Increasing Direct Support for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities to Enable Self-Sufficiency
Date of Conferral
10-31-2023
Degree
Doctor of Public Administration (D.P.A)
School
Public Policy and Administration
Advisor
Linda Sundstrom
Abstract
The need in the government and nonprofit sectors is for increased support for people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities to enable self-sufficiency. The practice-focused questions are what resources are needed to recruit volunteers over the age of 60 in Anchorage, Alaska, and what are motivational strategies to recruit volunteers over the age of 60 in Anchorage, Alaska. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the motivation of Alaskans over the age of 60 who provide direct service support through volunteerism for people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities to become self-sufficient. The framework for this model for inclusive volunteerism is to identify barriers to successful recruitment and address these barriers with satisfactory explanations. The sources of evidence were interviews of Alaskans over the age of 60 using 10 semi-structured interviews. Analytical strategies included assigning codes to themes that emerged from the interviews, and then weaving these themes to form answers to the practice focused questions. Findings include that Alaskans over the age of 60 desire to provide volunteerism within a well-developed volunteer program. Recommendations include strategies for the growth of a successful volunteer program to provide support for people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities.
Recommended Citation
Noland, Lisa C., "Increasing Direct Support for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities to Enable Self-Sufficiency" (2023). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 15031.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/15031
