A Community Call to Action from the 2026 Youth IDD/Mental Health Summit.
Corvallis, Oregon August 5, 2026
What is one action you can take, or one change you can make, right where you are?
The question every table answered on the last afternoon of the Summit.
What happened at the tables
We came from schools and clinics, group homes and state agencies, and we came as parents, siblings, and self-advocates. Then we sat down with strangers and wrote down what we would change. Choose a commitment to see which tables arrived at it on their own.
7 of 17 tables arrived at “bring mental health supporters and IDD supporters together” independently.
6 of 17 tables arrived at “learn the skills that help us listen better” independently.
4 of 17 tables arrived at “ask why before we name a behavior” independently.
4 of 17 tables arrived at “treat families as partners” independently.
4 of 17 tables arrived at “let young people speak for themselves” independently.
3 of 17 tables arrived at “remember the siblings” independently.
3 of 17 tables arrived at “speak up where decisions get made” independently.
3 of 17 tables arrived at “say when we do not know, then go learn” independently.
3 of 17 tables arrived at “name trauma, and get trained to respond to it” independently.
2 of 17 tables arrived at “talk about puberty and sexuality before there is a problem” independently.
2 of 17 tables arrived at “take care of the people doing this work” independently.
2 of 17 tables arrived at “bring more people next year” independently.
The twelve commitments, ordered by how many tables named them.
Seven tables named this
More tables named this than anything else. Seven tables landed on the same fix.
Young people with a dual diagnosis are one whole person. Our systems treat them as two. We can change that in the rooms we already sit in.
“Include mental health providers into the ISP team to co-write safety plans and PBSPs.”
“Integrate behavior professional and therapist when creating safety plans.”
“Continuing conversation to demystify collaboration between IDD and mental health.”
We also said we would work on the gap between mental health support and physical health support. We said we would reach out to school teams. We said we would make sure goals line up across agencies instead of pulling against each other.
Six tables named this
Six tables asked for the same two skills by name.
We did not ask for training in general. We asked for motivational interviewing and collaborative problem solving. One table wrote both at the top of its page before writing anything else.
“Using more motivational interviewing, specifically the validation skill.”
“Train on connection versus compliance.”
“Take training topics to the next level.”
One table put it simply: multiple people want to get trained.
Four tables named this
Four tables said the same thing in different ways. What looks like refusal is often fear.
“Are they being oppositional, or is it a fight or flight reaction due to anxiety?”
“The why behind a behavior should determine the type of support that’s offered. A different lens.”
“Changing approach to consider bottom up processing.”
One table committed to asking providers a direct question: when you decide a young person needs to leave services, does your reason match that young person’s actual experience and diagnosis?
Four tables named this
Four tables said families are not a box to check.
“Include more than just the guardian. Build a team of support.”
“More time to engage with families being served.”
“Connect with other parents to have honest, hard conversations.”
We said we would bring parents into the ISP process, not just tell them about it afterward. We said parents need support too. When a family is steady, the young person is steadier.
Four tables named this
Four tables committed to handing over more room.
“Include the youth into the solutions, and offer meetings with youth one to one to get their perspective.”
“Change the can’ts to cans.”
“Step back and allow child or client to do for themselves, even when more time is needed.”
“Being more transparent on the needs the youth wants supported.”
Three tables named this
Three tables said siblings carry this too, and we rarely plan for them.
“Gather resources for parents to talk to siblings. Train facilitators for sib-shops.”
“Hearing the siblings story. Do more, help the siblings.”
“Siblings also suffer trauma. They need mental health support.”
One table named what siblings give up in order to keep a family member stable.
Three tables named this
Three tables committed to advocacy, and they were specific about it.
“Educate myself on the upcoming bills for legislative long session.”
“More advocating: events, community, and more.”
Advocacy can start small. It can be one honest email that tells the truth about your experience. You never know who is reading it.
Three tables named this
Three tables named something harder than a training request. They named humility.
“Reflecting on what we bring to the table, and being humble enough to admit ignorance, and seek out education.”
“Unpacking systemic ableism training.”
“Comfortable having uncomfortable conversations with family.”
None of us has a perfect formula for this work. Doing something imperfectly is better than doing nothing because we are afraid of getting it wrong.
Three tables named this
Three tables asked for more training and supports to provide trauma-informed care.
“Name experiences of trauma, anxiety, and grief for those with IDD and mental health needs.”
“More training for trauma informed providers and teachers.”
“Seek help in the area of trauma.”
Two tables named this
Two tables committed to being early instead of reactive.
“Using resources to support current concerns, being proactive, not waiting until there is an issue, as it relates to emerging sexuality.”
“Bring back some info around sexualized behavior. Help normalize and educate the youth.”
Two tables named this
Two tables said the work does not last if we do not.
“Cultivate joy. Hold onto the good parts as well as the hard and boring parts, and find people who will be joyful with you.”
“Self care to continue advocacy.”
Two tables named this
Two tables told us who is missing from this room.
Parents and foster parents. People who work in the criminal justice system. Direct Support Professionals.
“Spread the word about the Summit to more groups.”
“Bring my daughter’s DSP to future summits.”
Also said
One table did not write an action. They wrote a question.
How can we all best live together?
Pass it on
Send it to someone you would like to see at the Summit next year.
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