WHAT IS THE NATIONAL CORE INDICATORS SURVEY?

  • A voluntary effort by the Vermont Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living (DAIL) to measure and track how people feel about the services they receive and the quality of their lives.
  • Based on the survey:
    DD: Face-to-face surveys with individuals receiving state services who have intellectual and developmental disabilities.
    AD: Face-to-face surveys with individuals receiving state services who are older Vermonters or have a physical disability.
  • Survey assesses the performance and outcomes of services provided for these individuals and their families.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE NCI SURVEY?

  • To gather the opinions and experiences of individuals who receive services through the Vermont Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living (DAIL) Home and Community Based programs.
  • Feedback gathered will be used to continue making the services and supports more responsive to the support needs of people who receive services.

HOW DID YOU GET MY NAME?

  • We have a contract with the Vermont Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living (DAIL) to conduct the survey.
  • We received a list of persons who receive services through DAIL.
  • Your name was randomly selected from this list.

WHO IS FUNDING THIS PROJECT?

The Vermont Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living (DAIL).


DO I HAVE TO PARTICIPATE?

  • You are encouraged to participate to help improve services for you and for other Vermonters, but you do not have to participate. Participation is voluntary.
  • Your decision whether or not to participate will have no impact on the services you receive.

HOW DO YOU INTERVIEW A PERSON WITH DISABILITIES?

  • Surveys are in-person at the location chosen by the person being interviewed.
  • Interviewers are trained on how to interview persons with different abilities and communication styles.

CAN ANYONE REFUSE TO PARTICIPATE ON BEHALF OF THE PERSON RECEIVING SERVICES?

  • The decision to participate or not to participate is up to the individual
  • Staff members cannot refuse (due to potential conflict of interest).

WHY NOT LET THE FAMILIES OR STAFF ANSWER FOR A PERSON WHO IS RECEIVING SERVICES?

  • It is important to talk directly with the person who receives services.
  • Opinions from all families and staff are important but they provide different answers from the person receiving services.
  • If the interviewer is not able to communicate with the individual, a proxy respondent may answer some questions on the person’s behalf.

WHAT IF I CHANGE MY MIND OR HAVE TO CHANGE MY INTERVIEW DATE OR TIME?

You can call the interviewer with whom you scheduled the appointment or Vital Research at 888-848-2555 (toll free). Please say you are calling from Vermont and ask to speak with Project Coordinator Hannah Huebner.


IS THIS CONFIDENTIAL (PRIVATE)?

  • Absolutely! The answers you provide will not be shared with any of the people who are paid to help you. Also, the state will receive all answers together from hundreds of respondents across Vermont. They will not know who provided the answers.
  • Vital Research will protect your privacy by keeping all information confidential.
  • However: If an interviewer sees or learns something of concern regarding your health or safety, they are required to let Adult Protective Services know so they can help you.

HOW LONG WILL THE INTERVIEW TAKE?

About 45 to 60 minutes.


WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO ASK ME ABOUT?

  • The survey asks for your opinions about your quality of life and the services you receive (e.g. about your service coordinator/case manager/advisor, living arrangement, workers/caregivers, choices of activities, employment, your health and safety).
  • If any questions do not apply, they will be skipped.
  • If you do not want to answer a question, you can choose to skip it.

WHY AREN’T YOU ASKING ME ABOUT OTHER THINGS?

  • Because we are talking with a large number of people, the questions ask about things that are likely to apply to everyone.
  • We realize we may miss a part of your experience that you feel is very important.
  • Please feel free to provide your comments. They will be passed on to the state confidentially.

WILL MY ANSWERS AFFECT THE STATE SERVICES I RECEIVE NOW OR MAY RECEIVE IN THE FUTURE?

Absolutely not. Your responses are confidential and will not affect the specific services you receive. Your answers, together with the answers given by other Vermonters, will be used to improve services across all programs.