Despite two natural disasters, including hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the resulting tragic chaos, the state of Louisiana stuck to its commitment to the Supports Intensity Scale and has assessed 3,000 persons with intellectual disabilities for support needs and services since adopting SIS in November 2005.

“People are very pleased with SIS—from providers and people with disabilities to families. People are happy that finally, the right questions are being asked to understand how to best support them,” says Jim LeVelle, State Director of Psychological Services. Asked why Louisiana decided to adopt SIS, Jim explains that the positive focus of SIS is what appealed to the state. “The focus of SIS is support needs, not deficits. The SIS is central to what people’s needs are and that’s what life is about.”

The SIS was administered as a part of the Louisiana Plus tool, a comprehensive system that the state uses to assess a person’s wants and needs. The SIS constitutes the core of the LA Plus system. Using data from these assessments, the state anticipates analyzing results to determine a method of allocating resources for persons served under the system. Results from this study are anticipated in August 2006.

The state has around 30 professionals so far involved with administering SIS. In addition to the 3,000 persons already assessed using SIS, the state anticipates using the Scale with an additional 6,500 persons—5,300 people from the waiver program and another 1,200 people living in developmental centers across the state—in the upcoming year.

LeVelle says, “Considering that Louisiana has experience devastation from hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and suffered severe financial crises that drastically limited resources, we are pleased with our first year's progress. We are also pleased with the support that we have received from AAMR. This could not have been achieved without the support and guidance of AAMR.”