We conducted an online statewide survey of teachers of students with moderate and severe intellectual disabilities to determine the extent to which their students were included in school extracurricular and community recreation activities. For the 252 teacher respondents who indicated that their primary caseload consisted of students with significant intellectual disabilities, we report the numbers of students participating in school and community activities and the primary type of support students required to participate in each activity. Finally, we identify implications for practitioners who want to increase the participation of students with significant disabilities in school and community activities.

The quality of life construct has gained prominent attention in human services over the last 20 years. We investigated whether quality of life differences exist between adults with developmental disabilities and the general population. Differences were found in scales measuring well-being and decision-making as well as other more specific variables. The two groups also differed in overall quality of life; those with developmental disabilities had lower quality of life. A logistic regression model comprised of the life dimensions differentiated between the groups with over 90% accuracy. Overall results of this static group comparison indicate that adults with developmental disabilities are at a significant disadvantage with regard to quality of life in comparison with the general population.

No abstract

This study addressed self-perception of disability and the belief that others perceive one to have a disability. Factors from the medical and social models of disability were tested to determine if social factors still play a role in such perceptions when controlling for medical factors. Cross-sectional data from the 1994-1995 National Health Interview Study on Disability (NHIS-D) provided a stratified random sample of 25,805 noninstitutionalized adults. Logistic regression models were used to demonstrate that even controlling for medical factors (e.g., particular disabling conditions and restrictions in activities of daily living), social and vocational factors were significant predictors of disability perception. Ramifications for the theoretical study of disability, social psychology, and disability policy are discussed.

Abstract. BACKGROUND:There has been a great migration of students with intellectual disability (ID) into the college world. The Higher Education Opportunities Act of 2008 (HEOA) has opened the door to postsecondary education to a previously untapped market of students. As a result, programs for students with intellectual disability have been developed around the country to support this historic systems change (Lee, 2009). Along with improved job prospects as one important measure of success, college participation also brings opportunity for personal and social development. OBJECTIVE: With seven years passing since the HEOA, it is prudent to assess outcomes for those students who are choosing to continue their education beyond high school. The National Core Indicators provide a unique opportunity to assess impact of higher education across life domains, historically used to determine developmental disability service system quality of life outcomes. Here, we discuss higher education and outcomes around employment, health, relationships and medications. METHODS: Students who had completed at least two semesters of college in Kentucky were surveyed about life outcomes using the National Core Indicators (NCI) Adult Consumer Survey (ACS). RESULTS: Findings on health, medications, employment, and relationships are reported. CONCLUSION: Participation in higher education can positively impact life outcomes across a variety of domains. This research represents a first step in utilizing a nationally recognized instrument that takes a holistic view of outcomes for adults with IDD to assess impact of participation in higher education. While the results are promising, further studies using larger samples are needed.

The landscape of diversity on higher education campuses has expanded as students with intellectual disability (ID) gain access to higher education through a variety of programs throughout the United States. The benefits and drawbacks of including students with ID in the college classroom and culture are becoming apparent, but more remains to be discovered as we look deeply in to the lived experience of postsecondary inclusion. The aim of this study was to investigate university faculty member perceptions about and experiences with the inclusion of students with ID in college classrooms. To accomplish this, the investigators examined the perceptions of faculty members at a regional 4-year university who had experience in postsecondary inclusion. We used an online survey to mine the benefits and challenges to faculty members and students enrolled in their courses, both with and without ID. Faculty perceptions are shared as well as implications for societal change.

The rehabilitation counseling profession, as an essential career, has been facing unforeseen and unprecedented complications as a result of the coronavirus-19 pandemic. As practitioners were required to begin completing their work virtually or using telehealth modalities, it became apparent that may be gaps in preparation for such a shift. It is as yet unknown what implication these changes have on employment rates of people with disabilities, in addition to other markers for independence (e.g., independent living, etc.). Implications of the sudden shift to virtual practice are especially of interest following the changes to the comprehensive system of personnel development legislated by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act reauthorization of 2014. Decreased educational requirements may lead vocational rehabilitation (VR) employees to navigate a national crisis without the essential knowledge domains required for qualified provider status. The current study asked VR personnel to indicate their comfort and preparedness in various areas, in light of the pandemic and virtual service provision ( n = 88). Items were assessed at three levels: Counselor, Agency, and Client. Taken together, the results indicate that the sample feels able to maintain evidence-based services, and that supervisors have been regularly available during this uncertain time. Implications for rehabilitation researchers, supervisors, and educators are discussed.

BACKGROUND: The impact of COVID-19 and other health pandemics disproportionately affects individuals with developmental disabilities (DD) across a multitude of life domains including health, work, and education. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to review some of the factors contributing to the unique impact of pandemics on individuals with DD. Not only are individuals with DD at a heightened risk of contracting a pandemic illness but are also more likely to receive inequitable care and thus the potential to experience more fatal outcomes if contracted. Challenges in receiving equitable services in times of a global crisis are observed in business and educational settings, as well. Many individuals with DD require individualized supports to meet learning and vocational needs. If the quality and continuity of those services are disrupted, individuals with DD risk termination from jobs or slowed progress in meeting educational goals. CONCLUSION: Strategies for addressing concerns related to the impact of a pandemic on different life domains for individuals with DD are discussed.