The Munroe-Meyer Guild’s 2023 grants will create a lab to support individuals with complex communication needs, reduce the stress that comes with raising children with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and provide treatment for youth exposed to traumatic events.
The three proposals from the Munroe-Meyer Institute will be funded with more than $70,000 from the guild.
“We are truly pleased with the grants we are funding this year,” said Jennifer Read, vice president of the Munroe-Meyer Guild. “We feel each grant provides a beneficial and needed service to MMI. The Guild is excited to see the positive impact these projects will have on our community.”
Funded proposals include:
“Inclusive Trauma Care: A Treatment Program for Youth with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities” (grantees Hanna Grandgenett, PhD, and Allison Morton, PhD). This program will create an inclusive treatment for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities exposed to traumatic events. Following treatment of youth and families at MMI, the program will be evaluated for potential to reduce key symptoms. It would then be disseminated to MMI trainees and providers.
“A Rising Tide Rises All Ships: Empowering Families to Increase Wellbeing of Youth with Developmental Disabilities” (grantees Rachel Schumacher, PhD, and Kaitlyn Young, PhD). This team will pilot a group-based treatment approach to address child problem behaviors within the context of improving parental wellbeing. The program will empower parents and reduce stress associated with raising children with intellectual and developmental disabilities while enhancing the child’s adaptive and social-emotional skills.
“AAC Life Transitions Lab” (grantee Susan Fager, PhD). The project would develop a state-of-the-art lab to support translation of augmentative and alternative communication research to clinical practice. AAC technology in the lab would support critical life transitions — emerging communication, literacy, employment and physical access abilities — for individuals with complex communication needs.
The Munroe-Meyer Guild has funded grants at MMI for 55 years. In the last 25 years — and including the current grant awards — the guild has provided more than $1.3 million to innovative MMI initiatives, including proposals that eventually grew into the MMI Virtual Reality Lab and the GoBabyGo! Nebraska program.
“The Munroe-Meyer Guild works diligently to provide support for novel initiatives that directly impact the individuals and their families served at MMI,” said Melonie Welsh, director of community engagement at MMI. The competitive process also provides a platform for applicants to develop critical skills needed to advance their initiatives to a global level. MMI is grateful to the MMI Guild, the William and Ruth Scott Family Foundation, and the volunteers and patrons of the annual Garden Walk for making these initiatives a reality.