Date of Award

8-2024

Degree Type

Creative Project

Degree Name

Master of Education (MEd)

Department

Special Education and Rehabilitation Counseling

Committee Chair(s)

Stephen Kwiatek

Committee

Stephen Kwiatek

Committee

Kimberly Snow

Committee

Kaitlin Bundock

Abstract

Background and Purpose

From the latter half of the 20th century to now, the United States has dramatically focused its efforts on increasing life longevity and quality of life for people with disabilities, including people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Federal legislation has taken steps to increase quality of life for people with IDD. Quality of life can be assessed through a variety of questionnaires, including the familial perspective of quality of life. Although quality of life can be assessed and it is supported by federal legislation, people with IDD broadly have yet to experience an enviable quality of life. Given that, the purpose of this study is to determine quality of life for families who have a student with an IDD located at a center-based school; specifically, the study inquires about satisfaction in relation to the family quality of life domain - disability related support.

Methods

Surveys were sent out to 225 families of children who attend a center-based school. The 9-item survey, “KSHS-Quality of Life-Disability Support,” The survey has been used to ask respondents to rate their satisfaction of support for their child inside and outside of school, and familial perceptions of importance of aspects of family quality of life in relation to their child with a severe and profound disability.

Results

I received 61 returned responses, which is an overall response rate of 27%. Results revealed that 88% of respondents identified as the mother of the child with a severe disability. There was positive satisfaction with special education service providers, and 18% were dissatisfied with support services outside of the school. The majority of respondents spent 10-25% of their income on special care for their child. 90.2% of respondents said that receiving disability support is “very important” to their family quality of life. The three major identified resource needs were : Division of Services for People with Disabilities, respite care, and communication support. Results and discussion considerations are outlined in further detail.

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