Integrated Supports

Meghan Burke, PhD, FAAIDD

Vanderbilt University

People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) often rely on formal (paid) services and natural supports (unpaid support from family, friends, and community members). Researchers, policymakers, and others are recognizing the interrelatedness of these supports and the importance of understanding how they are balanced.

Two issues warrant our attention. First, do the terms “formal” and “natural” resonate with the IDD community? These labels may oversimplify the complexity of supports. The Charting the LifeCourse framework identifies five support types: technology, community-based supports, eligibility-specific supports, relationships, and personal strengths and assets. Research is needed to determine whether more nuanced word choices better describe supports.

Second, context matters. Support systems vary widely across countries in structure, availability, and adequacy. The Balancing Act project, currently underway, examines integrated supports across six countries. The project’s insights into the ways culture, policy, and context shape support systems can inform future research, practice, and policy.