Nov 16 2026

Supporting Family Caregiver Health and Wellness: The WAVE Project

TAP/IDHD/LEND Webinar Series

November 16, 2026

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM America/Chicago

Cost

FREE

Calendar

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Older family caregivers of individuals with intellectual and development disabilities (IDD) may experience poorer health and face challenges maintaining healthy behaviors and accessing needed supports. The WAVE (Wellness Action Via Engagement) project was developed to address these health disparities and promote the health and well-being of family caregivers. Through virtual health education, virtual walking groups, and opportunities to build social connections, WAVE aims to help caregivers increase physical activity, improve their physical and mental well-being, and strengthen their ability to advocate for the healthcare of their family members with IDD. This presentation will introduce the WAVE Project and discuss its background, development, and key intervention components.

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Contact

jae jin pak
jjpak@uic.edu

Submitter

jae jin pak
jjpak@uic.edu

Date posted

Oct 12, 2026

Date updated

Oct 12, 2026

Speakers

Kelly Hsieh, PhD | Research Professor - IDHD Associate Director | UIC IDHD

Kelly Hsieh, PhD, is a Research Professor at the University of Illinois Chicago and Associate Director of the Illinois University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD). Her work focuses on improving the health and well-being of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families, with a particular interest in healthy aging, family caregiving, and program evaluation. She is the Principal Investigator of the Wellness Action Via Engagement (WAVE) Project, which supports older family caregivers in becoming more physically active, improving their health and well-being, and strengthening their ability to advocate for the healthcare needs of their family members with IDD.

Megan Clanton | Visiting Research Associate II - Project Coordinator: WAVE Project | UIC IDHD

Megan Clanton is a Research Associate at the Institute on Disability and Human Development at University of Illinois Chicago. She serves as a Project Coordinator for the WAVE (Wellness Action Via Engagement) Project, part of the Family Support Research and Training Center (FSRTC) and contributes to the work of the Illinois University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD). Through her work as a researcher and advocate, she seeks to address healthcare disparities among marginalized populations through stakeholder-informed, community-based research and practice.