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Employment for Individuals with ID/DD
Apr 10th, 2013 by | No Comments YetIn January, a class action lawsuit was filed on behalf of 2,300 individuals with developmental disabilities. The suit charges that the state in which these individuals live is not providing supported employment services and is thus not complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act. As a result, individuals with disabilities in the state are working in sheltered workshops (also known as facility-based settings) and earning far less than the minimum wage.
This recent court case prompted us to take a look at the NCI data and what they show about individuals with ID/DD working in facility-based settings vs. those working in community-based settings nationally. The results described below were obtained through t-tests comparing adults (over age 18) working in community-based settings and those who are working in facility-based employment. For the purpose of this blog, only group differences that were significant at the p<.05 level are reported. The data in this blog post come from the 2011-2012 administration of the Adult Consumer Survey.
Those working in community based settings were significantly younger than those working in facility based settings (40 years old vs. 44 years old, respectively). In addition, those working in community based settings were more racially diverse. Just over one-fourth (26.5%) of them were non-white, as compared to 22.3% of those in facility-based jobs. A somewhat higher proportion of those working in the community were male (61.9%) than of those in facility-based jobs (55.6%).
Those working at a community-based job were more likely to have a mild disability and less likely to have moderate, severe or profound disabilities.
Level of ID
Mild ID
Moderate ID
Severe ID
Profound ID
Facility-Based Job
47.5%
34.4%
11.5%
4.2%
Community-Based Job
69.8%
25.0%
1.8%
0.7%
In addition, individuals in facility based employment were significantly more likely to be taking at least one psychotropic medication than those in community-based settings (52% vs. 43%, respectively).
Individuals working in community based employment were significantly more likely to be self-mobile and move themselves around their environment without the help of aids (95% vs. 87%). In addition, significantly more individuals working in facility based settings expressed themselves primarily through gestures or body language, as opposed to speaking (90% of individuals in facility based employment expressed themselves using spoken language, while almost 97% of those working in community based employment did so).
Of the individuals whose service plan states a goal of integrated employment (community-based employment), 37.9% are currently working in a facility based job. People need support to reach the goal of community-based employment.
We are working on a data brief on outcomes and demographic characteristics of individuals in community based vs. facility based employment. The data brief will further address the data demonstrated in this blog, as well as fascinating comparisons of hours worked and pay.
As always, we welcome your comments and suggestions.
Please note: The 2011-12 data reports will be released and placed on the NCI website this spring. For more in depth analysis of previous years’ NCI Adult Consumer Survey data please see http://www.nationalcoreindicators.org.
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Autism Awareness Month
Apr 4th, 2013 by | No Comments YetOn April 2, 2013, monuments and buildings across the world were lit up with blue light to raise awareness of Autism and related disorders. Since April is Autism Awareness Month, we decided to look at what NCI data show about individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). We looked at the 2011-2012 Adult Consumer Survey (ACS) results. The results described below were obtained through t-tests comparing adults (over age 18) diagnosed with ASD and those who have not been diagnosed with ASD. For the purpose of this blog, only group differences that were significant at the p<.05 level are reported.
About 12% of the respondents to the ACS were diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The average age of those diagnosed with ASD is significantly lower than that of those not diagnosed with ASD (34 and 45, respectively). Of those diagnosed with ASD, 76.8% were male.
In addition, there is a significant difference in the race/ethnicity of those diagnosed with ASD. Of all White, Non-Hispanic respondents, 10.7% were diagnosed with ASD, while 14.0% of African American, Non-Hispanic respondents and 16.5% of Hispanic respondents were diagnosed with ASD.
Race/Ethnicity
Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Not diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Total
White, Non-Hispanic
10.7%
89.3%
100%
African American, Non-Hispanic
14.0%
86.0%
100%
Hispanic
16.5%
83.5%
100%
Autism Spectrum Disorder is characterized by, among other things, social and behavioral challenges. We decided to explore the data on these particular difficulties.
NCI data show that significantly more people with ASD say that they do not have friends (12.7%) than those without ASD (7.9%). Similarly, significantly more people with ASD said that they do not have a best friend (31.4%) than those without ASD (23.8%).
Almost fifteen percent (14.8%) of people diagnosed with ASD need extensive support to manage self-injury behavior, compared to 4.3% of those not diagnosed with ASD. Similarly, 18.6% of those diagnosed with ASD need extensive support to manage disruptive behavior (compared with 7.6% of those not diagnosed with ASD). Almost 50% of individuals with ASD (47.9%) take medications for behavior problems, compared with 23.5% of individuals not diagnosed with ASD.
The increasing prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders demands a deeper understanding of the population diagnosed with the disorders. NCI data can offer a snapshot of that population.
As always, we would love to hear your thoughts on these data. Please contact me at dhiersteiner@hsri.org
Please note: The 2011-12 data reports will be released and placed on the NCI website this spring. For more in depth analysis of previous years’ NCI Adult Consumer Survey data please see http://www.nationalcoreindicators.org.
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What do NCI data show about physical activity?
Mar 27th, 2013 by | No Comments YetThe spring weather and sunshine motivated us to take a look at NCI data and what they show about individuals with ID/DD and physical activity. We looked at the 2011-2012 administration of the Adult Consumer Survey. No tests of statistical significance were conducted for this data brief.
Physical activity is first assessed in the Background Information section of the Adult Consumer Survey, which is filled out by looking at agency records or information systems. Of the total sample in 2011-2012 (n=10387), 37.6% of respondents engaged in moderate physical activity for 30 minutes or more at a time.
It’s interesting to look at the data on physical activity by residence type. As is evident from the table below, individuals in institutions participated in moderate physical activity for 30 minutes or more at a time at a lower rate than those living in other types of residences.
Does person routinely engage in any moderate physical activity for 30 minutes or more at a time?
Residence Type
Institution
Community Based Residence
Independent home/apt
Parent/relative’s home
Other
No
72.5%
56.6%
50.2%
53.2%
56.9%
Yes
20.9%
37.0%
44.4%
39.2%
34.4%
In Section II of the Adult Consumer Survey, which is answered by the individual receiving services or a proxy who knows the individual well, NCI asks respondents whether they have participated in specific community activities in the past month. In order to corroborate the findings demonstrated above, it is very interesting to look at the data regarding exercise in the community by residence type. Again, it is clear that individuals in institutions did not participate in exercise in the community at the same rate as those living in other types of residence.
In the past month, do you (does this person) go out for exercise in the community?
Residence Type
Institution
Community Based Residence
Independent home/apt
Parent/relative’s home
Other
No
62.9%
44.3%
39.6%
40.5%
43.6%
Yes
37.1%
55.7%
60.4%
59.5%
56.4%
Levels of disability and mobility also vary by residence type. For example, one-third (33.3%) of survey respondents living in institutions are non-ambulatory, while 57.6% of survey respondents living in institutions have profound ID. Although these numbers may be seen as obstacles to physical activity, it is important that everyone get the opportunity to integrate activity into their lives.
These data on physical activity are important to consider when we think about how to design policy to encourage health and wellness for individuals with ID/DD. Looking at sub-populations within the NCI sample could lead to more targeted interventions that will benefit those most in need.
As always, we would love to hear your thoughts on these data. Please contact me at dhiersteiner@hsri.org
Please note: The 2011-12 data reports will be released and placed on the NCI website this spring. For more in depth analysis of previous years’ NCI Adult Consumer Survey data please see http://www.nationalcoreindicators.org.