We have been asked by ANCOR, who is partnering with the University of Colorado and ACCESS: Supports for Living, to gather data on the impact of the pandemic on the behavioral health of people with I/DD. The survey is targeting people with disabilities, not our staff. You can take the survey here.

The study Impact of the Pandemic on Behavioral Health of People with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities (IDD) is being led by Jessica Solomon Sanders, MD (University of Colorado Departments of Developmental Pediatrics and Neurology) and Benjamin Margolis, MD (Access: Supports for Living). Among those affected by the COVID-19 crisis, there are groups of disproportionally affected individuals, including individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), where we are seeing not only increased morbidity and mortality but also decreased mental health. It is likely that many factors are contributing to decreased overall wellness, not only related to conditions resulting from infection, but also amongst those affected by downstream changes required by the pandemic. We hope to highlight these factors and changes leading to this impact through analysis of this survey.

To learn more, please email Dr. Sanders or Dr. Margolis. This study has been approved by the Colorado Multiple Institutional Review Board (COMIRB? #21–2546). You can also contact the Colorado Multiple Institutional Review Board at (303) 724-1055.

The survey takes about 10 minutes. Participation is voluntary and participants’ time and insights are greatly appreciated. All responses are anonymous. Results will only be available in aggregate.