The Positive Adult Development (PAD) curriculum was created to help parents of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities manage stress. PAD incorporates evidence-based interventions from the field of positive psychology and emphasizes ways to temper such emotions as guilt, conflict, worry, and pessimism by identifying and using character strengths and virtues, using strengths in new ways, and by practicing exercises involving gratitude, forgiveness, grace, and optimism.
PAD was originally designed to be delivered over the course of 6 weeks in 1-1.5-hour group sessions each week. This curriculum also can be run back to back in a weekend retreat format if there are time constraints. The groups are best facilitated by peer mentors who are also parents of individuals who have intellectual or developmental disabilities or mental health issues, or by other professionals in the field who have proper educational training in group facilitation. The information, including handouts for tips and techniques, is presented using a PowerPoint presentation and discussion is facilitated by the group leader.