This work was supported by a grant from Shalem Fund
This report presents findings from five years of longitudinal research that examined life in the community as perceived by young adults with intellectual developmental disabilities and their parents, using quantitative and qualitative methodologies. The study included 126 young persons and their parents. The young  persons’ age at entry to the study ranged from 15-30 years (M = 20.33, SD = 4.00). In line with the United Nations Charter for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and to address the lack of longitudinal studies tracing these young people’s quality of life, this research focused on examining the socio-functional person environment model and on exploring resilience factors. Distinct developmental trajectories were identified for the research variables (e.g., quality of life, choice, effort) among the study participants with intellectual disability. In addition, the outcomes highlighted the contribution of young people’s, parental and family variables (e.g., support and effort indices, parental resources, and family climate) in explaining the quality of life in these young people

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Key words
People with intellectual developmental disabilities
Young adults
Coping
Emotional resources
Hope
Sense of coherence
Socioemotional adjustment
Families
Resilience
Work
Social relationships
Shalem Fund study