A survey that seeks to identify problems or needs among Ohioans with developmental disabilities is short on responses from those who know best: people living with developmental disabilities.
The Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council needs to hear more from people who have developmental disabilities.
An online survey aiming to identify problems and needs in the system that serves some 95,000 Ohioans has drawn hundreds of responses, but so far just 15% are from those with developmental disabilities, the council’s Fatica Ayers said.
“They’re the ones affected by the services,” Ayers said. “Why would we not ask them how we’re doing? How can we do better?”
Input from the periodic surveys is used to develop the council’s five-year state plan for creating change.
“By law we are required to ask our constituency what they see as pressing issues,” Ayers said.
The governor-appointed council, part of a network of 50 such councils throughout the nation, advocates and grants federal funds to support projects that enrich lives and boost independence, productivity and inclusion.
The confidential survey is the most-extensive to date, Ayers said. It is directed to three groups: people with developmental disabilities, family members and guardians, and professionals and other stakeholders in the field.
Responses will be accepted until Jan. 31.
“The professionals don’t mind giving their opinions, and we hear from family members,” Ayers said. “But people with developmental disabilities — a lot of them are not online.”
She said having 50% of responses come from people with disabilities is probably not realistic, “but if we could do a third, that would be wonderful.”
Christine Brown, a local self-advocate and resident of the Northwest side who often attends council meetings, said survey responses can help guide funding for a five-year stretch. “We need everyone’s voice,” she said.
Brown said caregivers and support workers should “work with the individual to fill it out. The caregiver has to help. Not do it for them, but help.”
The survey comes as Ohio and other states continue to wrestle with workforce problems in the disability-services industry. Demand for support workers is high, but wages remain relatively low. Many Ohioans with developmental disabilities struggle to find and keep good support workers.
Ayers said the council has hired an intern to work on survey participation and is reaching out to potential respondents through social media.
“They’ve been trying really hard,” said Jed Morison, superintendent of the Franklin County Board of Developmental Disabilities. “We encourage people to fill it out.”
For more information, go to ddc.ohio.gov or contact Fatica Ayers at [email protected] or call 614-466-5205.
@RitaPrice
