Report of the State of the Science in Aging with Developmental Disabilities: Charting Lifespan Trajectories and Supportive Environments for Healthy Community Living Symposium

BackgroundThis paper is an introduction to four papers that present the findings of the 2007 “State of the Science in Aging with Developmental Disabilities: Charting Lifespan Trajectories and Supportive Environments for Healthy Community Living” symposium. The overall goal of this symposium was to increase our understanding and improve the health, psychosocial well-being, and community participation of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities over their life course.MethodsThe symposium consisted of four main tracks: (1) neurodevelopmental conditions; (2) health care services, health promotion needs, and health literacy; (3) family support and intergenerational caregiving; and (4) environmental barriers and supports to community living.Results/ConclusionsRecommendations offer a research agenda that would increase our knowledge on the life span trajectory for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and on methods for developing and assessing effectiveness of practices and policies on individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their families, and their other service providers.