Mallory Grover and Dr. Lynn K. Wilder: Counseling Psychology and Special Education

Many families with a child with disabilities undergo much stress. Lack of communication and delayed development, along with other factors are causes of problem behavior among children with a disability. In order to prevent problem behaviors from elevating, support service intervention is key.

In nearly all cases, the government provides services to the individuals with the most significant needs when funds are available to pay for these services. More often than not, immediate services are not offered to eligible candidates due to a lack of funding; consequently they are placed on a waiting list. Currently, approximately 125 families in Utah County (1900 statewide) are on a waiting list for family support services from the Utah Department of Services for Persons with Disabilities (DSPD).

Throughout the nation, especially in the state of Utah, there is a great need to increase government awareness of the necessity of services for children with disabilities. It is important that the current availability of services be made known to families as well as the need for increased funding be made known to the necessary government officials.

This project uses a data set comprised of information from the Utah DSPD dataset from the Inventory for Client and Agency Planning (ICAP) instrument, which has been used by workers in the state of Utah for 20 years. The legal guardian/s of a disabled child in need of support services may apply to receive various services through the Utah DSPD. Applications may be filed once knowledge of the child’s disability becomes known. 7,759 families with children with disabilities who reside in the state of Utah and have applied to receive family support services from DSPD from 1985 to 2001 are included in the dataset. Some requested support services are: financial help, educational services, respite care, foster care, assistant living, group residencies, medical services, and day-care assistance. Results from the ICAP act as determining factors for eligibility for services. When funds are not available, eligible individuals do not receive services and must wait until funds become accessible.

The intent of this project is to write a persuasive paper, which will inform the government using a different set of criteria for understanding the demand for services across demographics, of the necessity for more funding. In hopes of emphasizing the importance of this issue as well as keeping in mind the many other uses of government funding, the data set will be used to answer the following questions:

1. What is the frequency of support services offered from disability to disability whose legal guardians have applied for family support through DSPD?
2. What is the frequency of support services across race and disability?
3. What is the frequency of support services across gender and disability?

By breaking this data set down into more specific demographics, one can understand where the greatest needs lie. Having this information will convey more accurately exactly who is in need and what services are needed.

Because the data reduction is not yet complete, absolute conclusions are not yet available. However, it is expected that the data will show no bias in service based on the above-mentioned demographics. Hopefully, it will also convey that because of funding limitations, the less severe cases are being overlooked when in fact minimal funding for service to familiarize a family with coping and caring for their child and his/her disability could save money in the long run.