• Director, Institute on Community Integration
  • Director, Research & Training Center on Community Living
  • Director, MNLEND
Email
hewit005@umn.edu
Phone
+1 612-625-1098
Address
Institute On Community Integration
Masonic Inst For The Developing Brain [map]
2025 E River Pkwy
Room 2-323
Minneapolis, MN 55414-3604

Amy Hewitt, PhD has an extensive background and work history in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities and has worked in various positions over the past 30+ years to improve community inclusion and quality of life for children and adults with disabilities and their families. At the University of Minnesota, she is the director of the Institute on Community Integration. Dr. Hewitt directs several federal and state research, evaluation and demonstration projects in the area of community long-term services and supports for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including autism. She currently has research projects that focus on community living, autism, outcome measurement, direct support workforce development, person centered planning/thinking and positive behavior support. Dr. Hewitt has authored and co-authored numerous journal articles, curriculum, technical reports, and she co-authored books entitled, Staff Recruitment, Retention and Training and Critical Issues in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: Contemporary Research, Practice and Policy and a soon-to-be-published book called, Community for All: Community Living and Participation for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Dr. Hewitt is on the editorial board of Inclusion and an associate editor of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, both journals of the AAIDD. She is a past president of the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) and is the vice president of the board of directors for the Association of University Centers on Disabilities, and a past board member of Arc Minnesota. Dr. Hewitt earned a BS in political science and psychology at Indiana University; a Master's degree in social work at Indiana University; and a PhD in social work at the University of Minnesota.

Projects

Project

NY OPWDD Direct Support Workforce Investments Evaluation

ICI is conducting formative and summative evaluations of several DSP Workforce development program initiatives funded by OPWDD. Formative evaluation will track and report on program implementation …

Project

Developmental Disabilities Rotation for Pediatricians

Coordinates several components of the Developmental Disabilities Rotation required of all pediatric residents in the University of Minnesota Medical School, acquainting them with the design and …

Project

MN Act Early Ambassador

Develops and expands on the Institute's Act Early work in culturally and linguistically diverse communities. Act Early is building a national network of agencies, organizations, and professionals …

Project

DirectCourse

Offers a suite of competency-based, online curricula for professionals providing services to people with intellectual, developmental, physical, and psychiatric disabilities, and to older adults....

Project

Minnesota DHS Systems Change and Capacity Building Through Research, Training, and Technical Assistance Projects

Conducts research, training and technical assistance activities that enhance Minnesota's capacity to support community living for individuals with disabilities and/or mental illness. Primary areas …

Project

Minnesota Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network (MN-ADDM)

Participates in a national network that increases knowledge about the population of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities in the U.S., comparing how …

Project

New York Direct Support Professional (DSP) Credentialing Program Implementation Study [Archived]

Gauged the workforce development issues for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) in the state of New York through multi-method analysis. The 2014 New York legislative assembly requested that a …

Project

MN Act Early Project

Develops and expands on the MN Help Me Grow and the Institute's Act Early work in culturally and linguistically diverse communities. Act Early helps build a national network of agencies, organizati…

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

Validity and Source Reliability of Selected Background Section Items of the NCI Adult Consumer Survey (NCI-ACS) Across Data Sources and States [Archived]

Evaluated the reliability and validity of the Background section of the National Core Indicators Adult Consumer Survey (NCI-ACS) in three states to use these variables in analyses and reporting 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

ICI Engaged Department Grant Program [Archived]

Creates an infrastructure to grow and develop ongoing community engagement, and to facilitate new initiatives and promote engaged learning on community based action research. In doing so, ICI …

Project

Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training Community Living and Participation (ARRT)

Trains one or two post-doctoral participants each year, offering them a program that is rich in research training and experience that is focused on community living and participation of persons …

Project

Art for All: The Stephanie Evelo Program for Art Inclusion

The Stephanie Evelo Program for Art Inclusion at the Institute on Community Integration, University of Minnesota, connects artists with disabilities with organizations throughout the Twin Cities …

Project

Research and Training Center on Community Living (RTC-CL)

Conducts a wide range of research, training, and technical assistance and dissemination projects related to community supports under its center grant and related project funding. The RTC-CL is …

Project

Reinventing Quality: A Biennial Conference on Person-Centered Supports

Showcases best practices in person-centered supports from across the nation. This conference is held every two years.

Project

Minnesota Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities Program (MNLEND)

Prepares future leaders who will serve children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs), other neurodevelopmental and related disabilities (NDDs), and their families in healthcare, education, human …

Project

Strengthening the Direct Care Workforce: A Technical Assistance and Capacity Building Initiative

The National Council on Aging, Inc., has established a technical assistance center to accelerate state systems changes to improve the recruitment, development, and retention of the HCBS direct …
Project

Creating Inclusive 4H Youth Development Through Workforce Training

This project developed a replicable model to transform Minnesota 4H clubs to be fully inclusive of youth of color with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) by expanding the knowledge …

Project

TeleOutreach Center

The TeleOutreach Center at the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain brings together researchers, clinical pediatric providers, and developmental specialists to use technology to understand …

Project

Minnesota Direct Support Workforce Project

Conducted statewide surveys of direct support workers and their employing organizations in Minnesota to better understand wages, benefits, size, and scope of the direct support workforce. The direct support workforce is one of the highest-demand and anticipated growth sectors in the U.S. and Minnesota. Expansion of this workforce is impossible without significant improvements in worker recruitment, on-boarding, development, and retention. These challenges impact individuals, families, and community providers who are finding it increasingly difficult to find and keep high quality employees. Meeting the promises of the Minnesota Olmstead Act is directly related to being able to provide adequate support in the community, and direct support workers are the ones that provide this support.

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

Direct Support Workforce Solutions

Direct Support Workforce Solutions is a national consulting group addressing the workforce needs of organizations providing community-based supports for individuals with disabilities. Drawing on …

Project

Minnesota Employment, Training, and Technical Assistance Project (MN TAP) [Archived]

Funded by the Minnesota Department of Human Services, this project aimed to improve employment outcomes for people with disabilities. As part of the project, the Institute for Community Inclusion …

Project

Economic Empowerment for People with Disabilities in Kenya

This project increased the capacity of Kenyan business owners with disabilities to do business with the United States and improved the business environment and climate for people with disabilities …

Products

Maryland Intentional Overtime and Credentialing Programs Comprehensive Evaluation

Effective support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities relies on the presence of competent, qualified, and dedicated direct support staff. In Maryland, several provider …

Published: 2023

Introduction to the Special Issue: Understanding the Direct Support Workforce in the United States

This special issue on the direct support workforce highlights the critical role of the direct support workforce in the quality of life of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities ( …

Published: 06/01/2020

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

Characteristics of Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder who use Residential Services and Supports Through Adult Developmental Disability Services in the United States

Background: Many children and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) need services and support across their lifespans. Currently many residential and community living supports are delivered …

Published: 2016

Partnerships for Success - Curricula for Supervisors, Managers, and Administrative Staff: Removing the Revolving Door - Strategies to Address Recruitment and Retention Challenges

A curriculum targeting frontline supervisors and managers regarding the use of effective recruitment, retention, and training strategies. Includes Facilitator Guide and Learner Guide.

Published: 2001

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

The Direct Support Workforce and COVID-19 National Survey Report 2020

The Institute on Community Integration and the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals collaborated to lift up the voice of the direct support workforce. The aim of this study was to …

Published: 2021-03-17

Find, Choose and Keep Great DSPs

A pair of easy-to-use toolkits helping families and people with disabilities find quality, caring, and committed Direct Support Professionals (DSPs). There are two different versions of the tookit …

Published: 2006

Long-Term Services and Supports

People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) often rely on long-term services and supports (LTSS) to live and work in the community or with their families. As policy reforms …

Published: 2015

2018 New York State Workforce Credentialing

Introduction: Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) are vital supports for people with IDD. Five competency-based credentialing programs, designed to teach the skills, knowledge, and attitudes …

Published: 2019

Policy Research Brief: A National Review of Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders

A brief reporting findings of a study that gathered data in 2009-2010 about how people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are being served across states in Home and Community Based Services ( …

Published: December 2011

Partnerships for Success - Curricula for Supervisors, Managers, and Administrative Staff: The Peer Empowerment Program (PEP): A Complete Toolkit for Planning and Implementing Mentoring Programs Within Community-Based Human Services Organizations

A planning guide and curriculum for supervisors and agency staff focusing on socialization and skill development for all employees. Includes Program Coordinator Guide, Facilitator Guide, and …

Published: 2001

Frontline Initiative: DSPs and Technology

A newsletter issue encouraging Direct Support Professionals to think about how to use technology to more effectively support individuals with disabilities.

Published: 2011

Frontline Initiative: Employment Supports

A newsletter issue highlighting the roles Direct Support Professionals play in supporting people with disabilities to find and keep satisfying employment.

Published: 2010

Frontline Initiative: State Chapter Development

A newsletter issue explaining how Direct Support Professionals can benefit from their NADSP state chapter - and how they can start their own.

Published: 2009

Frontline Initiative: Spirituality

A newsletter issue for Direct Support Professionals offering various perspectives on spirituality within the framework of NADSP's Code of Ethics and providing training materials to more effectively…

Published: 2009

Frontline Initiative: DSP Recognition

A newsletter issue highlighting the recognition of the work of Direct Support Professionals (DSPs), including examples of ways in which agencies recognize DSPs, the role of credentialing in …

Published: 2008

Frontline Initiative: Credentialing

A newsletter issue explaining how credentialing Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) can heighten professionalism among DSPs and improve public perceptions of their work.

Published: 2007

Frontline Initiative: Workforce Development

A newsletter issue containing examples of efforts across the country to help community human service agencies, individuals, and family employers find, train, and keep high quality DSPs (also known …

Published: 2006

Frontline Initiative: DSP Perspectives

A newsletter issue for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) offering various DSP perspectives on effectively supporting individuals with disabilities.

Published: 2006

Frontline Initiative: Supporting and Networking with Families

A newsletter issue for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) focusing on how they can effectively work closely with families in order to create the highest quality of life possible for people with …

Published: 2005

Frontline Initiative: Aging

A newsletter issue for Direct Support Professionals offering various perspectives on effectively supporting individuals with disabilities who are getting older.

Published: 2004

Frontline Initiative: Documentation

A newsletter issue addressing the documentation process for Direct Support Professionals, including writing daily notes about how they are supporting an individual with disabilities, charting …

Published: 2004

Frontline Initiative: Coping with Disaster

A newsletter issue for Direct Support Professionals offering various perspectives on effectively supporting individuals with disabilities as they cope with disaster and its aftermath.

Published: 2003

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

Frontline Initiative: Credentialing

A newsletter issue for Direct Support Professionals offering various perspectives on effectively supporting individuals with disabilities by gaining the credentials to do so.

Published: Spring 2000

Frontline Initiative: Diversity

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

Published: Winter 2000

Frontline Initiative: Tribute to John F. Kennedy, Jr.

A newsletter issue for Direct Support Professionals offering a tribute to John F. Kennedy, Jr. (1960-1999), a great advocate for individuals with disabilities.

Published: Fall 1999

Frontline Initiative: Complex Needs

A newsletter issue for Direct Support Professionals offering various perspectives on effectively supporting individuals with disabilities with complex needs.

Published: Summer 1999

Frontline Initiative: Self-Determination

A newsletter issue for Direct Support Professionals offering various perspectives on effectively supporting individuals with disabilities as they decide for themselves how to spend their lives.

Published: Spring 1999

Frontline Initiative: International Issue

A newsletter issue for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) showing how DSPs in other countries effectively support individuals with disabilities.

Published: Winter 1999

Frontline Initiative: Professionalism

A newsletter issue for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) offering various perspectives on effectively supporting individuals with disabilities by becoming more professional in their work habits …

Published: Fall 1998

Frontline Initiative: Stress and Burnout

A newsletter issue for Direct Support Professionals showing how they can cope with stress while still effectively supporting individuals with disabilities.

Published: Summer 1998

Frontline Initiative: Communication

A newsletter issue for Direct Support Professionals offering various perspectives on effectively supporting individuals with disabilities by communicating better with them.

Published: Spring 1998

Frontline Initiative: Change

A newsletter issue for Direct Support Professionals offering various perspectives on effectively supporting individuals with disabilities as they cope with change.

Published: Winter 1998

Frontline Initiative: Training

A newsletter issue for Direct Support Professionals showing how training can help them more effectively support individuals with disabilities.

Published: Spring 1997

Frontline Initiative: Relationships

A newsletter issue for Direct Support Professionals showing how building relationships can help them more effectively support individuals with disabilities.

Published: Winter 1997

Frontline Initiative: Premier Issue

A newsletter issue for Direct Support Professionals offering various perspectives on effectively supporting individuals through this and future issues of the series.

Published: Fall 1996

National Frontline Supervisor Competencies

A nationally validated set of 11 competency areas, known as the National Frontline Supervisor Competencies, guiding the work of frontline supervisors in the direct support workforce.

Published: April 2013

Frontline Supervisor Structured Behavioral Interview Questions

A set of behavioral and situational interview questions gauging the knowledge of external frontline supervisor candidates about the 11 competencies identified in the National Frontline Supervisor …

Published: April 2013

Frontline Supervisor Assessment

A test helping frontline supervisors and frontline supervisor candidates to evaluate their current performance level and create a self-development plan. Known as the Frontline Supervisor Assessment…

Published: April 2013

A Report on Early Intervention Services for Minnesota's Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

A report summarizing the activities and findings of a project funded by the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS), and conducted by the University of Minnesota's Research and Training Center...

Published: 2012

Staff Recruitment, Retention, & Training Strategies for Community Human Services Organizations

A 15-chapter textbook and how-to-guide helping organizations to select and implement strategies that address the challenges of recruiting, retaining, and training direct support professionals.Published: 2012

Minneapolis Somali Autism Spectrum Disorder Prevalence Project: Community Report 2013

A report of the findings from the study of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) prevalence among Somali and non-Somali children in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Also available, in English and Somali, is a fact...

Published: December 2013

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 the ADA and People with Intellectual, Developmental, and Other Disabilities

A newsletter issue marking the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). In this Impact are articles by individuals with disabilities, families, advocates, service providers...

Published: Winter 2015

LEND Brief: ASD and Culture

An issue providing information about how diverse communities view, understand, and experience Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental disabilities. A growing body of research …

Published: Spring 2015

Policy Research Brief: Implementation of Consumer-Directed Services for Persons With Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities - A National Study

A brief summarizing the results of a national study on the status of consumer-directed services for persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities. The study was conducted at the Universit…

Published: January 2009

Workforce: Goals for Research and Innovation

Across the United States, there is growing demand for a competent and stable workforce able to effectively support the health and community lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental …

Published: 2015

Impact: Feature Issue on Person-Centered Positive Supports and People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

An issue in the newly-redesigned Impact series that shares articles from around the country describing how person-centered positive supports use evidence-based practices in the service of the …

Published: Summer 2016

Final Report: National Training Institute for Frontline Supervisors

A report describing a project that refined, tested, and delivered a "Train-the-Trainer" model to the National Training Institute for Frontline Supervisors. The project also provided a distributed...

Published: 2007

National Validation Study of Competencies For Frontline Supervisors and Direct Support Professionals

A report examining organizational workforce outcomes; characteristics of and differences between managers, Frontline Supervisors (FLS) and Direct Support Professionals (DSPs); and workplace...

Published: 2007

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

You Know That it's Got to be Dedication That I am Still Here: The Experiences of Direct Support Professionals During Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and Aftermath

A report describing the experiences of Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) who worked in New Orleans between August 2005 and May 2006 - before, during, and after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. In …

Published: 2007

DirectCourse

Offers a suite of competency-based, online curricula for professionals providing services to people with intellectual, developmental, physical, and psychiatric disabilities, and to older adults. …

Published: 2004

Higher Ground: The Dedication of Direct Support Professionals During and After Hurricanes Katrina and Rita (Brief)

A brief summarizing the report, You Know that it's Got to be Dedication that I am Still Here: The Experiences of Direct Support Professionals During Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and the Aftermath …

Published: 2007

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

Policy Research Brief: State of the States in Self-Direction for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (2015)

A brief describing how self-directed long-term services and supports (LTSS) are currently implemented in the United States. Self-direction provides individuals with intellectual and/or...

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

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

Impact: Feature Issue on the Direct Support Workforce and People with Intellectual, Developmental, and Other Disabilities

An issue in the Impact series that discusses the Direct Support workforce and people with intellectual, developmental, and other disabilities. In the past 40 years, the U.S. has experienced a...

Published: Winter/Spring 2018

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

National Core Indicators Staff Stability Survey Data

Introduction: The authors used NCI Staff Stability data from over 1400 providers in 20 states and Washington, DC collected in 2016 to look at organizational and state-level predictors of 1) DSP …

Published: 2019

Early Identification of Autism Spectrum Disorder Among Children Aged 4 Years: Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 11 sites, United States, 2018

Description of System: The Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network is an active surveillance program that estimates ASD prevalence and monitors timing of ASD identification among …

Published: 2021

Incentives, Wages, and Retention Among Direct Support Professionals: National Core Indicators Staff Stability Survey

Direct support professionals (DSPs) provide a range of supports in a variety of settings to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) who count on these supports to live, work, …

Published: 4/15/2022

Community Living and Participation for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Published by the American Association Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD), this book is an exploration of how to create the ideal conditions to facilitate community living and …

Published: 2019

Competency-Based Training and Worker Turnover in Community Supports for People With IDD: Results From a Group Randomized Controlled Study

Turnover among direct support professionals (DSPs) in community support settings for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) has been regarded as a challenge since …

Published: 2015

Characteristics of Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder who use Residential Services and Supports Through Adult Developmental Disability Services in the United States

Background: Many children and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) need services and support across their lifespans. Currently many residential and community living supports are delivered …

Published: 2017

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

Conclusion to the Special Issue: Understanding the Direct Support Workforce in the United States

This special issue sheds light on the needs of the direct support professionals (DSPs), as well the possibilities when positive practices are implemented. A commitment to quality services and …

Published: 2020

Impact: 35th Anniversary Edition

Impact celebrates 35 years as a research-to-practice guide for the field of intellectual, developmental, and other disabilities. This issue in the Impact series features Amy Hewitt, director of …

Published: Spring 2023

Community Living and Participation: Embracing the Complexity and Forging Forward

This special issue of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) provides summary reviews of and expert commentaries on what is known, what points of debate exist, and what remains unknown …

Published: 2013

Psychotropic medication use for adults with autism spectrum disorder who receive services and supports through adult developmental disability services in the United States

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have higher rates of co-occurring diagnoses and use of psychotropic medication prescriptions than people with other developmental disabilities. Few …

Published: 2019-01-31

Fiscal stewardship, choice, and control: The context of self-directed services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in the United States

Self-directed home and community based services (HCBS) waiver services and supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) have become a viable and widely used method of …

Published: 2019-04-01

Involvement of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the Child Protection System

The present study provides information about children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who are involved in the child protection system in a large, Midwestern state. Findings revealed that …

Published: 2014

Economic and Programmatic Indicators Explain Vocational Rehabilitation Employment Rates of Persons With Cognitive Disabilities

This national study investigated state economic health and state Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) services for persons with cognitive disabilities. Using 2004 to 2010 extant data from the Rehabilitat…

Published: 2013

Presidential Address, 2014 Embracing complexity: Community inclusion, participation, and citizenship

A couple of years ago, Mike Wehmeyer set a new precedent by issuing the presidential address at the beginning of his term, rather than at the end. So, thank you Mike for establishing this tradition…

Published: 2014

Minnesota Direct Support Workforce 2018 Final Report

The final report of results from a statewide survey of direct support organizations in Minnesota to better understand wages, benefits, size, and scope of the direct support workforce.

Published: 06/23/2019

Direct support workforce supporting individuals with IDD: Current wages, benefits, and stability

Direct support professionals (DSPs) and frontline supervisors (FLSs) play an integral role in the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and are often the individual…

Published: 2014

Community Living

In the United States, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are granted certain assurances and protections related to community living through public laws and related …

Published: 2013

Predictors of Annual and Early Separations Among Direct Support Professionals: National Core Indicators Staff Stability Survey 

Direct support professionals (DSPs) provide a broad range of supports in a variety of settings to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) that enables people to live, work, …

Published: 9/1/2021

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

Direct Support Worker Survey 2019 Final Report

The final report from a statewide survey of direct support workers in Minnesota to better understand wages, benefits, size, and scope of the direct support workforce.

Published: 6/23/2019

State of the Science Conference 2022

The "2022 State of the Science Conference on Community Living: Engaging persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities from underserved racial, ethnic, linguistic, and cultural groups in …

Published: September 2022

Prevalence and Characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder Among Children Aged 8 Years: Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 11 Sites, United States, 2018

Description of System: The Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network conducts active surveillance of ASD. This report focuses on the prevalence and characteristics of ASD …

Published: 2021

The Effects of a Competency-based Training Intervention for Direct Support Professionals on Site-level Outcomes, Learner Outcomes, and Service Recipient Outcomes

Introduction: This study, informed by the literature, tested this assumption that competency-based training aimed to help to reduce direct support professional (DSP) turnover in residential and …

Published: 2019

New York State Workforce Credentialing Programs Comparative Analyses

These comparative analyses of existing organizational direct support professional and frontline supervisor credentialing programs summarize seven programs in New York. The goals of these programs …

Published: 2021

Direct Support Professionals: Diversity, Disparities, and Deepening Crisis

In the United States, direct support professionals (DSPs) support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) so they can live in the community. Thirty years of deinstitutionaliza…

Published: 6/1/2024

Introduction to the Special Issue: National Goals 2015

In August 2015, the Research and Training Center on Community Living at the University of Minnesota, the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Developmental Disabilities and Health at the …

Published: 2015

Toward 2025: Promoting Valued Outcomes for People With IDD Through National Goals 2015

This special issue of Inclusion provided details on outcomes of the National Goals 2015 Conference, held August 2015. The individual articles reflected on knowledge to date, discussed points of …

Published: 2015

Long-Term Supports and Services for People with IDD: Research, Practice and Policy Implications

Key Findings: In the United States family members are the primary providers of long-term services and supports (LTSS) for people with IDD. More than three of every four people with IDD of all ages …

Published: 2016

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Prevalence in Somali and Non-Somali children

The current study presents results from an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) public health surveillance project conducted in Minneapolis. The study was designed to compare ASD prevalence in Somali …

Published: 2016

Families of Individuals With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: Policy, Funding, Services, and Experiences

Families are critical in the provision of lifelong support to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Today, more people with IDD receive long-term services and supports…

Published: 2013-10-01

Prevalence of autism spectrum disorder among children aged 8 years: Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 11 sites, United States, 2016

Description of System: The Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network is an active surveillance program that provides estimates of the prevalence of ASD among children aged 8 …

Published: 2020-03-27

Employment in the Community for People with and without Autism: A Comparative Analysis

Employment in the community continues to be a major barrier for many people with disabilities in the United States. Analyzing the 2008–09 National Core Indicators Adult Consumer Survey, this study …

Published: 2016

Policy Forum: The Direct Support Workforce and COVID-19: Low Wages and Racial Disparities

This Policy Forum addresses low wages and racial disparities in the direct support workforce, revealed in a survey of approximately 9,000 DSPs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Published: 6/17/2021

Phenotypic Characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder in a Diverse Sample of Somali and Other Children

The potential for culture to impact diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is high, yet remains largely unstudied. This study examined differences across racial/ethnic groups in ASD symptoms, …

Published: 07/08/2017

Policy Forum: Predictors of Annual Turnover Among Direct Support Professionals

This Policy Forum addresses predictors of annual turnover among direct support professionals, using data from the National Core Indicators (NCI) Staff Stability Survey.

Published: 10/07/2021

The Direct Support Workforce and COVID-19 National Report: Six-Month Follow-up

Reports on the findings of a survey—conducted by ICI in partnership with the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals—of approximately 9,000 direct support professionals (DSPs) from …

Published: 2021-04-02

Topics

  • Direct support workforce
    • Supervision and mentoring
    • Human resources and management
    • Retention and recruitment
    • Workforce development strategies
    • Training
  • Education practices (K12 and transition)
    • Transition planning
  • Community life
    • Aging and retirement
    • Civil rights
    • Community supports and services
    • Person-centered planning and practices
    • Positive behavior support
    • Quality outcomes
  • Specific life stage
    • Adults
    • Seniors
  • Culture and diversity
    • Cultural competence
    • Immigrants
    • International initiatives
  • Housing and residential services
    • Community group residential
    • Consumer/self-directed services
    • Family supports/in-home services
    • Institutions and deinstitutionalization
    • Medicaid services (residential)
  • Health and safety
    • Healthcare
  • Specific disability
    • Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
    • Intellectual/developmental disability (IDD)
    • Mental health and/or chemical dependency

Activities

  • Research
  • Training and professional development
  • Technical assistance
  • Evaluation
  • Dissemination
  • Outreach