Grant: Project Grant

Young people with intellectual disabilities (ID) often face serious mental health challenges, like anxiety or depression, made worse by unfair treatment and exclusion. Finding support that works can be hard because many programs are not designed to be accessible for people with different communication styles. We need new ways that truly meet their needs. Our project explores "therapeutic photography" (TP), where young people take photos of things and places that affect their mental health, then share thoughts and feelings about them. This allows self-expression without needing many words and can help them identify what makes them feel good and communicate needs more effectively. Methods 1.Making TP Accessible (Phase 1): We will work with young people with ID and their families in an "Intervention Accessibility Group" to co-design the program so it's clear, visual, and practical. We will also choose the best ways to assess whether it improves mental health. 2.Testing TP (Phase 2): We will try the adapted program with 70 young people with ID in the Greater Toronto Area, ensuring diversity in participants. We will see if it's easy to use, enjoyable, and helpful, using interviews to assess responses. What We Hope to Achieve: This project will show how to deliver TP to young people with ID and whether it improves mental health. We will create tools like a "how-to" guide and digital stories so others can use it. This will prepare for a larger study to confirm benefits and make TP a widely available, lowcost support in schools, community centers, and homes. By involving youth with ID as leaders and experts, we empower them to improve their mental health and advocate for positive change in their communities.