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4408 A Quality Spectrum in Services

Thursday, July 23, 2009: 1:00 PM-2:15 PM

Broadway Ballroom C (Pheasant Run Resort and Conference Center)

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Providers of services for children, adolescents, and young adults must demonstrate accountability for federal and state support, and link organizational performance to person-centered quality of life. This presentation will focus on 15 years of data collection and research through personal interviews with individuals with autism and their families. Findings reveal the status of person-centered quality-of-life measures for people with ASD, and comparisons to other disabilities and to national data. Implications for supporting people and their families will be explored. During this period of economic recession, services and supports for people with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are threatened. Families and advocates demand services that produce person-centered outcomes. As autism is a broad spectrum disorder, services and therapies must be adapted to each individual. Providers of services for children, adolescents, and young adults must demonstrate accountability for federal and state support, and link organizational performance to person-centered quality of life outcomes.

This presentation will focus on 15 years of data collection and research through personal interviews with individuals with autism and their families. Findings will reveal the status of person-centered quality of life measures for people with ASD, comparisons to other disabilities, and comparisons to comprehensive national data. Implications for supporting people on the spectrum and their families will be explored.

The presentation will also provide a brief overview of the Personal Outcome Measures developed by CQL (The Council on Quality and Leadership). The Personal Outcome Measures focus on the priorities from the person’s perspective. Learning about personal outcomes results from communicating with each individual, including understanding how to communicate with people who are non-verbal, and discovering what is important to them and why. Organizations committed to quality of life outcomes recognize the connections between the whole person, his or her life priorities, and the services and supports that facilitate those outcomes.

CQL has published its methodology and results in peer reviewed scientific journals. Our research and practice indicate that valid and reliable quality of life measurement can translate to effective community-based human services/supports for adults, adolescents, and families with young children.

Learning Objectives:

Recognize the importance of person-centered quality of life measures
Identify the differences between person-centered outcomes and other measurements
Compare the results of interviews with people with ASD with other populations
Identify the implications for supporting people with ASD and their families

Content Area: Personal Perspectives

Presenter:

Elizabeth A. Mathis, M.A.
Network Development Manager
The Council on Quality and Leadership

Beth Mathis has worked for CQL since 2003. She has a B.A. from The University of the South, and an M.A. from The University of Houston-Clear Lake. Her professional experience includes direct support, support coordination, program administration, training, and quality enhancement. She is currently involved in marketing and consultation for CQL.

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