In this episode, George and Amelia talk to Sharon Williams – longtime member of the Missouri Developmental Disabilities Council, a retired attorney, and a parent of an adult son with a developmental disability. Sharon has also been a vital member of our Advisory Leadership Team here at UMKC Institute for Human Development – offering feedback on programs that impact individuals and families. Sharon and her son Bobby represent an important, but not always acknowledged, part of the life span of supporting someone with a disability – both her and her son are aging. This was a great conversation to hear about the supports that Bobby has in his life outside of his family – employment, extracurricular activities, and community engagement and the journey they went on to get there.

Resources in this episode:

• Missouri Developmental Disabilities Council: https://moddcouncil.org/
• Special Olympics Missouri: https://somo.org/

• MO WINGS (Missouri Working Interdisciplinary Network of Guardianship Stakeholders): https://www.mo-wings.org/
• After Abuse, Resources for Missourians with Disabilities: https://www.afterabusemoguide.com/

Acronym Guide:

UCEDD: University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities

LEND: Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities

Interview Transcript: https://ihd.umkc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/5-15-2024-Sharon-Williams-Transcript.pdf

For more information about UMKC-Institute for Human Development, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ihd.umkc.edu