PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Shara Ally
AU  - Kerry Boyd
AU  - Dara Abells
AU  - Khush Amaria
AU  - Yani Hamdani
AU  - Alvin Loh
AU  - Ullanda Niel
AU  - Samantha Sacks
AU  - Sarah Shea
AU  - William F. Sullivan
AU  - Brian Hennen
TI  - Improving transition to adulthood for adolescents with intellectual and developmental disabilities
DP  - 2018 Apr 01
TA  - Canadian Family Physician
PG  - S37--S43
VI  - 64
IP  - Suppl 2
4099  - http://www.cfp.ca/content/64/Suppl_2/S37.short
4100  - http://www.cfp.ca/content/64/Suppl_2/S37.full
SO  - Can Fam Physician2018 Apr 01; 64
AB  - Objective To demonstrate how family physicians can contribute to a piece of the journey of improving quality-of-life outcomes for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) when they undergo the transition from adolescence to adulthood.Sources of information The “Primary care of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. 2018 Canadian consensus guidelines” literature review and interdisciplinary input.Main message Family physicians should be proactive in anticipating and supporting the transition of people with IDD from adolescence to adulthood. Interventions should be guided by a developmental perspective regarding the person with IDD and a life-cycle approach to supporting families. Family physicians also have a role in helping people with IDD and their families to navigate successfully through changing community-based support systems in their province, especially health care and social services systems. Therefore, family physicians should be aware of current services available in their regions.Conclusion Community and team-based family physicians can optimize the quality of life of people with IDD and their families by adopting a proactive developmental and systems approach to preparing youth with IDD for adulthood. In doing so, they exemplify the 4 principles of family medicine.