The IM4Q team conducts an annual survey which collects data on individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities receiving services from the Office of Developmental Programs in Pennsylvania (ODP). IM4Q is the abbreviation we use for the Independent Monitoring for Quality program in Pennsylvania.
The project is informed by people with disabilities, and the survey teams always include at least one person with a disability or a family member. Each year, about 5,500 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities participate in the surveys. They answer questions about their thoughts and perceptions of their life circumstances in many areas, such as satisfaction; dignity, respect, and rights; choice and control; inclusion; and family, friend, and guardian experiences.
IM4Q Learned... (text-only)
- IM4Q learned that 37% of people with disabilities in Pennsylvania who do not communicate in words have some system for communicating.
- IM4Q learned that in Pennsylvania, 43% of people with disabilities who don't have a job would like to have a job for pay.
- IM4Q learned that 35% of people with disabilities in Pennsylvania are sometimes or always lonely. 43% of people with disabilities have and use a cell phone.
- IM4Q learned that 15% of people with disabilities say their mail is sometimes or always opened without their permission.
- IM4Q learned that 27% of people with disabilities in PA went on a vacation in 2021, compared to about 67% of all Pennsylvanians.
- IM4Q learned that 39% of people with disabilities in Pennsylvania vote, compared to 76.5% of the general population.
More Information
We hope that these facts prompt thought, discussion, and action to support equity for people with disabilities in Pennsylvania. For more information about IM4Q and to learn more about the experiences of people in the project, see the Institute on Disabilities' IM4Q webpage.