One of the nation's leading authorities on disabilty, United Cerebral Palsy (UCP), has released it's annual report, The Case for Inclusion, that tracks the progress of community living standards for Americans living with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD).
The report examines data and outcomes for all 50 states
and the District of Columbia (DC), ranking each on a set of key indicators, including how people with disabilities live and participate in their communities, if they are satisfied with their lives, and how easily the services and supports they need are accessed. By taking these factors into account, UCP is able to develop a comprehensive analysis of each state's progress or failures in providing critical services to individuals living with disabilities.
The findings for 2013 reveal that:
- All states have room for some improvement, but some have consistently remained at the bottom of the rankings;
- Despite economic strains, many states have made real improvements in the quality of services being provided;
- There is still work to be done in ensuring that people with ID/DD can enjoy the same freedoms and quality of life as all Americans.
The Report's finding with respect to Massachusetts notes the toll of Great Recession cuts that reduced state support for both the numbers of families receiving Family Support services, reduced from 14,817 to 10,443 in 2011; and the number of individuals involved in supported or competitive employment, reduced from 44% in 2006 to 14% in 2011.
UCP's data does not reflect the increased dollars that the Massachusetts Legislature restored to Family Support in FY 2012 and FY 2013, nor does it reflect the current efforts of the Commonwealth to increase supported and competitive employment for people with developmental disabilities in Massachusetts. Additionally the Report's data does not reflect the recent closing of both Monson and Glavin Developmental Centers.
Top 10 states cited by UCP are (in rank order):
1. Arizona
2. New Hampshire
3. Oregon
4. Vermont
5. California
6. Washington
7. Michigan
8. New York
9. Connecticut
10. Massachusetts
36. Kansas
Bottom 10 states are:
42. New Jersey
43. Iowa
44. Oklahoma
45. North Carolina
46. Tennessee
47. Virginia
48. Illinois
49. Texas
50. Arkansas
51. Mississippi