• Research Associate
Email
lla@umn.edu
Phone
+1 612-626-7220
Address
Community Integration, Inst On
Masonic Inst For The Developing Brain [map]
2025 E River Pkwy
Rm 1-340
Minneapolis, MN 55414-3604

Dr. Lahti  Anderson has her Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Science at the University of Minnesota focusing on health disparities for individuals with ASD/IDD.  She also has an MPH in Community Health. Her professional expertise stems from work in the field as a county senior social worker coordinating supports for adults and children with ASD/IDD and as a program director for residential supports for this population. In these roles, she was able to see firsthand the challenges individuals with ASD/IDD and their families face in getting appropriate, quality health care. Her research experience has included analyses of large data sets such as the National Health Interview Survey along with population-specific data sets such as the National Core Indicators family surveys. Dr. Anderson also has experience in qualitative research methods that promote the inclusion of under-represented groups in research, such as photo narrative.

Projects

Project

RRTC for Family Support

Supported families through the following activities: Produced data briefs, from the National Core Indicator Family Survey Created online courses for Aging and Disability Resource Center staff on …

Project

Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on HCBS Outcome Measurement (RTC-OM)

Evaluates measures of the quality of life experienced by people with disabilities as a result of receiving services and supports. Past measures tended to focus on money spent on services for …

Project

Supporting the Full Inclusion of People with Disabilities in Kisangani

This project collaborated with the Democratic Republic of the Congo's Ministry of Social Affairs, Humanitarian Action & National Solidarity to work with local and regional government staff and …

Project

Charting the LifeCourse Parent Training

This project evaluates the Charting the LifeCourse Parent Training. The evaluation plan includes both formative and summative evaluation activities. Formative activities ensure that the training …

Project

Training for Direct Support Workers Employed in Self-Directed Programs

This project provided training for more than 1,000 direct support workers (DSWs). The purpose of the training was to provide information on the following topics: 1) disability rights movement; 2) …

Project

Lewin HCBS Special Projects

Assists the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in accelerating its understanding of the challenges that states face related to the HCBS direct service workforce and with potential …
Project

Autism Intervention Research Network On Physical Health (AIR-P)

ICI investigators are part of a national research network formed to improve the physical health and well-being of children and adults with autism. The multidisciplinary team, called the Autism …

Project

COVID-19 Vaccine Access and Confidence Among People with Disabilities

This project facilitated COVID-19 vaccine conversations among people with disabilities, their families, and communities. The team identified barriers to vaccine accessibility, increased vaccine …

Products

Factors Associated With Meeting Physical Activity Guidelines by Adults With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Background: Many individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) have sedentary lifestyles. Aims: (a) compare adults with IDD with the general adult population on adherence to …

Published: 2019

FSRTC Research Brief 2: Caregiver Differences Across Race and Ethnicity

This brief examines caregivers’ self-reported mental, physical, or financial strain. The researchers analyzed data from the 2015 Caregiving in the U.S. survey. The purpose of this brief was to …

Published: Spring 2019

Direct Support Professionals and the COVID-19 Vaccine

This 11-minute webinar addresses COVID-19 vaccinations for direct support professionals. Topics include: The reasons why people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are more vulnerable …

Published: 2/24/2022

FSRTC Research Brief 7: Support Services for Adult SSI Recipients with IDD

A brief describing the characteristics and circumstances of adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD) who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and the families who …

Published: Summer 2018

In-Home and Residential Long-Term Supports and Services for Persons with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities: Status and Trends Through 2016

A report describing the status of, and trends in, long-term supports and services for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities in the U.S. on June 30, 2016. It is based on an annual …

Published: 2018

Research Brief 8: Employment Outcomes and Paid Leave for Caregivers of Children with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities

A brief examines a Family and Individual Needs for Disability Supports (FINDS) survey subsample of 388 caregivers of minor children with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD), ages...

Published: Fall 2018

Research Brief 9: Employment Outcomes and Paid Leave for Caregivers of Adults with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities

A brief examining a Family and Individual Needs for Disability Supports (FINDS) survey subsample of 807 caregivers of adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD), ages 18 and...

Published: Fall 2018

FSRTC Research Brief 8: Family Caregivers of Family Members with IDD Differ from Other Caregivers in the Kinds and Duration of Supports They Provide

A brief comparing caregiving experiences of family caregivers for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) with those of caregivers who responded to the Caregiving in the U.S. …

Published: Winter 2018

DD Data Brief: Characteristics of Aging Caregivers in the NHIS-D

A brief summarizing findings from the National Health Interview Survey Disability Supplement conducted by the U.S. Bureau of the Census, National Center on Health Statistics in 1994 and 1995. It …

Published: July 2006

DD Data Brief: Mothers with Disabilities - Characteristics and Outcomes: An Analysis From the 1994/1995 NHIS-D

A brief summarizing findings from the National Health Interview Survey conducted by the U.S. Bureau of the Census, National Center on Health Statistics in 1994 and 1995. In these years, 202,560 …

Published: December 2005

DD Data Brief: Health Insurance Coverage and Health Care Experiences of Persons with Disabilities in the NHIS-D

A brief describing the experiences with public and private health insurance coverage for people with functional limitations, people with IDD, and people who do not have IDD or functional limitation…

Published: May 2003

DD Data Brief: Children with Disabilities: Social Roles and Family Impacts

A brief using the 1994-1995 Child Disability Follow-Back Survey (DFS) of the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) to examine the characteristics of children between the ages of 6 and 17 who …

Published: August 2002

DD Data Brief: Functional Limitations of Adults in the U.S. Non-Institutionalized Population: NHIS-D Analysis

A brief comparing the demographic characteristics, health status, functional limitations, and perceived disability status for adults in three groups who had mental retardation and/or developmental …

Published: October 2001

DD Data Brief: Demographic Characteristics of Persons with MR/DD Living in Their Own Homes or With Family Members

A brief describing people with mental retardation and/or developmental disabilities (MR/ DD) living in the community in terms of demographic characteristics and economic status. Those characteristi…

Published: June 2001

DD Data Brief: Characteristics of and Service Use by Persons With MR/DD Living in Their Own Homes or With Family Members

A brief describing people with MR/DD living in the community in terms of basic demographic characteristics, functional and other limitations, residential services history, medical services received…

Published: April 2001

FSRTC Research Brief 1: Social Support and Family Resilience Ease the Stress of Parents of Children with Complex Special Health Care Needs

This brief examines the effects of three social determinants—community conditions, emotional support, and family resilience—on the mental and physical health of mothers of children with complex …

Published: Spring 2019

Partnerships for Success - Curricula for Supervisors, Managers, and Administrative Staff: The Power of Diversity: Supporting the Immigrant Workforce

A curriculum helping supervisors and other agency staff find, support, and retain immigrant workers. Includes Facilitator Guide and Learner Guide.

Published: 2001

Policy Research Brief: Most People with IDD Getting Long-term Supports Live with a Family Member

Most people with IDD, whether they get funded support or not, live with family members throughout their lives. This Policy Research Brief describes living arrangements for people with IDD, trends …

Published: October 2022

Frontline Initiative: Legislative Advocacy

A newsletter issue for Direct Support Professionals offering various perspectives on effectively supporting individuals with disabilities by advocating for them and their issues through the …

Published: 2002

Frontline Initiative: Changing Roles

A newsletter issue for Direct Support Professionals offering various perspectives on effectively supporting individuals with disabilities as they move into their communities, gain control of their …

Published: 2002

Frontline Initiative: Ethics

A newsletter issue for Direct Support Professionals offering various perspectives on effectively - and ethically - supporting individuals with disabilities.

Published: 2001

Frontline Initiative: Teamwork

A newsletter issue for Direct Support Professionals offering various perspectives on effectively supporting individuals with disabilities through teamwork by interacting with their co-workers, …

Published: 2001

FINDS [2010] National Survey

A report covering the national Internet survey that The Arc of the United States conducted in 2010 that aimed to capture the perspectives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities …

Published: 2011

Supporting Individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities and their Families: Status and Trends Through 2012

A technical report describing results from a survey of state intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) agencies for FY 2012 on the status and trends of long-term supports and services for …

Published: 2014

Impact: Feature Issue on Supporting Wellness for Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

A newsletter issue on supporting wellness for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Wellness is a rapidly growing area of focus for people across the U.S. The popularity of …

Published: Winter 2016

Policy Research Brief: The Employment Impacts of Being a Family Caregiver

Family members play essential roles in the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including providing medical, emotional, financial, and day-to-day support. Family …

Published: September 2023

Supporting Individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities and their Families: Status and Trends through 2014

A report summarizing statistics that were gathered and analyzed for the Supporting Individuals and Families Information Systems Project (FISP). It includes information about the numbers of, and …

Published: 2016

Supporting Individuals and Families Information Systems Project (FISP) Website

A website presenting documents and resources from this project that gathers data to help federal and state agencies understand the current status and emerging trends in supporting families and...

Published: 2012

In-Home and Residential Long-Term Supports and Services for Persons with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities: Status and Trends through 2014

A report describing the status of, and trends in, long-term supports and services for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities in the U.S. on June 30, 2014. It is based on an annual …

Published: 2017

Partnerships in Wellness

A health promotion curriculum that addresses the unique learning needs of adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD) who require ongoing daily supports, have limited readings...

Published: 2017

In-Home and Residential Long-Term Supports and Services for Persons with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities: Status and Trends Through 2015

A report describing the status of, and trends in, long-term supports and services for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities in the U.S. on June 30, 2015. It is based on an annual...

Published: 2017

Unmet needs and quality of support for parents of transition aged youth: Differences by disability group, age and household income

This study examined access to and quality of supports for families of adolescents with disabilities.Methodology: An online survey was completed by family members of transition-aged young adults …

Published: 2013-12-27

Family & Individual Needs for Disability Support (FINDS) Community Report 2017

A report presenting the results of the Family & Individual Needs for Disability Supports (FINDS) survey, launched in 2017 by ICI's Research and Training Center on Community Living in collaboration …

Published: 2018

Family and Individual Needs for Disability Supports Community Report 2023

The Family and Individual Needs for Disability Supports survey (FINDS) surveys family members of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities about their experiences providing supports …

Published: 2023

Long-term Supports and Services for Persons with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities: Status and Trends Through 2019

Ever wonder how many people in the United States have intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD), how many of them get publicly funded supports from state IDD agencies, or where people …

Published: 2022

The Direct Support Workforce: An Examination of Direct Support Professionals and Frontline Supervisors During COVID-19

Direct support professionals (DSPs) and frontline supervisors (FLSs) have critical roles in home and community-based services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Low wages …

Published: 2023

The State of the Science of Health and Wellness for Adults With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Historically, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) have experienced health disparities related to several factors including: a lack of access to high quality medical care, …

Published: 2013

Direct Support Professional and Frontline Supervisor Perspectives on Work-Life in a Pandemic 

Direct support professionals (DSPs) and frontline supervisors (FLSs) play an invaluable role in delivering home and community-based services to people with intellectual and developmental disabiliti…

Published: 12/1/2022

Transition to Retirement: A Guide to Inclusive Practice: Adaptations for the Current U.S. Context

The Transition to Retirement (TTR) book/eBook and video (Stancliffe et al., 2013; hereafter the TTR manual ) is an evidence-based Australian manual describing how to successfully implement the TTR …

Published: September 2023

A systematic review of U.S. studies on the prevalence of intellectual or developmental disabilities since 2000

This systematic review examined 14 U.S. studies published since 2000 reporting prevalence estimates for intellectual disability (ID) or developmental disability (DD). Prevalence rates for children …

Published: 2019-10-01

Transition to Retirement: The Lived Experiences of Adults with Intellectual Disabilities

Background : Adults with intellectual disabilities are living longer and experiencing retirement. However, research about retirement experiences is limited. Method : This qualitative study used …

Published: 2023

Long-term supports and services for persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities: Status and trends through 2018

Ever wonder how many people in the United States have intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD), how many of them get publicly-funded supports from state IDD agencies, or where people …

Published: 2021

Policy Forum: Most People with IDD Getting Long-term Supports Live with a Family Member

This Policy Forum from November 1, 2022 discusses the recent Policy Research Brief titled, Most People with IDD Getting Long-term Supports Live with a Family Member . Slides from the presentation …

Published: 11/1/2022

Direct Support Professionals and COVID-19 Vaccination: A Comparison of Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Direct Support Professionals

Direct support professionals (DSPs) may be at increased risk of contracting COVID-19 due to the proximal nature of their work. In response to the pandemic a three-wave study was launched to …

Published: 2023

Physical Disability and Health Disparities

Individuals with ambulatory disabilities or mobility limitations comprise approximately 7% of the US population ages 5 and older. Persons with mobility limitations/physical disabilities are more …

Published: 2/12/2021

In-home and residential long-term supports and services for persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities: Status and trends through 2017

Ever wonder how many people in the United States have IDD or what proportion of them received federal- or state-funded supports? The 2020 report from the Residential Information Systems Project …

Published: 2020

Topics

  • Community life
    • Parenting and family relationships
  • Housing and residential services
    • Community group residential
    • Family supports/in-home services
    • Medicaid services (residential)
  • Health and safety
    • Healthcare
  • Specific disability
    • Intellectual/developmental disability (IDD)
    • Physical disability

Activities

  • Research
  • Technical assistance
  • Dissemination