Helping Young Adults with Disabilities Manage Their Emotions

In Bowie, a mother named Anjolene Smack-Whaley has seen a big change in her 24-year-old son. He is on the autism spectrum and used to have trouble controlling his anger and emotions. He would make loud noises, threaten to do things, and even run outside. This was hard for her to handle, especially since he works and has to deal with different people every day. About a year ago, things started to get better. Her son joined Project LIVE, a program run by The ARC of Prince George’s County. This program provides mental health services to young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The program has been a game-changer for her son and her family. Project LIVE helps young adults who struggle to express their feelings. Many of them have mental health conditions on top of their disabilities. This can make it even harder for them to talk about their problems. The program aims to bridge this gap and provide the support they need. The approach is unique. Instead of traditional office settings, therapists meet the young adults in places where they feel comfortable, like parks or tracks. This helps them open up and build rapport with their therapists. The program also provides training to other therapists, making it easier for them to support people with disabilities. Most of the young adults in the program are between 16 and 25 years old and have autism. The program has seen positive changes in their behavior and has received gratitude from families. Smack-Whaley’s son now looks forward to his virtual therapy sessions at home. He is learning how to deal with people and their personalities, which has made a big difference in his life.