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Integrating supports in assessment and planning
James R Thompson1, Carolyn Hughes, Robert L Schalock
1Department of Special Education, Illinois State University, Mail Code 5910, Normal, IL 61790-5910, USA.
Mental Retardation
|September 7, 2002
Summary
This study introduces a systematic method and a new scale to assess support needs for individuals with intellectual disability and related developmental disabilities, improving personalized care strategies.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Disabilities Research
- Intellectual Disability Assessment
- Support Needs Measurement
Background:
- Existing approaches to supporting individuals with intellectual disability and related developmental disabilities often lack systematic measurement of individual needs.
- Accurate assessment of support requirements is crucial for effective intervention and personalized care planning.
- There is a need for validated instruments to quantify support needs across various life domains.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a systematic approach for identifying and addressing the support needs of persons with intellectual disability and related developmental disabilities.
- To describe the development and validation of a new scale designed to measure individual differences in support needs.
- To discuss critical issues and practical challenges in measuring and meeting the support needs of this population.
Main Methods:
- Literature review to establish a typology of support areas.
- Development of a new scale for measuring support needs.
- Q-sort methodology for scale validation and a pilot field test.
Main Results:
- A comprehensive typology of support areas relevant to individuals with intellectual disability and related developmental disabilities was established.
- A novel scale was developed and validated through Q-sort methodology and pilot testing, demonstrating its utility in measuring individual support needs.
- The study identified key challenges and critical issues in the practical application of support needs assessment.
Conclusions:
- The developed systematic approach and measurement scale provide a valuable tool for professionals to better understand and address the diverse support needs of individuals with intellectual disability and related developmental disabilities.
- The findings highlight the importance of individualized assessment in optimizing support services and improving outcomes for this population.
- Further research and refinement of support needs measurement tools are warranted to enhance clinical practice and policy development.