How this project started

Thanks to community-based services, evidence-based programs and vocational support, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DDs) are living more independently than ever. However, this autonomy means they are more vulnerable to alcohol and drug problems, and may even begin misusing substances to cope with social isolation, stigma and stress related to their disabilities. The physical effects of an intellectual disability can sometimes mask the signs of a substance use disorder (SUD), making it difficult to detect.

There is very little data available on rates of SUDs among people with I/DDs and other neurocognitive disorders. Few journal articles address identification and treatment of SUDs in this population. Resources intended for the general public fail to meet the needs of people with I/DDs, rendering current screening and assessment tools inadequate. Without support, many treatment providers are unsure of how to serve people with I/DDs.

Monarch is a respected and trusted leader in the mental and behavioral health field. Originally the Arc of Stanly County, Inc., Monarch was founded in 1958 to assist in the development and care of children and adults with I/DDs, and to help their families. Over the years, the organization’s offerings have expanded to behavioral healthcare, including the treatment of mental illness and SUDs.

Monarch was uniquely positioned to meet the growing unmet need of addiction services for people with I/DDs and their families. They partnered with Kelso Communications (Kcomm) to create “Understanding Addiction and Developmental Disabilities.”

What we were trying to accomplish

“Understanding Addiction and Developmental Disabilities” is the first program of its kind that meets I/DD people and their support systems where they are, to effectively screen for and start addressing substance use disorders. 

To ensure the curriculum was meaningful and understandable to individuals with IQs between 50 and 70, Monarch sought feedback from experts in both the I/DD and SUD fields, as well as 16 individuals living with disabilities and their families. This focus group shared their personal journeys with Monarch’s curriculum development team and Kcomm, offering insight into how addiction and the recovery process might be different for someone with an I/DD.

Monarch and Kcomm (Monarch’s agency of record) set out to create 14 animated videos to provide relevant therapeutic information to people with I/DDs and SUDs.

The gameplan

Kcomm and its production partner, Priceless Miscellaneous, have worked together for several years on a variety of projects that have earned Emmy Awards in short-form categories.

Animation with voiceover was leveraged to tell the story for each of the 14 topics in the curriculum that was named “Understanding Addiction and Developmental Disabilities.” The video scripts were written to be short, clear and easy to follow. For an animation style appropriate to people with a variety of intellectual abilities, it was important for characters to look like cartoons, fully human but with stylized heads and bodies. Backgrounds were kept simple, with just enough detail to communicate the environments (inside of home, doctor’s office, city street, etc.). The focus was not the detail of the animation, but the points being communicated in a simple visual style. 

The hero characters were designed to be relatable to this audience, and come across as friendly, sympathetic and engaging. The goal was for the viewers to see themselves in these characters, who are experiencing the same issues with SUDs. Each video tells the story of either Eddie, an “everyman” male, in his 30s, or Tasha, a female (roughly the same age) who has the visual disability of being in a wheelchair. Secondary characters helped tell the story – for instance, a doctor, family member or background extras. 

The finished videos tell 14 unique stories centered around Eddie and Tasha’s SUD journey covering a range of topics, from “what is addiction,” to codependency and self-esteem, and teach skills in coping, deep breathing and more.

The results

“Understanding Addiction and Developmental Disabilities” has been extraordinarily well received by families, caregivers, clinicians and providers.

Monarch has hosted several free virtual training conferences in May 2023 called “Understanding Addiction and Developmental Disabilities” attended by 300+ people, including many families/caregivers of I/DD individuals seeking resources on SUDs. 

Survey results from the conference showed:

  • 100% strongly agreed that “The materials were effective.”
  • 94.2% clinicians agreed that “The curriculum and materials will be useful in my own practice.”
  • 100% strongly agreed that “I would recommend this training/curriculum to others.” 

In October 2023, Kelso Communications was honored by the Carolinas Healthcare Public Relations and Marketing Society for Best Video: Short-format Series by a non-Hospital or nonprofit organization for “Understanding Addiction and Developmental Disabilities”. The video series also won Best in Show.