As a leading 501c3 nonprofit, TASP is committed to successfully supporting families when parents have learning difficulties

Our Mission

We are Dedicated to Enhancing the Lives of Parents Living with Cognitive Difficulties and Their Families through Education, Advocacy, and Support.

*Cognitive difficulties may include difficulties in learning, remembering, and making decisions that affect everyday life

Our Cause Defines Us

We know that lasting individual and social change come about when we work together to achieve a common goal. That’s why supporting families when parents have intellectual disabilities is our cause. Every day we work side-by-side with researchers, practitioners, and self-advocates to ensure that all parents have a chance to parent.

A Chance to Parent

With a focus on research, education and service, TASP works to build the capacity of communities and families to support parents with learning difficulties. We believe that the population of families in which one or more parents have an intellectual disability has not only been under-served, but discriminated against and repeatedly denied a chance to parent.

How We Do It

As a 501c3, TASP brings together some of the most knowledgeable and committed professionals and self-advocates to help YOU make a difference. Our work is mainly centered around education (through conferences, webinars, and direct training), advocacy at the local and national level, direct support for parents and professionals, and resource sharing.

TASP has enabled an international community of researchers, providers and self-advocates to come together to share efforts to improve outcomes for parents with intellectual disabilities.

Today TASP Provides:

  • International conferences
  • A bi-monthly newsletter for our mailing list subscribers
  • Webinars with parents and leaders in the field [coming 2021]
  • A comprehensive website and social media presence
  • Advocacy initiatives
  • Access to consultants and key researchers
  • Educational and training opportunities
  • Membership
  • And so much more!

We Know That…

  • Family life is complex
  • All families need support and rely on interdependent networks
  • Separation from parents is  in the best interest of children only when reasonable efforts and appropriate services cannot ensure a child’s safety and health
  • Termination of the parental relationship  should not be based upon a parent’s disability alone
  • Our expertise and resources may also benefit parents with other cognitive challenges and the people who support them

Our Key Roles

To build long-lasting social change, we see our key role as working to:

  • Facilitate community partnerships and networking
  • Offer training opportunities
  • Advocate for system change & social justice
  • Partner with self-advocates
  • Promote evidence-based parenting skills assessment
  • Develop and endorse evidence-based training curricula
  • Honor family autonomy, self-determination and strengths
  • Encourage natural supports, community acceptance and inclusion
  • Support the use of individualized evidence-based practices
  • Consult with partners in child welfare, early intervention, education, health care, disability services, family law, etc.

What Does TASP Stand For ? 

TASP is short for The Association for Successful Parenting.

How was TASP formed?

The Association for Successful Parenting or TASP, a 501c3 non-profit corporation, was formed on May, 28, 2009 in Louisville Colorado.

Researchers, social workers, and practitioners (both US and International) realized there was a lack of evidence-based information on how to successfully support families when parents have I/DD.

At first, many of our members were working alone, in small groups or within a single area or country. We gradually discovered other professionals and parents with intellectual disabilities who were trying to improve services. We learned from one another and became a community. We hoped to advance research, develop educational opportunities, build capacity and improve resources, service models and outcomes.

Through these new relationships, it became clear that dedication to parents who have cognitive difficulties – specifically intellectual disabilities was a common theme. We realized that infrastructure and support should not end as people retired or moved to new settings or when administrative focus waned. With this in mind, TASP as a nonprofit organization was born, built with a board of directors made up of parents/self-advocates and leaders in the field of supported parenting.