Intellectual/Developmental

This brief report presents a 24-month update from a survey of more than 2,600 direct support professionals (DSPs) and frontline supervisors who support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to live independently in the community. The survey finds that, while vaccination rates are increasing, participants report declines in physical and mental health.

This journal article from AJIDD reflects on implications of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic for research, policy, and practice through the lens of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Without question, people with IDD struggled as the COVID-19 pandemic began and as it has continued. Too many were isolated from friends and family for far too long. Too many were lonely and bored. Too many have not received the support they have needed during the pandemic. Far too many were denied treatment and far too many have died.

This policy brief summarizes the results of a national survey conducted by RTC-CL of nearly 9,000 direct support professionals (DSPs) providing support to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The takeaways are fear of COVID-19 infection among DSPs and the people they support, low wages, high turnover and vacancy rates, and significant wage differences between Black DSPs and their white counterparts.

The aim of this study was to gather evidence about the experiences of the direct support workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic and to inform efforts to better prepare for future waves of this pandemic. This report was also supported by the Administration on Developmental Disabilities.

The aim of this study was to gather evidence about the experiences of the direct support workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic and to inform efforts to better prepare for future waves of this pandemic. This is a six-month follow-up to the initial report published in fall of 2020.

This journal article examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent recession on individuals with IDD who worked in competitive employment from February to July 2020. Findings indicate that these employees were not able to work from home and experienced furlough or lay off instead. Further, the number of hours worked monthly was also significantly affected. Wages were not affected by the pandemic and recession.

The center has set up a collection of hand hygiene videos for families and professionals supporting individuals with ASD. How to: Teaching Handwashing explains how to cover hand hygiene, learning styles and challenges to consider, and examples of teaching strategies. How to: Handwashing for Individuals with ASD demonstrates hand hygiene in simple, straightforward language and images.

This publication applies the Four Guideposts to Community Life Engagement to selecting and supporting online engagement opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The guideposts are: Individualize supports for each person, promote community membership and contribution, use human and social capital to decrease dependence on paid supports, and ensure that supports are outcome-oriented and regularly monitored.

In this webinar, presenters discussed the impacts of COVID-19 on policy and lived experience of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Presenters discussed the lessons learned, future federal policies, and ways that policies promote Home and Community-Based Services can provide more equitable social justice during this pandemic.