Frequently Asked Questions
Surveys used by many states to assess the outcomes of services used by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. Questions (called indicators) cover key areas of concern including employment, rights, service planning, community inclusion, choice, and health and safety.
There is an In-Person survey for adults over the age of 18 that use a Home and Community Based waiver. There are also three mail in surveys for families.
People with intellectual and developmental disabilities who use a Home and Community Based waiver and their families.
Each year, 800 people across the state of Virginia complete the In-Person survey.
The survey provides the opportunity to let the State identify areas where the system is working well and areas that need change.
Each year, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services provides the Partnership for People with Disabilities contact information of people randomly selected to participate in the NCI-IDD In-Person Survey.
No, the interview is voluntary - you can choose to take part, or you can say no. Your choice will not change the services you receive. Questions can be skipped if you do not want to answer them.
Only legal guardians can refuse on behalf of a participant. Providers, case managers, and support coordinators cannot refuse on behalf of a participant.
Yes! Participant’s answers are confidential. The DBHDS will not see any individual answers to the survey. No one can identify a single person with the survey answer.
Services will not change if a person participates or declines the survey.
Once answers are collected, the Partnership for People with Disabilities will analyze the data and share the results in a report with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS). The report will also be posted to the Virginia NCI-IDD website.
The Human Services Research Institute (HSRI) will also analyze the data and create a national report that includes information from all states that participated.
No, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) collaborates with the Partnership for People with Disabilities at Virginia Commonwealth University to complete the surveys.
No, the In-Person survey is completed using HIPAA compliant Zoom.
The surveys will be completed online so the participant can choose a location that works best for them.
Completion time will vary by participant but most interviews take about 1 hour.
The survey is made for people of all ages and with different abilities. Interviewers are trained on how to interview people with different abilities and ways of communicating.
If a participant needs to do the survey in another language or needs to use a communication device, please tell the interviewer when they call to schedule the interview. The interview will be completed in the language a participant requests and communication devices will be accommodated.
Someone who knows the participant well, such as friends, family, or staff, may act as a proxy and answer survey questions only when the participant cannot complete the survey or chooses to have a representative.
Participants can choose not to do the survey at any time or stop the survey at any time. To change the date or time of the survey, participants should call the interviewer who they talked with.