Methods

Methods Steps

Step 1: Research the State of Disability Services

The first step in our data collection and analysis methods was to research more into what third party services are available in Florida and the policies around getting those services. This research from this step will give us insight into what types of services there are in Florida and how difficult the process is to get the services, without taking into account the waitlist to get funding to pay for the services. The information we found in this step was the types of third party services, the process of applying for third party services, that there are there waitlists for accessing the services along with the waitlist to get money to pay for the services, and more general information about third party services. This research was done through secondary academic research and with the interview of Dr. Alday (see Appendix A for interview questions).

Step 2: Interview Our Contacts

The second step in our data collection and analysis methods was to interview our contacts. We interviewed our contacts because they each have knowledge about a specific part of our problem. Dr. Alday has knowledge in the special education system in Florida and Kristi Perry has knowledge about what it is like to have a child with a developmental disability while living in a place with limited services and a place with not limited services. Our other contacts never got back to us about interviews. Through these interviews we learned about the importance of early intervention for children with developmental disabilities, how the system for disability services works in Florida, what it is like to have to get services for a child with developmental disabilities, and ideas about ways the service system in Florida could be changed to have it improve. This research was done through interviews (see Appendix A for interview questions).

Step 3: Research Possible Solutions

The third step in our data collection and analysis methods was to start researching possible solutions and where they have worked in the past. This step helped us learn about where and what aspects of disability service systems have been successful in the past and continue to be successful. This gave us insight into parts of those systems that we might be able to integrate into Florida’s system for a solution that works well for as many children with developmental disabilities as possible. We found methods that other states and counties have used to provide services for people who are developmentally disabled, as well as problems with other systems that Florida’s system doesn’t have. This research was done through secondary academic research and our interviews with Dr. Alday and Kristi Perry (see Appendix A for interview questions).

Step 4: Develop a Solution for Florida

Our fourth step in our data collection and analysis methods was to develop a solution. Developing a solution is the final goal of this project, and having a solution that could improve the lives of children with developmental disabilities would be very impactful. Children with developmental disabilities are often overlooked in our education system and politics, because they are a minority and often not the most valued. This step included research about which third party services people with developmental disabilities can benefit the most from, ways to make services easily accessible, and how to implement the solutions that were decided upon. This step was done through secondary academic research and our interviews with Dr. Alday and Kristi Perry (see Appendix A for interview questions).

Appendix A: Interview Questions