screening for hidden disability in single parent families receiving public assistance barbara g....
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Screening for Hidden Disability in Single Parent Families Receiving Public Assistance
Barbara G. Connors, M.Ed. LRC, LPC
University of New OrleansTraining, Resource, and Assistive-Technology Center
Partners
1. Office of Family Support
2. University of New Orleans Training, Resource, and Assistive- Technology Center
3. Louisiana Rehabilitation Services
On-Site Screening
A specially designed screening instrument has been constructed to assess STEP participants of the Office of Family Support for hidden disabilities.
The instrument assesses the most common developmental disorders including LD and ADHD, mental health disorders, and substance abuse.
Skills and Adjustment Assessment
Consent form Background Information (family
history, medical history, school history, work history, social/legal history
LD screening ADHD screening Alcohol/Drug screening Mental Health screening
Learning Disabilities
Reading Math Written Language (Spell/Write) Expressive Language Receptive Language Articulation Sequencing Organization Memory Non Verbal (Visual/Spatial) Interpersonal Other
LD Symptomatology
Examples: Do not like reading Poor at basic math Misspell same word different ways Difficulty learning new words Need verbal repetition Errors in pronunciation Trouble telling time Forget things, lose things Hard to memorize Messy handwriting, clumsy Left/Right confusion Few or no friends Auditory memory like a tape recorder
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Russel A. Barkely and DSM-IV TR
Adult Symptoms (past 6 months)
Childhood Symptoms (age 5 to 12 years)
No biological test is currently available
Attention Hyperactivity
Careless mistakes Attention Listening Unfinished Organization Concentration Lose things Distracted forgetful
Fidget Leave seat Restless Noisy Driven by a motor Talking Blurt out Can’t wait Interrupt
Substance Abuse
Do you ever drink alcohol? Have you ever experimented with drugs?
CAGE
Have you ever felt you should Cut down on your drinking?Have people Annoyed you by criticizing your drinking?Have you ever felt Guilty about your drinking?Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning (Eye
opener)?
Substance Abuse
CAGE-AID
Do you use any drugs other than those prescribed?
Has a physician ever told you to cut down or quit?
Has your use caused family, job, or legal problems?
Have you ever had a memory loss or blackout?
Psychiatric Symptomatology
Anxiety Depression Hostility Interpersonal Sensitivity Obsessive-Compulsivity Paranoid Ideation Phobic Anxiety Somatization Psychoticism
SA-45
Examples: Feeling fearful Feeling no interest in things Check and double-check Feeling weak Feeling afraid to go out Temper outbursts Feeling very self conscious Feeling you are watched or talked about Hearing voices other do not hear
Prevalence of Learning Disorders
5% of students in public schools (DSM-IV)
Co-existence with ADHD and/or Dysthymic Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder
Association with deficits in visual perception, linguistic processes, memory, coordination
Prevalence of LD/ADHDNational Center for Health Statistics 1997-98
Children 6-11 years 3% ADHD/no LD 4% LD/no ADHD 4% both Ld/ADHD Therefore: 7% ADHD and 8% LD
Data Summary June 2002 to June 2005
Total Screened: 1557
LD/ADHD 508 Mental Health 350 Substance Abuse 13 Physical Disability 177 No Referral 509
Data Summary 6/02 – 6/05
LD/ADHD 33% Mental Health 22% Substance Abuse 1% Physical Disability 11% No Refferal 33%
Data Summary 06/02 – 06/05Total Screened: 1557
33%
22%
33%
1%
11%
LD/ADHD
Mental Health
No Referral
Substance Abuse
Pre-Existing Disability
Data Summary 6/02 – 6/05
Total Referred For Services: 1048 67%
No Referral: 509 33%
Screening Recommendations
Referral to La Rehabilitation Svcs Referral to Center for Addictive
Disorders Referral to DDS for SSI/DI
application No Referral
Welfare Reform
AFDC becomes TANF (1996)
60 months lifetime TANF benefits
Performance standards and/or work requirements
24 months in Louisiana
Conclusion
Data suggests that disabilities in the TANF population screened may be substantial.
Families may face the end of benefits without rehabilitation services.
Enforcing work participation without accommodations may disproportionately subject recipients to sanctions and benefit termination.
For further information:
Contact:Barbara G. ConnorsUniversity of New OrleansP.O. Box 1051New Orleans, LA [email protected]