Resilience Amid Political Change
Navigating the Impact of the 2024 Election on Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
By Melissa Kaplowitch, Ph.D. and Taylor Philcratz, MS
The 2024 U.S. presidential election underscored significant challenges for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), highlighting the critical role of resilience in mitigating potential adverse consequences. Political transitions often entail policy, funding, and programmatic support shifts, which may directly impact the availability of essential resources for individuals with IDD (Diament, 2024). The reduction or elimination of such resources poses an increased risk of adverse life events, which can, in turn, exacerbate psychiatric, emotional, and behavioral difficulties among this population (Hulbert-Williams et al., 2014, as cited in Scheffers, van Vugt, & Moonen, 2024). Thus, fostering resilience among individuals with IDD is paramount in helping them navigate these challenges effectively.
Resilience refers to an individual’s capacity to recover from adversity and maintain functional well-being. Ungar (2008, as cited in Whitelaw et al., 2024) defines resilience as “the capacity of individuals to navigate their way to health-sustaining resources, including opportunities to experience feelings of well-being, and a condition of the individual’s family, community, and culture to provide these health resources and experiences in meaningful ways” (p. 551). The research conducted by Scheffers, van Vugt, and Moonen (2024) identifies multiple domains in which individuals with IDD experience adverse life events, including significant life milestones, the pursuit of independence, financial instability, housing insecurity, employment challenges, interpersonal difficulties, social exclusion, family aspirations, and the loss of significant relationships. Given these vulnerabilities, the political and economic ramifications of the 2024 election could intensify such adverse experiences, mainly if funding reductions affect housing, employment programs, and community-based services.
Scheffers, van Vugt, and Moonen (2024) further explored resilience mechanisms among individuals with IDD, identifying internal and external sources contributing to adaptive coping. Internal sources of resilience include acceptance, autonomy, perseverance, physical well-being, positive emotions, and social skills. External sources encompass social support networks, spirituality, cultural influences, meaningful activities, and stable home environments. Whitelaw et al. (2024) emphasize the pivotal role of environmental factors in shaping resilience, positing that an individual’s setting and community context significantly influence their capacity to withstand adversity. Integrating these findings suggests that resilience-building strategies should address personal and structural dimensions, ensuring that individuals with IDD can access supportive networks and environments even amid resource constraints.
“Advocating for policies that protect the funding for IDD-related services, such as housing, healthcare, and employment programs, should be at the forefront of social justice and advocacy work. ”
The American Psychological Association (APA, 2020) has outlined evidence-based strategies to enhance resilience, including fostering strong interpersonal relationships, engaging in community groups, maintaining physical health, practicing mindfulness, avoiding harmful coping mechanisms, engaging in altruistic behavior, setting and pursuing goals, embracing self-discovery opportunities, adapting to change, sustaining a hopeful perspective, and seeking professional support when needed. When social support networks are encouraged for people with IDD and their families, primarily through mentorship and community engagement, a sense of belonging is created. Self-regulation and emotional expression are supported when emotional and psychological coping mechanisms are enhanced. As people with IDD build independence and self-efficacy, they gain problem-solving skills, are better able to set realistic goals with achievable steps, and gain adaptive learning strategies to develop life skills and autonomy. Given the potential reductions in funding for IDD-related services, caregivers and support professionals must also cultivate their own resilience to assist individuals with IDD effectively. Ensuring resilience in service providers and individuals with IDD is essential in mitigating the adverse effects of policy changes and securing well-being in the face of adversity.
Ultimately, the intersection of political change and disability policy underscores the necessity of resilience as a protective factor for individuals with IDD. While awareness of resilience-promoting factors is a foundational step, successfully implementing these strategies requires intentional efforts from individuals, families, practitioners, and policymakers. Advocating for policies that protect the funding for IDD-related services, such as housing, healthcare, and employment programs, should be at the forefront of social justice and advocacy work. Creating inclusive spaces, supportive environments, and training for caregivers and educators contribute to resilience-building techniques. By integrating these strategies, individuals with IDD can develop resilience, empowering them to navigate challenges more effectively, leading to fulfillment. Future research should explore the long-term implications of policy shifts on the well-being of individuals with IDD and identify sustainable models for fostering resilience within this population.
References
Scheffers, F., van Vugt, E., & Moonen, X. (2024). Resilience in the face of adversity: How people with intellectual disabilities deal with challenging times. Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 28(3). 661-682. DOI: 10.1177/17446295231184504
Whitelaw, S., Bell, A., Mackay, A., &Hall, H. (20214) Fostering resilience in young people with intellectual disabilities using a ‘settings’ approach. Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 28(2). 549-566. DOI: 10.1177/17446295231168186
About the Authors
Melissa Kaplowitch, Ph.D., LMHC, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology and the Program Coordinator of the M.S. in Counseling Program at Salem State University, where she has trained students to become licensed mental health counselors for the past 22 years. She was named the 2017 Distinguished Teacher at Salem State University, was inducted into the Salem State Civic Engagement Hall of Fame in 2023, and was named the Martin Luther King, Jr. Leadership Award recipient in 2024 at Salem State University. She trained in Counseling Psychology at Northeastern University, where she earned her Ph.D.; Columbia University, where she earned her M.A. and M.Ed., and Clark University, where she earned her B.A., Dr. Kaplowitch has worked with children and adults in inpatient and outpatient settings. Her clinical work has had an emphasis on effective treatment for people who suffer from chronic mental illness.
Philcrantz, LMHC has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Masters of Science in Counseling and Psychological Services. She is also a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in Massachusetts. Taylor has worked in multiple therapeutic settings with various ages and populations. She has been teaching for 12 years at local colleges, teaching both undergraduate and graduate psychology. She enjoys working with students to learn the information in her courses and find ways to apply the given material to their lives and careers.