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IDAHO STATE INDEPENDENT LIVING COUNCIL

RESULTS FROM A TELEPHONE SURVEY
OF
IDAHO STATE RESIDENTS

December 1995

Survey Conducted by
Social and Economic Sciences Research Center
Washington State University
Pullman, WA 99164-4014
(509) 335-1511
John Tarnai, Principal Investigator
Rosie Pavlov, Study Director

For

State Independent Living Council
350 North Ninth Street
Suite 610 B
P.O. Box 83 720
Boise, ID 83720-9601

Background and Purpose
Questionnaire
Sample
Interview Procedures
Response Rate
Sampling Error
Executive Summary of Results
Sample Questions

IDAHO STATE INDEPENDENT LIVING COUNCIL: RESULTS OF A TELEPHONE SURVEY OF IDAHO RESIDENTS

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The Social and Economic Sciences Research Center (SESRC) administered a survey on behalf of the Idaho State Independent Living Council. The purpose of the study was to determine the attitudes and opinions of Idaho citizens about issues affecting people with disabilities. The primary goal was to determine the level of public support for strategies of increasing the independence of children and adults with disabilities. A number of strategies for increasing independence were presented during the course of a telephone interview, and respondents were asked whether or not they supported each one. The information from this study will be used by the State Independent Living Council to help formulate public policy for the State of Idaho.

QUESTIONNAIRE

The SESRC, in cooperation with representatives of the Idaho State Independent Living Council, developed the questionnaire. A pre-test of this questionnaire was conducted on November 16, 1995, to resolve any problems that might be due to wording. Several changes were made in the wording of the questions as a result of the pre-test, and, therefore, the data from the pre-test were not included in the final data set.

SAMPLE

The population for the survey included all adult residents of the State of Idaho. The sample for this survey was obtained from Survey Sampling, Inc., of Westport, Connecticut. A Random Digit Dialing (RDD) procedure was used to select potential households. A total of 900 RDD sample telephone numbers were used to survey the population. All adults 18 years of age or older were eligible to participate in this study. To select the respondent within a household, the interviewer asked to speak to the person aged 18 or over who had the most recent birthday.

INTERVIEW PROCEDURES

A pre-test of the questionnaire was conducted on November 16, 1995, to resolve any problems that might be due to wording. Telephone interviews began on November 26, 1995. The average length was about 16 minutes. Up to seven attempts were made to contact a respondent in each household, including up to five attempts during evening hours (5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m ), one morning (8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon), and one afternoon (12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m.) call. The last interviews were conducted on December 12, 1995.

The interviews were conducted from the Public Opinion Laboratory of the SESRC. The interviewers used the micro-computer assisted telephone interviewing (MATI) facilities to aid in the telephone interviews. This system displays questions on a computer monitor from which the interviewer can read the question to a respondent and then enter the response directly into a micro-computer for data storage.

RESPONSE RATE

A total of 405 completed interviews were obtained from the sample of 900 cases. The cooperation rate (i.e., the ratio of the number of completed interviews to the total number of completed, partially completed and refused interviews) is 71.3 percent. The completion rate (i.e., the ratio of the number of completed interviews to the total number of potential respondents) is 55.6 percent. The disposition of all sample numbers is presented in Table 1.

SAMPLING ERROR

A randomly selected sample of 405 respondents provides an accuracy level of about + 5.0 percent. This means that 95 out of 100 times a sample of this size is drawn, the results (e.g. the percentage of yes answers to a yes/no question) should be within plus or minus 5 percent of the true percent in the population. Sampling error is the basis upon which tests of significance are calculated.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF RESULTS

This section presents a brief summary of survey results. The survey focused on three major areas: (1) the level of public support for programs assisting people with disabilities; (2) public opinion about the ability of people with disabilities to be independent; and (3) whether Idaho citizens favor using public funds to help people with disabilities become more independent.

1 . An important goal of the study was to determine the extent of support in Idaho for programs which provide assistance for people with disabilities. Survey results show that

(a) Almost all respondents believe it is important for the state to help people with disabilities (97.5 percent) and that it is important for the state to provide Medicaid services to children and adults with disabilities (98.5 percent), and

(b) Four out of five citizens (78.5 percent) are in favor of the state providing more resources to assist teachers in providing for the educational needs of children with disabilities.

2. Another goal was to determine if Idaho residents favor people with disabilities staying in their own communities and living independently.

(a) Over 90 percent of citizens interviewed feel that people with disabilities should be able to live in their own communities (92.1 percent), and should have choices about the services and support they receive (93.1 percent).

(b) Three-fourths of the respondents (74.6 percent) indicated that people with disabilities should have more opportunities to be involved in community activities, such as serving on community groups (e.g., school boards) and participating in recreational and leisure activities. Only minor differences were found among people of different political affiliations on this issue.

(c) Four out of five residents (80.0 percent) believe that children with disabilities should go to neighborhood schools. Democratic respondents were most likely to endorse this opinion.

3. A third goal of the study was to determine whether Idaho residents favor using public funds to increase the independence of people with disabilities.

(a) Three-fourths of the residents (74.1 percent) think the state should transfer funds FROM programs that keep people in institutions TO services which keep people in their communities. Only 9.4 percent are against transferring funds, and 16.5 percent did not report an opinion. Republican respondents were most likely to support the transfer of funds.

(b) Idaho citizens also indicated strong support for in-home care, with 64.9 percent indicating that for those requiring long-term care, in-home services should receive highest priority. On this question, another 16.5 percent favored group home services, and only 8.6 percent said that nursing home services should receive the highest priority for long-term care. The following shows percentages favoring different kinds of care.

(c) Widespread support was expressed for the state funding medical benefits so that people with disabilities can enter the work force, with 79.3 percent of the respondents favoring funding medical benefits for this purpose. Republican respondents were least likely to support funds for this purpose.

(d) Almost nine out of ten respondents (88.1 percent) were in favor of setting up a loan program to help people with disabilities purchase equipment, while 69.4 percent support a loan program to help people with disabilities buy homes which would allow them to live more independently.

(e) Support for the voucher system is not clearly evident, with 42.7 percent thinking that people with disabilities should be given vouchers, that is cash stipends, to buy such services or equipment directly from private businesses, 37.0 percent opposed to the idea, and another 18.3 percent who did not give an opinion.

In conclusion, survey results show substantial support in Idaho for providing assistance to children and adults with disabilities. People across the political spectrum believe that state funds should be used for programs which increase the independence of people with disabilities.

State Independent Living Council Public Opinion Survey Sample Questions
Q1. Hello, my name is , and I'm calling for the Idaho State independent Living

Council. We have been asked to talk with citizens from across the state to find out their opinions about assisting people with disabilities. This information will help the State of Idaho develop policies addressing these issues.

Q2. I need to talk to the person currently living in your household who is 18

years of age or older andwho has had the MOST RECENT BIRTHDAY. Would that be you or someone else?

1. Self (skip to Q7.)
2. Someone else/available
3. Someone else/not available (SAY: When would be a good time to call

back to talk to this person? Can I have his/her first name so that I will know who to ask for?)

Q3. Hello, my name is , and I'm calling for the Idaho State

Independent Living Council. We have been asked to talk with citizens from across the state to find out their opinions about assisting people with disabilities. This information will help develop policies for the State of Idaho.

Q4. This interview is completely voluntary and has been approved by Washington

State University. The information you provide will remain both confidential and anonymous. If I come to anyquestion that you would prefer not to answer, just let me know and I will skip over it. Okay?

1. Yes 2. No (INTERVIEWER, IF NOT OKAY: When would be a better time to

call back? May I have your name so I know whom to ask for?)

Q5. The 1996 state legislature will have to deal with many difficult issues.

How important is it for the state to help people with disabilities? Would you say it is [very important; somewhat important; somewhat unimportant; very unimportant] ...

  Frequency Percent
Very important 222 54.8
Somewhat important 165 40.7
Somewhat unimportant 9 2.2
Very unimportant 1 0.2
Don't know 6 1.5
Refused 2 0.5

Q6. In general, do you believe that most people with disabilities would LIKE

to become more independent?

  Frequency Percent
Yes 386 95.3
No 8 2.0
Don't know 11 2.7

Q7. Do you believe MOST people with disabilities can enter the workforce and

be more independent?

  Frequency Percent
Yes 347 85.7
No 20 4.9
Don't know 31 7.7
Refused 7 1.7

Q8. How much should people with disabilities be involved in making choices

about the services andsupport they need? Should they have [total control of decisions; some input into decisions; should someone else make decisions] ...

  Frequency Percent
Total control over decisions 55 13.6
Some input into decisions 322 79.5
Someone else make decisions 10 2.5
Don't know 15 3.7
Refused 3 0.7

Q9. At the present time, do you believe that MOST people with disabilities are

capable of living in the community with appropriate services and supports?

  Frequency Percent
Yes 373 92.1
No 10 2.5
Don't know 19 4.7
Refused 3 0.7

Q10. In your opinion, should people with disabilities have MORE opportunities

to participate in community groups, like the school board, or to participate in recreational and leisure events?

  Frequency Percent
Yes 302 74.6
No 46 11.4
Don'tknow 44 10.9
Refused 13 3.2

Q11. Should children with disabilities be educated in their neighborhood

schools?

  Frequency Percent
Yes 324 80.0
No 23 5.7
Don't know 40 9.9
Refused 18 4.4

Q12. In you opinion, should the state provide MORE resources to assist

teachers in providing for the EDUCATIONAL NEEDS of children with disabilities?

  Frequency Percent
Yes 318 78.5
No 44 10.9
Don't know 37 9.1
Refused 6 1.5

Q13. When states are responsible for distributing Medicaid funds, do you

believe that providing Medicaid services to children and adults with disabilities should be considered [very important; somewhat important; somewhat unimportant; not at all important] ...

  Frequency Percent
Very important 200 49.4
Somewhat important 184 45.4
Somewhat unimportant 5 1.2
Very unimportant 1 0.2
Don't know 13 3.2
Refused 2 0.5

Q14. Should it be a goal for the State of Idaho to help people with

disabilities to become as self-sufficient as possible?

  Frequency Percent
Yes 382 94.3
No 12 3.0
Don't know 6 1.5
Refused 5 1.2

Q15. Many senior citizens and people with disabilities need long-term care.

Which of the following types of long-term care services should be given highest priority? Would you say [nursing home services; group home services; in-home support services]...

  Frequency Percent
Nursing home services 35 8.6
Group home services 67 16.5
In-home support services 263 64.9
Don't know 35 8.6
Refused 5 1.2

Q16. In 1994, the State of Idaho spent six times as much money to keep people

with disabilities in institutions as it did to support them in their communities. Do you think the state legislature should transfer existing funds FROM programs which keep people in institutions TO THOSE which support them in their communities?

  Frequency Percent
Yes 300 74.1
No 38 9.4
Don't know 54 13.3
Refused 13 3.2

Q17. Many people with disabilities in Idaho are qualified to work, but cannot

accept jobs because they would lose their medical benefits. Should the state help fund their medical benefits so they can enter the work force?

  Frequency Percent
Yes 321 79.3
No 46 11.4
Don'tknow 30 7.4
Refused 8 2.0

Q18. Traditionally, government programs have provided services and equipment

to people with disabilities to help them to live independently. Some people think that people with disabilities should be given vouchers, that is cash stipends, to buy such services or equipment directly from private businesses. Do you support giving people vouchers to buy services and equipment directly?

  Frequency Percent
Yes 173 42.7
No 150 37.0
Don't know 74 18.3
Refused 8 2.0

Q19. Are you aware of the many new products, such as adapted computers and

advanced hearing aids, that allow people with disabilities to be more independent?

  Frequency Percent
Yes 306 75.6
No 97 24.0
Don'tknow 2 0.5

Q20. Some states have set up loan programs so that people with disabilities

can borrow money at low interest rates to purchase equipment to increase their independence, such as advanced hearing aids, power wheelchairs, lift-equipped vans and adapted computers. In your opinion, should the State of Idaho set up such a program?

  Frequency Percent
Yes 357 88.1
No 28 6.9
Don't know 18 4.4
Refused 2 0.5

Q21. Should the State of Idaho set up a loan program so people with

disabilities can borrow money at . low interest rates to purchase a home, which would allow them to increase their independence?

  Frequency Percent
Yes 281 69.4
No 81 20.0
Don't know 37 9.1
Refused 6 1.5

Q22. How important would you say it is to educate the public about what people

with disabilities can do to lead productive lives? Would you say it is [very important; somewhat important; somewhat unimportant; not at all important] ...

  Frequency Percent
Very important 271 66.9
Somewhat important 116 28.6
Somewhat unimportant 14 3.5
Very unimportant 2 0.5
Don't know 1 0.2
Refused 1 0.2

Q23. (INTERVIEWER, ASK IF NECESSARY: "For survey purposes, I need to

ask, are you...")

  Frequency Percent
Male 162 40.0
Female 243 60.0

Q24. Are you a registered voter?

  Frequency Percent
Yes 342 84.4
No 60 14.8
Don't know 3 0.7

(THE FOLLOWING QUESTION IS PROGRAMMED SO THAT EITHER THE DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN CATEGORY IS PRESENTED FIRST, ON A RANDOM BASIS.)

Q25. Do you think of yourself as [a republican; a democrat; an

independent; other party; no party affiliation] ...

  Frequency Percent
A Republican 74 18.3
A Democrat 126 31.1
An independent 119 29.4
Other party 1 0.2
No party affiliation 45 11.1
Don't know 10 2.5
Refused 30 7.4

Q26. What is the Zip Code of your current residence?

Q27. Thank you very much for your help with this survey. If you have any

questions or comments, I can note them now.

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Copyright © 1998, Idaho State Independent Living Council