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Developmental Disabilities
Vision
Travis County will be a community where people with mental retardation
and other developmental disabilities and their families have a comprehensive
and flexible array of choices that support their ability to live and participate
in the community with all rights and opportunities afforded to all people.
Summary
Mental retardation and developmental disabilities impact persons in
all racial, ethnic, educational, social and economic groups. Mental retardation
and developmental disabilities are life-long conditions which require individualized
services, and modified environments and supports (e.g. crisis intervention,
respite, and adequate housing) to ensure a quality life. A diagnosis of
mental retardation is based upon the assessment of deficits in general
intellectual function, adaptive behavior limitations and developmental
delays which appear during the first 18 years of development. Developmental
disabilities include physical, mental, visual and hearing impairments.
Persons with mental retardation and developmental disabilities desire
opportunities to be full contributing members of society--to live, to love,
to work and to play. They share the dignity and worth innate in every human
being and each possesses unique abilities, preferences, needs and goals.
People with disabilities prefer when given the option, to live and receive
services and supports in their own homes, schools, workplaces and local
communities. It is important to increase the abundance of opportunities
and alternatives available to all members of our community, particularly
for those individuals who have historically been denied full participation
.
Preliminary work for this section of the plan included an identification
of critical conditions based upon a sampling of input from a variety of
community stakeholders. The needs identified were: community education
and awareness, employment opportunities and options, transportation, housing,
opportunities for participation in community social and recreational activities,
crisis intervention resources, meaningful activities when work is not an
option, respite options, child care, supports and resources for individuals
and their families, and health care.
It is important that an emphasis be placed on community awareness and
education. Acceptance of persons with mental retardation and developmental
disabilities has driven the planning process for this section of the Community
Plan. It is important to identify the strengths of people with mental retardation
and developmental disabilities and value their contribution in planning
for their options, supports and services. Collaborative efforts in service
planning and identifying "best practices" are essential in view
of potentially dwindling resources.
One guiding principle of service delivery has been to ensure a permanent
and flexible future's plan (permanency planning) for children with disabilities
by providing the necessary supports to their families. Other guiding principles
include the following. Advocacy and service coordination are necessary
elements to address the needs of persons with mental retardation and developmental
disabilities across their life span within our community. Early identification
and intervention, crisis services, respite and inclusive day care are necessary
supports for families in our community to enable them to care for their
children with disabilities. As children grow into adulthood, they need
opportunities to be included in meaningful activities, develop friendships
and relationships and engage in work that is adapted to their needs. As
adults, it is important for persons with MR/DD to have meaningful and valued
social relationships. Accessible transportation must be available; and
opportunities for a variety of residential options, including home ownership,
must be expanded. Throughout their life, receiving adequate health care
by professionals who understand their unique needs is essential. To participate
fully in our communities, it is necessary for persons with mental retardation
and developmental disabilities to have access to environments that are
modified and adaptive to unique abilities as well as technological support
for communication and other purposes. Finally, services and supports to
persons with MR/DD should be coordinated among all service providers with
whom they interact.
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Critical Conditions
- Persons with mental retardation comprise an estimated 2.5% to 3% of
the population. (The Arc, 1982; Fryers, 1993). Factors such as poverty,
poor nutrition and lack of adequate health care increase the prevalence
rate. Based on a statewide average prevalence rate of 2.73% and a estimated
population of 683,559 residents, an estimated 18,661 persons with mental
retardation will reside in Travis County in 1997. The majority, about 15,927
persons have a diagnosis of mild mental retardation. A total of about 2,734
persons have a diagnosis of severe/profound or moderate mental retardation.
(ATCMHMR, 1997)
- One out of ten families nationwide is directly affected by mental retardation.
(The Arc, 1997)
- Children (0-17 years) account for approximately 18% of the population
with mental retardation or about 33,115 Travis County residents in 1997.
(ATCMHMR, 1995)
- The vast majority (87%) of persons who fall within the category of
mild mental retardation can, with appropriate support, achieve economic
and social independence when they enter adulthood. The remaining 13% of
people with mental retardation, those with IQs under 50, will have serious
limitations in functioning. They too can lead satisfying lives in the community
with early intervention, a functional education and appropriate supports
as adults. (The Arc, 1997)
- A disproportionate number of persons with mental retardation have psychiatric
disturbances. (Sovner & Hurley, 1989; Seay, 1991)
- When socio-economic status is figured in, a disproportionate number
of low income children have a label of mild mental retardation. (ATCMHMR,
1995)
- In 1990, Texas ranked 45th in the provision of integrated employment
services by state mental retardation and developmental disabilities agencies
with only 7.35% receiving integrated employment services. (The Arc, 1995)
- The first generation of individuals with mental retardation who have
received community and home-based support is just coming of age. The full
impact of early intervention, specialized education and other services
will become measurable as this generation moves through a life span.
- Sixty-nine percent (69%) of working age people with disabilities remain
unemployed; while only 19.7% of people without disabilities are unemployed.
(U. S. Department of Education)
- Only 17% of men with disabilities who are working hold full-time, year-round
jobs, compared to 63% of their counterparts without disabilities. Furthermore,
these men earn 63% of what workers without disabilities earn. (Oi, 1991).
When looking at labor force participation for women and members of minority
ethnic groups with disabilities, the picture looks worse. For example,
the rate of employment for African Americans with disabilities is less
than 25%. (Kraus & Stoddard, 1989)
- There are about 2,789 persons with mental retardation in Travis County
who are members of the priority population and therefore eligible to receive
services funded by the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation
("TXMHMR"). TXMHMR funds services for all persons with severe/profound
mental retardation, one out of ten persons with mild mental retardation,
and one in four persons with moderate mental retardation. (TXMHMR, 1996)
- TXMHMR estimates that approximately 33% of persons with mental retardation
who fit the priority population definition go unserved statewide. Thirteen
percent receive services through nursing homes or other private providers.
Approximately 54% receive services through the TXMHMR system. (TXMHMR,
1996) In FY 1996, the Austin Travis County Mental Health Mental Retardation
Center served a total of 1,395 persons who fit within the priority population.
Currently, there are approximately 400 unserved persons in Travis County
on the referral list for Home and Community Based Waiver Services. (ATCMHMR,
1996)
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Desired Community Impacts
A. Increase employment and volunteer options for persons with MR/DD.
B. Expand transportation options that are available, accessible and affordable
for persons with MR/DD.
C. Increase housing options that are available, accessible and affordable
for persons with MR/DD who desire housing.
D. Increase opportunities for participation and expansion of available
options in community social and recreational activities for persons with
MR/DD.
E. Increase crisis intervention resources and improved response time for
persons with MR/DD.
F. Increase inclusive opportunities for appropriate, meaningful day activities
when employment is not an option.
G. Increase respite options and improvement of existing options to address
accessibility and affordability issues for persons with MR/DD.
H. Increase child care options that are high quality and inclusive for
persons with MR/DD and their families.
I. Increase supports and resources available for clients and for families
caring for persons with MR/DD who have significant behavioral problems.
J. Increase health care options for persons with MR/DD.
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Strategies
A. Community Education and Awareness
Educate and make the community aware of the needs of persons with MR/DD (to
promote acceptance) by:
- Conducting a general public awareness campaign addressing issues of
employment, transportation, technology, accessibility and adaptations
required;
- Informing consumers and families about available services and how to
access them;
- Training policy makers on the needs of persons with MR/DD;
- Developing and distributing brochures and resource guides to employers,
business and community groups; and
- Increasing collaboration among providers to promote the need for quality.
B. Data Collection and Assessment
Determine the need for service improvement by:
- Creating a comprehensive directory of current service providers;
- Developing an assessment survey and distributing process to identify
service gaps and advocacy groups;
- Collecting and analyzing current, available information related to
critical conditions and desired community impact areas;
- Providing public forums to elicit comments relative to current services;
and
- Synthesizing results from data collection, assessment survey(s) and
public forums.
C. Best Practices
Identify and promote innovation and best practices through:
- Collaboration and information sharing among various professional groups
and providers;
- Reviewing service delivery in other communities;
- Conducting research relative to the various critical conditions;
- Developing curriculum or guidelines to communicate best practices;
and
- Establishing a clearinghouse and opportunities for exchange of information
for all stakeholders.
D. Service Coordination
Provide opportunities for persons with MR/DD and their families to choose
from a variety of service options which match their personal plans and
goals. These services will:
- Be well coordinated, accessible and marketed and
- Increase the overall well-being of the individual or/and their family.
E. Preventative Services
Increase overall physical wellness of persons with MR/DD by providing accessible
preventative services, such as:
- Non-emergency respite;
- Specialized homemaker services;
- Enhanced case finding; and
- Improved early identification and intervention.
F. Collaboration
Facilitate collaboration among persons with MR/DD, their family members,
current and potential providers to maximize resource use and comprehensive
planning. This will be accomplished by:
- Holding ongoing forums to discuss issues related to critical conditions
and desired community impacts;
- Strengthening private-public partnerships for improved and more efficient
service delivery; and
- Distributing information through newsletters.
G. Modification, Adaptations and Technology Support
Establish opportunities for persons with MR/DD to fully participate in community
activities by providing appropriate modifications, adaptations, and technological
support and accessibility to areas of:
- Public transportation;
- Job training and search;
- Education;
- Employment;
- Recreational activities, and
- Medical and social services.
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Outcomes
A. Standard Outcomes
- Increased satisfaction with services of people with MR/DD and their
families.
- Increased number of children with MR/DD showing improved development.
B. Employment Opportunities
- Increased number of people with MR/DD employed in the community.
- Increased number of employers participating in job placement.
- Increased number of hours of employment for people with MR/DD.
- Increased number of people with MR/DD with internships leading to paid
employment.
- Increased number of employers satisfied with the performance of employees
with MR/DD.
C. Transportation
- Increased number of people with MR/DD getting timely transportation.
- Increased number of people with MR/DD who begin using fixed bus routes
or alternate transportation.
D. Housing
- Increased number of people with MR/DD provided housing-related services.
- Increased number of people with MR/DD obtaining housing.
E. Community Social/Recreational Activities
- Increased number of people with MR/DD participating in community social
and recreational activities.
F. Crisis Intervention
- Improved response time for crisis intervention services for persons with
MR/DD.
G. Meaningful Day Activities Other Than Work
- Increased number of people with MR/DD participating in appropriate, meaningful
day activities.
H. Respite Options
- Increased number of people with MR/DD and/or families receiving respite
care services.
I. Child Care Options
- Increased number of child care services available for families with children
with MR/DD that are inclusive, e.g. where children interact, share experiences,
and receive services with their non-disabled peers.
J. Family Support Dealing with Persons with Extreme Behaviors
- Increased number of families with improved knowledge and skills (for
use in caring for persons with MR/DD, especially for persons with
extreme behaviors).
- Increased number of people with MR/DD and/or families accessing adequate
support systems.
K. Medical Care Options
- Increased number of persons with MR/DD with comprehensive physical
and mental health insurance.
- Increased wellness of persons with MR/DD (as reported by people with
MR/DD, family, and/or physician).
Prevalence of Mental Retardation in Travis County
- An estimated 18,661 persons with mental retardation will reside in Travis
County in 1997. This figure is based on a statewide average prevalence
rate of 2.73% and a total population of 683,559 residents in Travis County
for 1997. The majority, about 15,927 persons have a diagnosis of mild mental
retardation. A total of about 2,734 persons have a diagnosis of severe/profound
or moderate mental retardation.
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