Screening for Hidden Disability in Single Parent Families Receiving Public Assistance Barbara G. Connors, M.Ed. LRC, LPC University of New Orleans Training,

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]