The Impact of Organizational Supports on the Person‐Centered Health of People With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

In this meta-analytic review, we investigated the effects of technology supports on the acquisition of shopping skills for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) between the ages of 5 and 24. Nineteen single-case experimental research studies, presented in 15 research articles, met the current study’s inclusion criteria and the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) standards. An analysis of potential moderators was conducted, and we calculated effect sizes using Tau-U to examine the impact of age, diagnosis, and type of technology on the reported outcomes for the 56 participants. The results from the included studies provide evidence that a wide range of technology interventions had a positive impact on shopping performance. These positive effects were seen for individuals across a wide range of ages and disability types, and for a wide variety of shopping skills. The strongest effect sizes were observed for technologies that provided visual supports rather than just auditory support. We provide an interpretation of the findings, implications of the results, and recommended areas for future research.

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The Experiences and Perceptions of College Peer Mentors Interacting with Students with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities ◽

10.1177/1540796920953826 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 45 (4) ◽

pp. 271-287

Author(s):

Lindsay S. Athamanah ◽

Marisa H. Fisher ◽

Connie Sung ◽

Jinny E. Han

Keyword(s):

High School Students ◽

Developmental Disabilities ◽

Peer Mentoring ◽

Social Impact ◽

Mentoring Programs ◽

Future Research ◽

Mentoring Program ◽

Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities ◽

Peer Mentors ◽

The Impact

Peer mentoring programs provide an opportunity for individuals with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to learn, socialize, and work together in supportive and inclusive environments. In this study, we used a phenomenological research design to explore the impact of a college campus-based peer mentoring program on the experiences and perceptions of participating college peer mentors ( n = 13) toward high school students with IDD who were enrolled in a school-to-work transition program housed on campus. Using thematic analysis across four different data sources, we identified three main themes that peer mentors discussed based on their experiences in the program: (a) mentors’ personal development: constructing meaning of self, (b) mentee growth: perceived work and social impact, and (c) campus community benefits: normalizing disability. Peer mentors reported their own attitudes toward individuals with IDD were changed based on participating in the peer mentoring program and they observed improvements in their mentees’ personal and work-related social relationships. We discuss how these outcomes have impacted the peer mentors’ attitudes, career choices, and lives in general. We also provide implications for future research and practice regarding development and implementation of peer mentoring programs in the community.

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Impact of Medicaid Managed Care on Illinois's Acute Health Services Expenditures for Adults With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities ◽

10.1352/1934-9556-56.2.133 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 56 (2) ◽

pp. 133-146 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Kiyoshi Yamaki ◽

Coady Wing ◽

Dale Mitchell ◽

Randall Owen ◽

Tamar Heller

Keyword(s):

Developmental Disabilities ◽

Managed Care ◽

Health Services ◽

Cost Savings ◽

Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities ◽

Fee For Service ◽

Access To Health Services ◽

Medicaid Managed Care ◽

The Difference ◽

The Impact

Abstract States have increasingly transitioned Medicaid enrollees with disabilities from fee-for-service (FFS) to Medicaid Managed Care (MMC), intending to reduce state Medicaid spending and to provide better access to health services. Yet, previous studies on the impact of MMC are limited and findings are inconsistent. We analyzed the impact of MMC on costs by tracking Illinois's Medicaid acute health services expenditures for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) living in the community (n = 1,216) before and after their transition to MMC. Results of the difference-in-differences (DID) regression analysis using an inverse propensity score weight (IPW) matched comparison group (n = 1,134) design suggest that there were no significant state Medicaid cost savings in transitioning people with IDD from FFS to MMC.

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COVID-19 IDD: A global survey exploring the impact of COVID-19 on individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their caregivers

HRB Open Research ◽

10.12688/hrbopenres.13077.1 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 3 ◽

pp. 39 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Christine Linehan ◽

Tal Araten-Bergam ◽

Julie Beadle-Brown ◽

Christine Bigby ◽

Gail Birkbeck ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Intellectual Disability ◽

Developmental Disabilities ◽

Living Arrangements ◽

Online Survey ◽

Healthcare Access ◽

National Level ◽

Lessons Learned ◽

Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities ◽

Survey Team ◽

The Impact

Background: This protocol outlines research to explore the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on individuals who have intellectual and developmental disabilities and their caregivers. Evidence suggests that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities experience disparities in healthcare access and utilisation. This disparity was evident early in the pandemic when discussions arose regarding the potential exclusion of this population to critical care. Methods: An anonymous online survey will be conducted with caregivers, both family members and paid staff, to explore the impact of COVID-19 on this population in terms of demographics, living arrangements, access to services, the impact of social distancing, and also carer wellbeing. The survey will be developed by the research team, many of whom are experts in intellectual disability within their own jurisdictions. Using back-translation our team will translate the survey for distribution in 16 countries worldwide for international comparison. The survey team have extensive personal and professional networks in intellectual disability and will promote the survey widely on social media with the support of local disability and advocacy agencies. Statistical descriptive and comparative analyses will be conducted. Ethical approval has been obtained for this study from University College Dublin’s Human Research Ethics Committee (HS-20-28-Linehan). Dissemination: Study findings will be prepared in a number of formats in order to meet the needs of different audiences. Outputs will include academic papers, lessons learned paper, practice guidelines, reports, infographics and video content. These outputs will be directed to families, frontline and management delivering disability services, national-level policy makers, healthcare quality and delivery authorities, national pandemic organisations and international bodies.

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Mental healthcare and service user impact of the COVID-19 pandemic: results of a UK survey of staff working with people with intellectual disability and developmental disorders

10.1101/2020.09.01.20178848 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Rory Sheehan ◽

Christian Dalton-Locke ◽

Afia Ali ◽

Vasiliki Totsika ◽

Norha Vera San Juan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Developmental Disabilities ◽

Mental Health Services ◽

Health Services ◽

Service User ◽

Mental Healthcare ◽

Free Text ◽

Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities ◽

Health And Social Care ◽

The Impact

Background Very little is known about the impact of previous epidemics on the care of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, particularly in terms of mental health services. The COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to exacerbate existing health inequalities as well as expose gaps in service provision for this vulnerable population group. Methods We investigated the responses of 648 staff working in mental healthcare with people with intellectual disabilities and/or developmental disabilities. Participants contributed to a UK-wide online survey undertaken by the National Institute for Health Research Mental Health Policy Research Unit between 22nd April and 12th May 2020. Recruitment was via professional networks, social media and third sector organisations. Quantitative data describing staff experience over three domains (challenges at work, service user and carer problems, sources of help at work) were summarised and differences between groups explored using Chi square tests. Content analysis was used to organise qualitative data focusing on service changes in response to the pandemic. Results The majority of survey respondents worked in the NHS and in community mental health services. One third had managerial responsibility. Major concerns expressed by mental healthcare staff were: difficulties for service users due to lack of access to usual support networks and health and social care services during the pandemic; and difficulties maintaining adequate levels of support secondary to increased service user need. Staff reported having to quickly adopt new digital ways of working was challenging; nevertheless, free text responses identified remote working as the innovation that staff would most like to retain after the pandemic subsides. Conclusions Understanding the experiences of staff working across different settings in mental healthcare for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic is essential in guiding contingency planning and fostering service developments to ensure the health of this vulnerable group is protected in any future disease outbreaks.

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The Impact of Ongoing Staff Development on the Health and Safety of People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities ◽

10.1007/s10882-020-09743-z ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Carli Friedman

Keyword(s):

Developmental Disabilities ◽

Staff Development ◽

Health And Safety ◽

Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities ◽

The Impact

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Choosing Home: The Impact of Choosing Where to Live on People With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities' Emergency Department Utilization

Inclusion ◽

10.1352/2326-6988-9.2.92 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 92-103

Author(s):

Carli Friedman

Keyword(s):

Emergency Department ◽

Developmental Disabilities ◽

Social Determinants ◽

Social Determinant ◽

Emergency Department Visits ◽

Emergency Department Utilization ◽

Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities ◽

Emergency Department Use ◽

The Impact ◽

The Relationship

Abstract Social determinants of health are conditions, factors, and environments that impact people's health. One such metric of people's health is emergency department utilization, but there is less research exploring how social determinants impact the emergency department use of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). This exploratory study examined the relationship between people with IDD choosing where and with whom to live—a social determinant of health—and emergency department utilization. We analyzed secondary Personal Outcome Measures data, and emergency department data from 251 people with IDD. Our findings revealed people with IDD who chose where and with whom to live had a 74% decrease in emergency department visits, regardless of their impairment severity. Choice in housing may improve people with IDD's health outcomes.

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Community Supports and COVID-19: Self-Determination in a Pandemic

Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities ◽

10.1352/1934-9556-58.6.453 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 58 (6) ◽

pp. 453-457

Author(s):

David A. Ervin ◽

Donyale Hobson-Garcia

Keyword(s):

Developmental Disabilities ◽

General Population ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Health Risks ◽

Health And Safety ◽

Self Determination ◽

Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities ◽

Community Based ◽

The Impact ◽

Community Supports

Abstract The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is impacting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) significantly. Early data on the impact of COVID-19 suggests that people with IDD are experiencing more severe health outcomes compared to the general population. In addition to their elevated health risks, people with IDD, like the rest of the population, are struggling with boredom, isolation, and loneliness as they shelter in place. As people with IDD seek a return to their jobs, friends and families, and the activities of their community, community-based provider organizations must strike a difficult balance between actions that are intended to protect the health and safety of people they support and actions that honor people's choices and encourage self-determination. Practical issues that community-based provider organizations must consider when striking the correct balance are discussed, and recommendations on ways to support people with IDD to make informed, self-determined choices during the pandemic are offered.

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