Access to Services through Knowledge: Translating Research into Application

Challenges accessing information about disability services and supports available in the community are a known barrier in Florida and many other states. These challenges are more acute for those who are not native speakers of English, those with low levels of digital literacy, and those who lack access to reliable internet service. Prior research conducted by the WellFlorida Council shows there are gaps in knowledge of available community-based services available in the state to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) across the lifespan.

To address knowledge gaps and barriers to accessing information, the FDDC initiated the Access to Services through Knowledge (ASK) information and resource delivery system. This initiative aims to build knowledge of and increase access to community resources and services among people with I/DD and their families across the lifespan. The work will be completed in three phases: 

• Phase 1: Research to understand how caregivers research, obtain, and use specialized support services
• Phase 2: Development of journey maps and user personas based on the research findings to guide families and caregivers
• Phase 3: Design of a public-facing web-based platform based on the user personas and/or journey maps

Mathematica is leading Phase 2 by developing journey maps and user personas that will translate the research findings produced under Phase 1 into user personas and journey maps to guide families and caregivers to identify key sources of information to navigate the complex disability service system in Florida.

From the FDDC

This project is provided by the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, Inc., supported in part by grant numbers 1901FLSCDD-01 and 2001FLSCDD-01 from the U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC, 20201. Grantees undertaking projects with government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL policy.