** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (IDD) FACE UNIQUE FOOD INSECURITY CHALLENGES THAT ARE NOT WELL UNDERSTOOD. IN THIS PROPOSED SEED GRANT PROJECT, WE AIM TO UNDERSTAND FOOD SECURITY AMONG THE IDD POPULATION. THE LONG-TERM GOAL FOR THIS SEMINAL WORK IS TO INFORM IMPLEMENTATION GUIDANCE FOR INTERVENING AND MEASURING FOOD SECURITY AMONG PERSONS WITH IDD. WE PLAN TO ACCOMPLISH THIS THROUGH TWO MAIN OBJECTIVES. OBJECTIVE 1: CONDUCT A FORMATIVE QUALITATIVE STUDY, IN COLLABORATION WITH A STAKEHOLDER ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND UTILIZING A PARTICIPATORY APPROACH, WITH APPROXIMATELY 30 PEOPLE WITH IDD AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS TO UNDERSTAND THEIR FOOD INSECURITY EXPERIENCE. OBJECTIVE 2: BUILD ON THE FORMATIVE STUDY FINDINGS TO CO-DEVELOP, ALONG WITH THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND INTERVIEWEES, A PRELIMINARY MEASUREMENT TOOL AND INTERVENTION IMPLEMENTATION GUIDANCE INTENDED FOR SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS. THIS PROJECT ALIGNS WITH SEVERAL STATED GOALS AND PRIORITIES OF USDA AND NIFA INCLUDING: 1) USDA'S STRATEGIC GOAL 4: PROVIDE ALL AMERICANS SAFE, NUTRITIOUS FOOD BY ENSURING THAT FOOD INSECURITY CHALLENGES OF PEOPLE WITH IDD ARE UNDERSTOOD; 2) NIFA PRIORITY B: TO INVESTIGATE, ASSESS, AND RECOMMEND FOOD AND NUTRITION RESEARCH AND PROGRAM INTERVENTIONS WITH THE GOAL TO ACHIEVE FOOD AND NUTRITION SECURITY AND IMPROVE AND SUSTAIN HEALTH; 3) USING A PARTICIPATORY APPROACH WILL EXPLORE THE SPECIFIC EXPERIENCES OF INDIVIDUALS WITH IDD TO INFORM TAILORING OF APPROACHES (PROGRAM AREA PRIORITY: PRECISION NUTRITION); 4) FURTHERMORE, OUR PARTICIPATORY APPROACH ALLOWS US TO UNDERSTAND DIFFERENT CULTURAL AND CONTEXTUAL BACKGROUNDS OF PEOPLE WITH IDD (PROGRAM AREA PRIORITY: CULTURALLY AND CONTEXTUALLY APPROPRIATE APPROACHES).THIS