The National Research Consortium on Mental Health in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities is proud to announce our upcoming webinar Research Implications of Character Strengths and Abilities Within Disabilities presented by Dr. Dan Tomasulo. This webinar will be hosted by the NRC’s partner Georgetown University on June 23, 2025, at 02:00 PM EST.
Dan Tomasulo is a counseling psychologist, writer, and professor specializing in positive psychology. He’s the academic director of the Spirituality Mind Body Institute at Teachers College, Columbia University, with a PhD in psychology, MFA in writing, and a Master of Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania.
Webinar Description: Based on Niemiec and Tomasulo's Character Strengths and Abilities Within Disabilities, this presentation will explore the transformative power of character strengths when working with individuals with intellectual disabilities. It will advocate for a paradigm shift from deficit-based approaches to a strengths-based perspective, emphasizing core identity and potential. The presentation will introduce the VIA Classification of character strengths and provide practical strategies for their identification, assessment, and application in diverse contexts, particularly for those with intellectual, developmental, and other disabilities. Attendees will learn how to foster a "character strengths mindset" to enhance well-being, resilience, and positive outcomes. The presentation will draw from the existing research on character strengths and highlight new directions in research and application.
Objectives:
- Define strengths-based approaches and describe the core principles and research foundations of character strengths.
- Contrast the limitations of a deficit-based perspective with the benefits of a strengths-based perspective, specifically focusing on the role of character strengths in supporting individuals with disabilities.
- Identify various methods for the assessment of character strengths in individuals, including those with intellectual disabilities, and describe practical strategies for the application of character strengths in diverse contexts to promote positive outcomes.
- Explain the key elements of a "character strengths mindset," such as its connection to inclusiveness and growth, and discuss its potential to improve well-being, resilience, and overall positive outcomes for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
If you have any questions or accessibility requests, please reach out to iod.mhidd@unh.edu by June 8.
