About TASP
Every Parent Deserves the Opportunity to Succeed
Who We Are
Parents with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) have the same hopes, dreams, and aspirations as any parent. Every family deserves the opportunity to thrive with dignity, respect, and the support they need to succeed.
The Association for Successful Parenting (TASP) is a national nonprofit advancing the rights, leadership, and self-determination of parents with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We strengthen families through education, advocacy, support, research, and systems change while partnering with parents with lived expertise to shape our priorities, resources, and initiatives.
Today, TASP works alongside parents, professionals, and communities nationwide to build understanding, remove barriers, and create more equitable opportunities for families. While progress has been made, our work continues until every parent has the opportunity to succeed.
Our Story
Founded in 2009, The Association for Successful Parenting (TASP) was established in response to a simple but powerful belief: parents with intellectual and developmental disabilities deserve the same opportunities to build and raise their families as every other parent.
What began as an effort to provide education, advocacy, and support has grown into a national organization working alongside parents, professionals, researchers, healthcare organizations, and community partners to improve the systems that affect families. While our programs have expanded over the years, our mission has remained the same: strengthening families by ensuring parents with intellectual and developmental disabilities have the opportunity to succeed.
As the organization has grown, so has the role of parents with lived expertise. Today, parents with intellectual and developmental disabilities are not only at the center of our mission, but also help shape our leadership, educational resources, research, and national initiatives.
Our Guiding Principles
Everything we do is guided by the belief that parents with intellectual and developmental disabilities deserve the same rights, opportunities, and respect as every other parent.
We are committed to family-centered practice, disability rights, self-determination, and the principles of disability justice.
We believe meaningful change happens when parents with lived expertise are recognized as partners in developing the programs, policies, and systems that affect their lives.
By bringing together parents, professionals, researchers, advocates, and community partners, we strengthen families while creating more accessible, equitable, and responsive systems.
Parents with Lived Expertise Shape Our Work
Parents with intellectual and developmental disabilities are partners in every aspect of TASP's work. Their lived expertise helps shape our organization and strengthens the programs, resources, and systems we work to improve.
Parents with lived expertise:
- Serve on our Board of Directors
- Help establish organizational priorities
- Advise grant-funded projects and initiatives
- Review publications and educational resources
- Present national trainings and conferences
- Lead the Parent-Driven Webinar Series
- Share their expertise through speaking, advocacy, and collaboration
- Help improve healthcare, child welfare, and other family-serving systems
By combining lived expertise with professional knowledge, research, and collaboration, we create practical solutions that strengthen families and improve outcomes nationwide.
How We Create Change
TASP advances its mission through five interconnected areas of work:
Education
We provide practical education and training for parents, professionals, healthcare organizations, child welfare agencies, disability providers, educators, and community organizations to build knowledge, improve practice, and create more family-centered supports.
Advocacy
We promote policies and practices that protect the rights of parents with intellectual and developmental disabilities while reducing stigma, discrimination, and unnecessary barriers to parenting.
Support
We connect families and professionals with practical tools, trusted resources, and national expertise that help parents navigate parenting and help organizations better support the families they serve.
Research & Innovation
We collaborate with researchers, universities, healthcare organizations, and community partners to develop practical resources, advance promising practices, and expand knowledge that improves supports for parents with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Systems Change
We work with healthcare organizations, child welfare agencies, policymakers, disability organizations, and other partners to improve the systems that affect parents with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their children, helping create more equitable and family-centered communities.
Our National Impact
For more than 15 years, TASP has worked to improve opportunities for parents with intellectual and developmental disabilities across the United States through education, advocacy, collaboration, and innovation. Our work includes:
- National conferences that bring together parents, professionals, researchers, and advocates
- The Parent-Driven Webinar Series, where parents with lived expertise lead national conversations, share practical knowledge, and build community
- Professional education and continuing education opportunities
- Self-paced online learning for healthcare and human service professionals
- Research-informed publications, practical guides, and educational resources
- Technical assistance and consultation for organizations nationwide
- Collaborative partnerships across healthcare, child welfare, disability, education, and family support systems
- Parent leadership integrated throughout our governance, programs, and initiatives
Together, these efforts help create communities where parents with intellectual and developmental disabilities have the opportunity to succeed.
Looking Ahead
The need for accessible, family-centered supports continues to grow, and so does our commitment to the families we serve.
TASP will continue working alongside parents with intellectual and developmental disabilities, self-advocates, professionals, researchers, and community partners to expand opportunities, strengthen systems, and ensure every parent has the chance to build and raise a healthy, thriving family.
Join Our Work
Creating lasting change takes all of us. Whether you are a parent, self-advocate, family member, professional, researcher, policymaker, or community partner, we invite you to join us in strengthening families and building more equitable, accessible, and family-centered systems for parents with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Together, we can ensure every parent has the opportunity to succeed.
Learn About Joining the Board