My life. My story.
The Youth Digital Storytelling Project
Project Overview
The purpose of My Life. My Story: The Youth Digital Storytelling Project was to create, implement, and assess a peer-based digital story pilot intervention for youth with developmental disabilities to support their growth through improved skills and competencies in literacy, multimedia, communication, and leadership. Over 11 months, we developed a novel online peer-based model focused on accessibility; we also assessed and identified best practices to increase the transferability of our findings. In doing so, the project increases the potential to improve education competencies for youth with developmental disabilities beyond this pilot study.
Below are the findings, best practices, and associated recommendations. Please read the attached report for more details about the project.
Skills
Peer-facilitators
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80% identified an increase in multimedia skills by one level.
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90% identified an increase in communication skills by one level.
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100% identified an increase in leadership skills by one level.
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80% identified an increase in planning/organization; 70% in building self-confidence, and 60% in group facilitation.
Participants
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90% identified an increase in multimedia skills by one level.
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87% identified an increase in communication skills by one level.
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87% identified an increase in literacy skills by one level.
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83% identified they would be able to use what they learned in the workshop in other areas of their life.
Workshop Delivery
The workshop format centers disabled perspectives and experiences in story and encourages disability pride. Crip time also plays a central role in accessibility within the context of both the delivery and format. The workshop delivery fosters crip connection, community, and solidarity amongst facilitators, peer-facilitators, and participants.
Life Stage Transitions
Since attending the workshop:
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86% of participants spoke with someone (family, service provider) about creating a transition plan.
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89% of participants are more comfortable talking about what they want.
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79% of participants have identified short-term goals for their future.
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79% of participants have identified long-term goals for their future.