Record Keeping Across the Lifespan

Keeping track of important paperwork can feel overwhelming, especially as individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities move through different stages of life and service systems. This presentation provides practical strategies for organizing and maintaining important records so individuals and families can more easily access the information they need, when they need it. The presentation follows key life stages, including school years, and adult services, and highlights the types of documents families may want to keep, how to organize them, and tips for keeping records current. A brief section focuses on future and succession planning, including how to organize important information so that trusted family members or future supporters can understand an individual's needs, preferences, services, and important documents and continue to provide support when responsibilities are passed along. Participants learn practical ideas and tools they can use to create a record-keeping system that works for their family and can grow with the individual across the lifespan.