How to facilitate transition to adulthood? Innovative solutions from parents of young adults with profound intellectual disability.

BACKGROUND: At age 21, access to specialised services for youth with profound intellectual disability is reduced. Few studies have focused on parents' views concerning potential solutions to ease the transition to adulthood, and most existing solutions target young adults with less severe intellectual disability. The aim of this study is to propose realistic solutions to meet the needs of young adults with profound intellectual disability and their families during and after the transition to adulthood.

METHOD: Using a descriptive qualitative design, two individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 parents.

RESULTS: Ideas for innovative solutions included responses to parents' informational, material, intellectual and emotional needs during and after transition period. The majority of these solutions involve knowledge sharing, improved inter-institutional collaboration and social participation of young adults, and offering parents emotional support.

CONCLUSION: Some solutions could be implemented within existing transition planning programs, based on their strengths and limitations.