for the opportunity to talk about the changes, happy moments, and disappointments and they have experienced during this time

After the pilot year, and as a part of an ongoing evaluation process, we decided to include young people between 21 and 30 years of age. The study will include people with developmental intellectual disabilities between the ages of 16 and 30, together with their parents

.We will continue to report our results