Dr. Joan B. Beasley has been invited by AUCD to participate on the advisory board for project called Building a national partnership to identify the mental health priorities of young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (YA with I/DD). This project is a partnership between Boston University and The Arc of the United States.
In this role, she will be part of a group that discusses the mental health needs of young adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities, how to form respectful partnerships that will support further inquiry in this area, and will help determine the top 10 mental health priorities and future areas for research.
“I appreciate this wonderful opportunity to collaborate with others to explore ways to promote the emotional wellbeing of young adults with IDD,” shares Dr. Beasley.
Dr. Beasley is the Director of the Center for START Services at the UNH Institute on Disability. START is a nationally recognized best practice model for children and adults with IDD and mental health support needs implemented across the U.S. Dr. Beasley is the author and co-founder of the START program, first implemented in 1988, and has worked to promote the development of effective services for people with disabilities and their families for more than 35 years. Dr. Beasley has published numerous peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, and has provided training throughout the US. She serves is co-chair of the Behavioral Health Special Interest Group of AUCD. Dr. Beasley is a licensed mental health counselor and holds a Ph.D. in Social Policy from the Heller School at Brandeis University.
