Sheryl A Larson

My work includes evaluation, policy, survey and intervention research; secondary analysis of large data sets; research synthesis on access to health care, disability statistics, direct support worker stability and quality assurance; and studies of deinstitutionalization and community services for people with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities (IDD). My current projects include a longitudinal study of active support (an intervention to improve the quality of life for people with IDD living in group homes), a longitudinal study of elements of health care coordination associated with better health outcomes for adults with physical disabilities, two projects of national significance to collect and report on the status of each state in regard to deinstitutionalization, community services and supports and family services and supports, research on wellness interventions for adults with IDD who cannot read, and technical assistant to help states track the characteristics of and outcomes for people who provide direct support to people with various disabilities. My work has focused on translating research findings into action in the following areas: • Deinstitutionalization: people with IDD have better lives if they live in their own homes or with family members rather than in institutions, • Strategies to improve the quality of supports people with IDD who get government funded services, and • Strategies to help community human services agencies reduce turnover, improve staff satisfaction and improve the skills of their supervisors and direct support staff. Research Areas: Community supports and services for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities (including related conditions such as Autism, Cerebral Palsy); disability statistics and surveillance, large data set analyses (OSCAR, NHIS-D), direct support workers and frontline supervisor recruitment, retention and training; active support interventions, health care access, coordination and prevention of secondary conditions, physical activity and nutrition, Medicaid long-term supports and services for people with disabilities.