Do people with disabilities get the help they need?

Do you live a good life in the community?

Do you get the help you need?

DSP woman giving medication.

Does your family get the help it needs?

DSP supporting a family.

Support services can be hard to find.

We want to know do people with disabilities have the help they need?

This is what we did

We made a list of questions about aging and housing for people with disabilities. We called this list the FINDS survey.

Photo of some radio buttons on a computer survey.

We asked many people to take the survey using a computer.

About 5,000 people completed the survey.

People from all 50 states completed the survey.

Colorful US map created with a collage of people.

Most of the people were family caregivers.

Mother and son playing.

This is what caregivers said about supports

7 out of 10 families can’t find the help they need.

DSP helping a person with an ATM machine.

4 out of 10 people with disabilities do not get all the help they need.

Person in a wheelchair alone in a hallway.

3 out of 10 people with disabilities are waiting to get help from the state or county. Some people can wait for over 5 years.

Two young men sitting on some steps, waiting.

8 out of 10 families can’t afford to pay for the help they need.

An empty wallet.

6 out of 10 caregivers spend at least 40 hours a week helping a family member with a disability. This is like having a second job!

A man looking tired.

1 out of 5 caregivers had to quit their job to help a family member with a disability

An office farewell cake.

The answer to the question

Do people with disabilities have the help they need?

Thumbs up.

The good news is:

  • People can get help to live in the community.
  • Families can get help too.
Thumbs down.

The bad news is:

  • Support services are hard to find.
  • There are not enough for all the people who need them.
  • There are not enough for all the families who need them.

We need to do better!

All people need the right support to live a good life in the community.

Two people enjoying a walk in the sun.

TAKE ACTION! Share this with others

Show this to people in your life:

  • Show your family caregiver
  • Show your case manager
  • Show your DSP

Show this to people who can make life better for lots of people with disabilities

  • Show government leaders
  • Show self-advocacy groups
  • Show service providers

Use this information to make your life better

Information about the knowledge translation of this research

Who did this knowledge translation?

This knowldege translation was created by the Research and Training Center on Community Living at the Institute on Community Integration, University of Minnesota.

Who did this research?

The Arc of the United States and the Research and Training Center on Community Living at the Institute on Community Integration, University of Minnesota

Who wrote the report?

Lynda Anderson, Sheryl A. Larson, and Allise Wuoria. Collaborators were Peter Berns, Ann Cameron Caldwell, and K. Charlie Lakin

What is the title of the report?

2010 FINDS National Survey Technical Report Part 1: Family Caregiver Survey

Where can I find the full report?

You can find the report at these websites:

This is the full report by the University of Minnesota:

rtc.umn.edu/misc/pubcount.asp?publicationid=222

This is a summary of the report by the Arc of the United States:

www.thearc.org/document.doc?id=3672

Report citation

Anderson, L.L., Larson, S.A., & Wuorio, A. (2011). 2010 FINDS National Survey Technical Report Part 1: Family Caregiver Survey. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota, Research and Training Center on Community Living.