This article examines everyday choices made by 8,892 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and support-related choices made by 6,179 adults with IDD receiving services from 19 state developmental disabilities program agencies that participated in the 2008-2009 National Core Indicators Project. Controlling for physical and…

This study describes service users with Down syndrome (N = 1,199) and a comparative sample with intellectual and developmental disabilities but not Down syndrome (N = 11,182), drawn from National Core Indicator surveys of adult service users in 25 U.S. states. Individuals with Down syndrome were younger than were individuals without Down syndrome.…

The authors compare the prevalence of obesity for National Core Indicators (NCI) survey participants with intellectual disability and the general U.S. adult population. In general, adults with intellectual disability did not differ from the general population in prevalence of obesity. For obesity and overweight combined, prevalence was lower for…

Self-reported satisfaction and sense of well-being were assessed in a sample of 1,885 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities receiving Medicaid Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) and Intermediate Care Facility (ICF/MR) services in 6 states. Questions dealt with such topics as loneliness, feeling afraid at home and in one's…

Choice in everyday decisions and in support-related decisions was addressed among 2,398 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities receiving Medicaid Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) and Intermediate Care Facility (ICF/MR) services and living in nonfamily settings in six states. Everyday choice in daily life and in…

A study investigated the use of different interventions for 151 individuals with mental retardation in residential care: Individualized Habilitation Plan objectives concerning challenging behavior, one-to-one crisis intervention in the preceding 30 days, and behavior management professional services in the preceding 6 months. Externalized…

This longitudinal study examined the effectiveness of intervention for behavioral objectives in Individualized Habilitation Plans of 130 adults with mental retardation in residential settings. Little evidence of effective intervention was found using three indicators: discontinuation of the behavior objective, change in challenging behavior, and…

This national study of direct-care staff members working in 101 small community homes for people with mental retardation found an annual staff turnover rate of 57 percent and staff plans to remain in the care-provider position for an average of 5.4 years. Variables associated with both staff turnover rate and intended length of stay are…

Discusses the growing waiting lists for residential services for persons with developmental disabilities due to the increase of individuals needing services, increased longevity, low service creation in the past, and because services have become more compatible with what people want. Recommendations for reducing waiting lists are provided. (CR)

Describes the successful outcomes of a behavioral support and crisis-response demonstration project in Minnesota that was designed to prevent the institutionalization of individuals with developmental disabilities who displayed behavior problems. Results indicate the outreach support kept individuals out of institutions and did so cost…

This study provides longitudinal analysis of day program and work activities of 61 individuals leaving Minnesota state institutions and a comparison group of 71 people remaining institutionalized. Only 13% of movers experienced integrated employment. As a group, the people who remained institutionalized actually earned more money. (Author/CR)

The quality, number, and content of residential Individualized Habilitation Plans (IHP) objectives were evaluated for 155 adult institution and community residents. Over 90 percent of objectives were functional and age appropriate. Community residents had significantly more IHP objectives and also had objectives from a wider variety of content…

Adaptive and challenging behavior changes associated with movement from Minnesota's state institutions to community homes were examined in 148 participants with mental retardation. Adaptive behavior declined among residents who moved to community programs but was unchanged for persons who moved to Home and Community Based Services Waiver-Funded…

This article discusses the continuing trend of downsizing and closure of large state institutions for persons with mental retardation. Between 1987 and 2001, nine states closed all of their large state residential facilities, reducing the total national population of such facilities by 2,414 residents. A chart illustrates state reductions. (CR)

This article reports that in 2001, for the first time since its creation 20 years earlier, Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waiver programs for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities had Federal and state expenditures that exceeded those for Medicaid Intermediate Care Facilities for Persons with Mental…