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Grants Awarded for Data Collection and Research Pertaining to People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

September 28, 2018

ACL has awarded three grants to continue and enhance the collection and analysis of national longitudinal trends pertaining to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities around the issues of state spending for developmental disabilities services, residential services, and employment services. Along with its commitment to continue funding high quality longitudinal research, ACL has emphasized the need for this research to be understandable and usable by the public, including people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD). To this end, the projects will focus on developing products for public knowledge and use. Finally, the projects are charged with designing and implementing an evaluation plan to demonstrate the impact of the data.

State of the States in Developmental Disabilities: On-going Data Collection and Information Dissemination grant awarded to the University of Colorado. The grant totals $400,000 for a period of five years starting on September 1, 2018. The purpose of this project is to maintain national longitudinal research on state fiscal efforts related to services and supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Topics of study will include I/DD financial and programmatic data from the 50 states and District of Columbia for FYs 2018 - 2022; and special studies to investigate contemporary topics impacting the I/DD community, such as the use of data visualizations by people with I/DD.

The National Residential Information Systems Project (RISP): On-going Data Collection and Information Dissemination awarded to the University of Minnesota. The grant totals $400,000 for a period of five years starting on September 1, 2018. The purpose of this project is to collect data to maintain national longitudinal research that describes and analyzes the places where people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are provided residential services, and to generate reliable information that supports the creation of more effective and efficient policies and programs and greater quality of life. Topics of study will include annual data from state I/DD agencies about state and non-state operated services, residential setting types and sizes, Medicaid and other funding authorities, and recipient age. Possible special studies may include the growing utilization of intentional communities, farmsteads, gated communities, segregated subdivisions and disability specific apartments as long-term care services and supports (LTSS) residential settings, state implementation of the 2014 HCBS Settings Rule, the use of managed LTSS for people with I/DD, and state differences in utilization of Medicaid Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities settings, plus innovative supports and services.

Access to Integrated Employment: National Data Collection on Day and Employment Services for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities awarded to the University of Massachusetts. The grant totals $400,000 for a period of five years starting on September 1, 2018. The purpose of this project is to collect data to maintain national longitudinal research that describes day and employment services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The research will contribute to an understanding of the factors that influence employment at the individual, service provider, and state levels. The project will assess the employment and economic status of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as the effectiveness of state intellectual and developmental disabilities agencies and vocational rehabilitation agencies in promoting the full inclusion of individuals with developmental disabilities through employment and other community activities. To help inform the field, the project will identify and disseminate best practices that states, providers and individuals use to gain integrated, community employment. During the first year the project’s special study will involve examining employment data based on gender, race, and ethnicity.


Last modified on 05/12/2020


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