Shared Learning Groups

Every three months, The Link Center hosts shared learning groups for direct support professionals, clinical professionals, family members, and people with lived experience. These groups provide opportunities to dive into important topics and tap into your expertise and experiences related to people with cognitive disabilities, including intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and brain injuries, and mental health conditions. These meetings are led by members of our steering committee and project partners. 

  Upcoming Groups

Navigating Risky Behaviors — October 22 and 23, 2024
People with mental health disabilities and I/DD, brain injuries, or other cognitive differences are often punished for engaging in what many people call "risky behaviors" like self-injury, perceived aggression, and inappropriate conduct. When they are punished for these things rather than understood and supported, it is more likely they will continue to do things that hurt themselves or others. This topic will discuss ways people can support those with lived experience to reduce harm while allowing everyone to keep their autonomy.

There are four sessions on this topic, each for a different audience. Click a link below to sign up for the group most relevant to you. Registration is required. 

• Direct Support Professionals: October 22, 1:00-2:30 p.m. ET
• Clinical Professionals: October 22, 3:00-4:30 p.m. ET
• Families of People With Lived Experience: October 23, 1:00-2:30 p.m. ET
• People With Lived Experience: October 23, 3:00-4:30 p.m. ET

Live captions and ASL interpretation are provided during all events.

  Previous Groups

Supporting The Whole Person (August 2024) - Materials coming soon. 

Direct support professionals

Materials coming soon.

Clinical professionals

Materials coming soon.

Family members

Materials coming soon.

People with lived experience

Materials coming soon.

Supporting Someone Through a Transition (April 2024) - Materials coming soon.

Direct support professionals

Materials coming soon.

Clinical professionals

Materials coming soon.

Family members

Materials coming soon.

People with lived experience

Materials coming soon.

Supports for Someone in Crisis (October 2023)

Direct support professionals

• Crisis Supports: DSP Group Recording (YouTube) (1:24:25)
• Crisis Supports Slides, DSP Group
• Crisis Supports Transcript, DSP Group

Clinical professionals

• Crisis Supports: Clinical Professionals Group Recording (YouTube) (1:26:54)
• Crisis Supports Slides, Clinical Professionals
• Crisis Supports Transcript, Clinical Professionals

Family members

• Crisis Supports: Families Group Recording (YouTube) (1:25:36)
• Crisis Supports Slides, Families
• Crisis Supports Transcript, Families

People with lived experience

• Crisis Supports: Lived Experience Group Recording (YouTube) (1:27:59)
• Crisis Supports Slides, Lived Experience
• Crisis Supports Transcript, Lived Experience
• What To Do When I Don't Feel Okay: Big Ideas Handout

Supports for Trauma (January 2024)

Direct support professionals

• Trauma Supports: DSP Group Recording (YouTube) (1:26:25)
• Trauma Supports Transcript, DSP Group

Clinical professionals

• Trauma Supports: Clinical Professionals Group Recording (YouTube) (1:27:56)
• Trauma Supports Transcript, Clinical Professionals

Family members

• Trauma Supports: Families Group Recording (YouTube) (1:24:20)
• Trauma Supports Transcript, Families

People with lived experience

• Trauma Supports: Lived Experience Group Recording (YouTube) (1:29:15)
• Trauma Supports Transcript, Lived Experience