Life-long individual planning in children with developmental disability: the active role of parents in the Italian experience

Abstract
Many young adults with neurodevelopmental disorders experience poor transition outcomes
in key areas, including employment, health care, and independent living. Innovative
welfare models highlight the importance of involving the local community, and in
particular the parents, as important stakeholders capable to generate services and affect
local economy. As indicated by the World Health Organization, the availability of person-
centered responses, also providing a health budget, appears to be the basis for taking
into account person’s rights to self-determination. Health services and local stakeholders
could play an important role to facilitate the implementation of support networks that
are functional for an effective social inclusion. In order to improve current practices in
transitioning to adulthood, it is of paramount importance to collect and learn from the
living experience of people with neurodevelopmental disabilities and their families.