Screening for Hidden Disability
in Single Parent Families
Receiving Public Assistance
Barbara G. Connors, M.Ed.
LRC, LPC
University of New Orleans
Training, Resource, and
Assistive-Technology Center
Partners
1. Office of Family Support
2. University of New Orleans
Training, Resource, and AssistiveTechnology Center
3. Louisiana Rehabilitation Services
On-Site Screening
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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
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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
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Reading
Math
Written Language (Spell/Write)
Expressive Language
Receptive Language
Articulation
Sequencing
Organization
Memory
Non Verbal (Visual/Spatial)
Interpersonal
Other
LD Symptomatology
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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
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Russel A. Barkely and DSM-IV TR
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Adult Symptoms (past 6 months)
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Childhood Symptoms (age 5 to 12 years)
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No biological test is currently available
Attention
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Careless mistakes
Attention
Listening
Unfinished
Organization
Concentration
Lose things
Distracted
forgetful
Hyperactivity
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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
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Anxiety
Depression
Hostility
Interpersonal Sensitivity
Obsessive-Compulsivity
Paranoid Ideation
Phobic Anxiety
Somatization
Psychoticism
SA-45
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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
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5% of students in public schools (DSMIV)
Co-existence with ADHD and/or
Dysthymic Disorder, Major Depressive
Disorder
Association with deficits in visual
perception, linguistic processes, memory,
coordination
Prevalence of LD/ADHD
National Center for Health Statistics
1997-98
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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
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Total Screened: 1557
LD/ADHD
Mental Health
Substance Abuse
Physical Disability
No Referral
508
350
13
177
509
Data Summary 6/02 – 6/05
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LD/ADHD
Mental Health
Substance Abuse
Physical Disability
No Refferal
33%
22%
1%
11%
33%
Data Summary 06/02 – 06/05
Total Screened: 1557
11%
1%
33%
LD/ADHD
Mental Health
No Referral
Substance Abuse
33%
Pre-Existing Disability
22%
Data Summary 6/02 – 6/05
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Total Referred For Services:
1048
67%
No Referral:
509
33%
Screening Recommendations
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Referral to La Rehabilitation Svcs
Referral to Center for Addictive
Disorders
Referral to DDS for SSI/DI
application
No Referral
Welfare Reform
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AFDC becomes TANF (1996)
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60 months lifetime TANF benefits
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Performance standards and/or work
requirements
24 months in Louisiana
Conclusion
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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. Connors
University of New Orleans
P.O. Box 1051
New Orleans, LA 70148
504-280-5700
bgconnor@uno.edu