SD49 - Evaluation of the Disability Commission


Executive Summary:
The Commission on the Coordination of the Delivery of Services to Facilitate the Self-Sufficiency and Support for Persons with Physical and Sensory Disabilities, known as the Disability Commission, was established in 1990 by the General Assembly to assess the delivery of services to persons with physical and sensory disabilities. In 1998, the General Assembly approved Senate Joint Resolution 1 70 requesting the Disability Commission to conduct a study and submit a comprehensive report on the status of services for persons with physical and sensory disabilities to the Governor and the 2000 Session of the General Assembly. SJR 170 established a legislative oversight task force to study past progress, present status, and future delivery of services to people with disabilities in the Commonwealth. A work group comprised of consumers, family members, representatives of Disability Services Boards, state agency representatives, Centers for Independent Living and local service providers was created to develop a study plan. The plan, which was adopted by the Disability Commission, identified specific methodologies to study the four areas that were identified in SJR 170 to be addressed in the evaluation.

(1) The impact of the accomplishments achieved as a direct result of recommendations made in the 1992 and other Disability Commission Reports;

(2) The impact of recommendations from Disability Commission reports which have not yet been met, such as establishing a disability consortium and meeting the health-related needs of people with disabilities;

(3) The unmet service needs of persons with physical and sensory disabilities, as well as prioritize unmet needs, and develop cost estimates associated with meeting these needs; and

(4) The effectiveness of the Disability Commission in accomplishing its recommendations, including consideration of the future of the Disability Commission itself.

This report summarizes the information gathered during the evaluation of the Disability Commission under SJR 170. In developing this report, information was synthesized from 11 different sources.

• A statewide survey of consumer satisfaction with services and supports for over 2000 individuals with physical and sensory disabilities;

• A series of 11 town meetings held throughout the state in the Spring of 1999;

• In-depth reviews of 11 funding initiatives begun by the Commission over the past decade;

• A detailed review of eight administrative and policy recommendations made by the Commission;

• A statewide research project on employment options for people with developmental disabilities;

• A statewide survey of the future service needs of 490 students with physical and sensory disabilities exiting public schools;

• A statewide needs assessment survey of 572 individuals with physical and sensory disabilities, conducted in collaboration with Disability Services Boards;

• In-depth specialized studies in the areas of transportation, personal assistance services housing, and employment.

The Disability Commission reviewed all of the findings and appointed a legislative subcommittee to review the findings and recommendations and bring forward those recommendations for consideration by the full Commission. After a thorough deliberation of the study results, the Commission developed their legislative recommendations for the 2000 General Assembly session.