Developmental/Intellectual Disabilities

Is your state looking for a nice example of how to introduce waiver programs to the community? Review this guide, which provides an overview of the various programs. The guide outlines what services are covered and how to apply for various programs.

This report is the latest in a series on expenditures for Medicaid waivers authorized under Section 1915(c) of the Social Security Act, also known as home and community-based services waivers. For the first time, the tables include state-reported data for 1915(c) waiver services provided through managed care programs that are not identifiable in the state CMS 64 reports. Thomson Reuters collected these data for FY 2008 and FY 2009.

Despite more than $428 billion in spending in FY2008 to assist working-age people with disabilities, services provided are often fragmented, confusing, & less effective than they could be. This brief explains how the government serves a caretaker role. Authors point out that this model runs contrary to the goal of maximizing self-sufficiency embraced by the Americans with Disabilities Act & fails to direct funds to help those with disabilities join, remain in, or return to the workforce.

Shared decision-making provides an approach through which providers and consumers of health care come together as collaborators in determining the course of care. Research has shown that SDM increases consumers’ knowledge about and comfort with the health care decisions they make. By placing mental health consumers at the center of the decision-making process, SDM provides a model through which multiple calls for transformation of the mental health field might be answered.

This website is part of a joint initiative of the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services and the Association of University Centers on Disabilities. The Initiative integrates sound research into policy and program decisions that affect the independence, inclusion, productivity, self-determination, health and well-being of individuals with developmental disabilities. The partnership is developing products and activities promoting evidence-based policymaking.

The Public Broadcasting System (PBS) is premiering the documentary film about the history of the decades-long struggle for equal rights for people with disabilities. The film tells the story of the disability rights movement in America, which began after WWII when disabled veterans returned home; and culminated in 1990 with the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The website has an Interactive Timeline of the Disability Rights Movement, a talk back section, and footage from the film.

A review of 36 studies of outcomes for nearly 5,000 people with intellectual & developmental disabilities moving from large institutions to community living arrangements found high consistency in positive change in daily living skills. Studies specifically addressing social skill development, language & communication skills development, self-care & domestic skill development & community living skill development also showed positive outcomes associated with leaving large institutions.

Summary presents key findings from a collection of nine studies conducted in 2009–2010, focusing on the employment efforts of working-age (age 18 to full retirement). Three of these reports concern TTW participants and program issues, while the other 6 are studies on more general topics related to beneficiary employment and SSA work supports. These nine studies constitute the fifth report of the Ticket to Work program evaluation.

Report illustrates the need for careful planning on how to address the health disparities experienced by persons with disabilities into the next decade. Because the perception that disability is solely an aging phenomenon, current analysis to people of working age (18-64) is limited. Also, little research compares the health disabilities to that of other racial and ethnic minority groups. The report suggests the time is now for a national plan to address disparities.

Detailed data on community-based residential services providers indicated a high worker turnover for long-term care costs. The findings indicated that providers were unlikely to reduce turnover on their own, since its associated costs were either tolerably small or borne by others. An analysis indicated that it was socially beneficial for the government to reduce turnover through wage subsidization in this sector.