Frequently Asked Questions
Common Questions About The Project
- A national survey used across states to learn about the experience of individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities with their services and supports.
- This survey is done remote over video. Interviewers meet with participants over Zoom video conference calls.
- To gather opinions and experiences of individuals who receive services through OPWDD.
- OPWDD will use this feedback to continue making the services and supports meet the needs of people with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
- OPWDD is funding this project.
- OPWDD provided Vital Research with a list of people receiving services and supports across the state.
- The interview takes 45 minutes to one hour.
- An interviewer may call you between February and June of 2024 to set up a time to meet with you.
- To communicate with you,. an interviewer will email you from an OPWDD email account, like "john.x.doe@opwdd.ny.gov".
- Absolutely! The answers you provide will not be shared with any of the people who are responsible for your services or are paid to help you.
- No one will be able to trace your answers back to you.
- This project is voluntary - you can choose to take part, or you can say no. Your choice will not change the services you receive.
- You do not have to answer any questions if you do not want to.
- You may start and stop the survey at any point if you do not want to continue.
- Only legal guardians can refuse on behalf of a person.
- Care managers and staff members in group homes or residential care centers cannot refuse on behalf of a person.
- If a person is unable to communicate in any way, a legal guardian, family member, or friend can answer some questions for them.
- The interview is designed for adults of all ages and people with varying abilities.
- Interviewers are given training on how to interview people with different abilities and ways of communicating.
- Interviewers learn about different communication styles and how to make people feel safe when talking with them.
- It is important to talk directly with the person who is receiving services.
- Families' and staff's opinions are important, but they provide different perspectives.
- If the service recipient is unable or unwilling to respond, a proxy respondent (a friend, family member, staff, or guardian) may answer some of the questions on their behalf.
- The survey asks for your opinions about your life and the services you receive, such as your provider, living arrangement, direct care staff, choices of activities, employment, health, and safety.
- You can skip questions that do not apply to you or that you don’t want to answer.
- This survey is designed to be asked to many different people. Some topics may apply to you but not to everyone. Other topics which apply to you might not be included.
- Absolutely not. Your responses are confidential and will not affect the services you receive in any way.
- Call the interviewer who contacted you or call the Vital Research Project Team at 888-351-4147 (Toll-free).
- Vital Research is a vendor working with OPWDD. They are collecting responses to the survey through the Zoom interviews. Interviewers are employees of Vital Research working on behalf of OPWDD.
Common Questions from Guardians
- Absolutely! All survey responses are confidential and are not linked to you or the individual receiving services in any way. No one at the state, county, or provider agencies will know how each person responds.
- All personal information about you and the person for whom you are the legal guardian to is kept private and confidential.
- Please go to the Documents page to view a copy of the documents provided by the state for more details.
- As the legal guardian, you may be present during the remote interview and assist in answering some of the questions if needed.
- If an individual is unable or unwilling to respond, the interviewer will switch to a “proxy” version of the survey, which allows you to answer on behalf of the individual.
- If you are unable to be present during the remote interview and would like to recommend another person who can serve as a proxy if assistance is needed, please inform the interviewer during scheduling.
- Interviewers are trained to conduct the interviews with older adults and adults with disabilities. Communication or other assistance that you might provide during the meeting is appreciated and should be shared with the interviewer during scheduling.