Examining Choice and Control for People With IDD Over Time

Area of Science:

• Social Sciences
• Disability Studies
• Public Health

Background:

• Choice-making is crucial for adult development and autonomy in a democratic society.
• Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) face unique barriers to choice-making, including guardianship and non-person-centered supports.
• Limited capacity to express desires can further diminish choice-making opportunities for persons with IDD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze changes in choice-making over time among adult service users with IDD in Pennsylvania.
• To investigate trends in both everyday choice-making and support-related choice-making.
• To identify factors influencing the evolution of choice-making as an indicator of rights and inclusion for persons with IDD.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of Independent Monitoring for Quality (IM4Q) data from 9,195 and 9,817 adult service users with IDD.
• Utilized repeated measures mixed regression to examine choice over time.
• Controlled for variables including age, support needs, residence type, and community type across three data waves (2013, 2016, 2019).

Main Results:

• Significant increases in everyday choice-making were observed among IDD service users in Pennsylvania.
• No significant increase was found in support-related choice-making during the study period.
• The study provides novel insights into the temporal dynamics of choice-making for individuals with IDD.

Conclusions:

• While everyday choices have improved, the lack of progress in support-related choices indicates ongoing challenges for persons with IDD.
• This research underscores the importance of continued efforts to enhance autonomy and inclusion for individuals with IDD.
• Findings highlight the need for person-centered approaches in services to foster greater self-determination.