The My ROAD to Health team is creating a free online toolkit to help adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) take charge of their own healthcare. It’s built around the idea of dignity of risk, which means trusting someone to make their own decisions, try new things, and learn from experience, while still being there to give support when needed.

The toolkit focuses on four main areas: using dignity of risk in everyday life, building self-determination skills, making informed healthcare decisions, and strengthening your circle of support. It will include videos, tip sheets, and other easy-to-use tools, some available in Spanish, to help people with IDD navigate healthcare choices—no matter their guardianship status.

To make sure the toolkit is helpful and easy to use, My ROAD to Health is guided by a 12-member Empowerment Board made up of self-advocates, family members, and healthcare providers. The project also includes two rounds of focus groups with adults with IDD to give input on the toolkit. In addition to resources for people with IDD, the toolkit will also include tools for family members and healthcare providers, so everyone can work together to support self-directed healthcare.