Developmental/Intellectual Disabilities

This strategic planning manual helps states develop a strategic process to increase Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE) for people with disabilities. This manual is designed as a guide for state leadership teams and facilitators working to create a statewide cross-systems Employment First strategic plan. It is intended to help states strategically align their policy and programs to further CIE as the first priority for all individuals with disabilities.

This research brief from the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation summarizes recent research on older adults' LTSS risks and financial resources. The brief primarily uses data from the Health and Retirement Study.

This brief is a summary of survey results related to aging and disability agencies and I&R/A specialists' role in connecting individuals with public benefits. It provides an opportunity to learn about benefits screening, assistance, and outreach within aging and disability networks.

This brief focuses on the needs of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are also experiencing mental illness. The Arc explored the unique challenges faced by these individuals through focus groups and national panels. This brief summarizes the findings from these activities and includes recommendations for the development of new training, systems change activities, research, and greater public awareness around I/DD and mental health issues.

This issue brief highlights Medicaid HCBS enrollment and spending data from the Kaiser Family Foundation's 17th annual state survey. The report found that nearly all Medicaid HCBS enrollment (86%) and spending (93%) went to services provided at state option. This optional nature of most HCBS covered populations and services puts individuals at risk of losing services if the current structure of Medicaid financing were to change.

This report highlights the potentially transformational power of autonomous vehicles (AVs). AVs have the opportunity to significantly benefit individuals with disabilities, but only if automakers work to ensure accessible design. The report states that key partners must work together on universal design now so that AVs can be developed to meet every potential driver's needs from the beginning, including wheelchair users.

This toolkit summarizes LTSS reform strategies adopted by state innovators. It identifies concrete policy strategies, operational steps, and federal and state authorities that states have used to advance LTSS reforms. It also includes specific case studies and advice for other states looking to implement similar reforms. In addition, CHCS has published a brief for state legislators looking for a summary of options for developing LTSS policies.

These profiles include promising practices that agencies use to conduct education and outreach to inform consumers about benefits, and to help aging and disability professionals connect clients to benefits, such as the Medicare low-income subsidies, SNAP, and LIHEAP. The tip sheets include practices about: engaging consumers through fun and interactive games; a system for providing comprehensive eligibility information; and tools to simplify benefits information for staff.

This paper focuses on how state-funded home and community-based services programs can support low-income older adults. It highlights promising practices that support maximum independence for low-income older adults and/or people with physical disabilities and their family caregivers. The paper explores programs across nine states, including Washington state’s emerging innovation: the Medicaid Transformation demonstration.

The Compendium includes many tables of data, including state and national values and trends over time. The Compendium is broken into eleven sections and includes topics such as employment, health, and education. The Annual Report highlights state and trend data, and complements the detailed tables available in the Compendium & Supplement.