Association of state-level and individual-level factors with choice making of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities

Background: State-level factors have not been examined in research on choice, despite findings of between-state differences. Aims: To examine both individual and state-level factors associated with choice. Methods and procedures: We used multilevel modeling to explore two choice scales, support-related and everyday choice, based on the National Core Indicators (NCI) data from 2013-14. Outcomes and Results: At the individual level, milder ID, greater mobility, fewer problem behaviors, answering questions independently, communicating verbally, and living in a non-agency setting, particularly independent settings, were associated with more choice for both scales. State-level factors overall explained variance for both scales, but were more strongly associated with support-related choice. A higher proportion of people with IDD living independently within the state predicted more support-related choice. High cost of living within a state predicted less everyday choice. Higher proportion of people living with family and lower proportion being served within a state predicted more everyday choice. Conclusions and implications: These findings suggest further study of choice in relation to policies that: (1) increase independent living for individuals with IDD, and (2) assist individuals/families living in high cost states. State differences on important QOL outcomes are likely to be associated with economic and system-based factorsbeyond individual differences.