Research Study of New HCBS Outcome Measures Launched: Participants Needed!

Getting services at home or in the community is important for people with disabilities. Providers strive to provide the best services possible to the people they serve. To improve services, we need to know how well they are working for the people who receive them. The Research and Training Center on HCBS Outcome Measurement (RTC-OM) at the Institute on Community Integration has developed measures that include questions about how well Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) are helping people with a variety of disabilities live the lives they want.

We need the help of people with disabilities to make sure the measures provide valuable information and their results can be used to improve services. In this research study, interviewers will meet over videoconference (Zoom) with people with disabilities or in person, to ask questions about their services and important areas of their lives (e.g., social connectedness; meaningful activities). Each person taking part will be interviewed at three separate times over a year period. Everyone interviewed will receive a $10 gift card. We are recruiting participants for interviews right now!

To take part, a person must:

• Be 18 years of age or older.
• Have a disability and receive services or supports for their disability.
• Provide consent or assent (if not own legal guardian) for participation in the research study.
• Be willing to take part in a 60-90 minute interview. If you think some of the people you support might be interested or have questions about this work, please contact: Matt Roberts (rtcom@umn.edu).

This research study is overseen by co-directors of the Research and Training Center on HCBS Outcome Measurement, Dr. Brian Abery (abery001@umn.edu) and Dr. Renáta Tichá (tich0018@umn.edu) at the University of Minnesota Institute on Community Integration.