Georgia becomes the first U.S. state to adopt of the Supports Intensity Scale to gauge the needs of its citizens with intellectual disabilities, marking a major shift in the way services and supports are delivered to people with disabilities. Starting November 1, 2005, developmental disability professionals across the state have started using SIS Online, a web-based version of the Scale developed by the American Association on Mental Retardation (AAMR).

“With the Supports Intensity Scale, some day soon, Georgia's families will know that the work being done on behalf of their loved ones is tailored specific to meet their son's or daughter's exact needs,”  says Steven Hall, Director of the Georgia Office of Developmental Disabilities in an interview with AAMR F.Y.I., the association newsletter.  Read more...

AAMR: Why did Georgia decide to adopt the Supports Intensity Scale? 
Director Hall: Georgia wanted to develop a fair, equitable, and transparent system of funding based on the person with disabilities’ individual support needs. In my first meeting, with the Georgia Department of Human Resources Commissioner B.J. Walker, the Commissioner made it clear that resource allocation to help these citizens should be based on each person's individual need. It was also very important to have a tool that could so readily guide the development of the person's individual plan from his or her assessed support needs.

AAMR: It is clear from talking to you that you feel passionately about the Supports Intensity Scale. Can you explain why?
Director Hall: The Supports Intensity Scale is the first assessment that recognizes that disability is much more of a social construct than a biological one. Rather than determining what is wrong or deficient within the person, as most current assessments do, the SIS helps us determine what kind, amount, and intensity of supports are needed for someone to succeed in the important areas of his or her individual life. The intent of assessment is providing a foundation for the development of real individualized plans that, when carried out as intended, will improve someone's life. No other currently available assessment can so readily be used to help develop good individual plans.

AAMR: As you know, families are wondering how SIS will impact services provided. How will they benefit from SIS?
Director Hall: The individual's plan of services will be developed in a manner that considers the time, intensity, and duration of the intervention based on the person's exact need. With the Supports Intensity Scale, some day soon, Georgia's families will know that the work being done on behalf of their loved ones is tailored specific to meet their son's or daughter's exact needs. No longer will these citizens have to fit into a program that was never designed specifically to meet an individual's needs. There is a great difference between these citizens that have a developmental disability that most assessments and most programs designed for “the developmentally disabled” fail to recognize. Never again, in Georgia, will a person with a disability have to fit into a preconceived set of services or programs. Instead, with the Supports Intensity Scale, these citizens will be respected for their individual strengths and individual needs for support.

AAMR: What would you say to other states considering adoption of SIS?
Director Hall: States know their primary mission is to ensure that, given limited dollars, those citizens who have the most need actually get the most—their fair share—of the financial support. The Supports Intensity Scale can go a long way to ensure that the very real support needs of each individual is determined relative to the needs of other individuals. The Supports Intensity Scale ensures that the very real support needs of the individual are addressed, instead of the imagined support needs based on a disability label.

AAMR: What is the schedule for rolling out SIS in Georgia? 
Director Hall: Key personnel from our case management organizations received training sponsored by AAMR in Baltimore. Following that training, we had a consultant under contract with AAMR and Georgia complete six trainings in Georgia. And finally, we had three days of follow-up trainings by experienced SIS consultants to ensure inter-rater reliability. Between these formal trainings were several information sessions given statewide for providers of services. At every opportunity, the SIS was mentioned as a key component of Georgia's new Medicaid Waiver implementation. The Supports Intensity Scale began full implementation on November 1, 2005 with every Georgia citizen with developmental disabilities receiving services having a completed SIS by June 30, 2006.

AAMR: Any other thoughts you’d like to convey to our readers?
Director Hall: Someday, almost every state will require the Supports Intensity Scale to determine the real support needs of these citizens with developmental disabilities. No longer will case managers or others who write individual service plans have to guess what goal or objective to write in order to meet the individual's support needs. When solid person-centered planning precedes the Supports Intensity Scale's assessment and is followed by meaningful objectives, citizens with developmental disabilities have a real chance at a much-improved life.

Steven Hall can be contacted at srhall1@dhr.state.ga.us

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