National Opinion Leader Survey on Sheltered Employment Conversions

Purpose

Some states, and some agencies, have ended sheltered employment and/or sub-mininum wage models. More are planning to do so. Yet there is a serious shortage of knowledge about the key question: Are the people "better off"? In what way(s)? How much? At what cost? And the simpler questions are still unanswered at the national level - do people have as many hours of engagement each week? How much money do they earn? Are they more integrated into the life of their communities?

This survey is Phase 1 of a research program to get reliable outcome evidence. This is an Opinion Leader Survey of executives who have been involved in the conversion or closure of one or more workshops.

In our pilot test, it took 15 minutes to complete this survey.

(The rest of the multi-year research program can be seen here: http://eoutcome.org/Uploads/COAUploads/PdfUpload/NWCS-StudyDesign-COA-V11.pdf )

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* 1. Your name

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* 2. Your phone number for follow-up questions (optional):

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* 3. How many sheltered employment center conversions or closures have you been involved in?

Number

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* 4. Please think of JUST ONE of those Centers to answer the rest of these questions.

In what state or U.S. territory was that Center located?

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* 5. About what year was the decision made to phase down and/or close this center?

Year

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* 6. In that year, about how many people worked in that center?

# people

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* 7. About what year did that center finally close?

Year

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* 8. Please ESTIMATE how many of those people went to each kind of alternative daily activity:

Another sheltered workshop 14(c) situation

Individualized competitive employment

Enclave employment

Mobile work crew employment

Individualized supported employment

Facility-based non-paid day program

Community experiences, non-facility-based day program

No day services other than informal outings with residential workers

Other

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* 9. THEN - WHEN AT THE SHELTERED EMPLOYMENT CENTER - please ESTIMATE about how many hours the average person was spending per week in paid work and other unpaid activities.

This question may not be answerable with any great accuracy, but we want your "best guesses" here. (Later research will refine these estimates with genuine pre and post studies.)

PAID work hours per week at the workshop

UNPAID hours per week at the workshop

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* 10. NOW: SINCE LEAVING THE SHELTERED EMPLOYMENT CENTER - please ESTIMATE about how many hours the average person was spending per week in paid work and other unpaid activities.

Again, rough estimates are all we seek at this time.

PAID work hours per week since leaving workshop

UNPAID hours in other activities since leaving workshop

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* 11. YOUR OPINIONS about outcomes: On the average, for all the people who left the sheltered employment center for an alternative, how are they doing in each way?

	Much worse off	Somewhat worse off	About the same	Somewhat better off	Much better off	Cannot estimate
Engagement, keeping busy, having enough to do (opposite of boredom)	Engagement, keeping busy, having enough to do (opposite of boredom) Much worse off	Engagement, keeping busy, having enough to do (opposite of boredom) Somewhat worse off	Engagement, keeping busy, having enough to do (opposite of boredom) About the same	Engagement, keeping busy, having enough to do (opposite of boredom) Somewhat better off	Engagement, keeping busy, having enough to do (opposite of boredom) Much better off	Engagement, keeping busy, having enough to do (opposite of boredom) Cannot estimate
Income	Income Much worse off	Income Somewhat worse off	Income About the same	Income Somewhat better off	Income Much better off	Income Cannot estimate
Friendships & relationships (opposite of loneliness)	Friendships & relationships (opposite of loneliness) Much worse off	Friendships & relationships (opposite of loneliness) Somewhat worse off	Friendships & relationships (opposite of loneliness) About the same	Friendships & relationships (opposite of loneliness) Somewhat better off	Friendships & relationships (opposite of loneliness) Much better off	Friendships & relationships (opposite of loneliness) Cannot estimate
Pride in work/day activity (self-esteem)	Pride in work/day activity (self-esteem) Much worse off	Pride in work/day activity (self-esteem) Somewhat worse off	Pride in work/day activity (self-esteem) About the same	Pride in work/day activity (self-esteem) Somewhat better off	Pride in work/day activity (self-esteem) Much better off	Pride in work/day activity (self-esteem) Cannot estimate
Integration (contact with citizens who don’t have disabilities)	Integration (contact with citizens who don’t have disabilities) Much worse off	Integration (contact with citizens who don’t have disabilities) Somewhat worse off	Integration (contact with citizens who don’t have disabilities) About the same	Integration (contact with citizens who don’t have disabilities) Somewhat better off	Integration (contact with citizens who don’t have disabilities) Much better off	Integration (contact with citizens who don’t have disabilities) Cannot estimate
Choice of my day activities/work (opposite of being told what to do and where to go every day)	Choice of my day activities/work (opposite of being told what to do and where to go every day) Much worse off	Choice of my day activities/work (opposite of being told what to do and where to go every day) Somewhat worse off	Choice of my day activities/work (opposite of being told what to do and where to go every day) About the same	Choice of my day activities/work (opposite of being told what to do and where to go every day) Somewhat better off	Choice of my day activities/work (opposite of being told what to do and where to go every day) Much better off	Choice of my day activities/work (opposite of being told what to do and where to go every day) Cannot estimate
Happiness during the day	Happiness during the day Much worse off	Happiness during the day Somewhat worse off	Happiness during the day About the same	Happiness during the day Somewhat better off	Happiness during the day Much better off	Happiness during the day Cannot estimate

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* 12. Now please try to explain in short terms WHY you and the agency running that sheltered employment center decided to phase it out:

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* 13. SOURCES OF OPPOSITION: What were the sources of opposition to the phasedown and closure? Please rate the importance of each of the problems, barriers, challenges, resistance, things that made the transition more difficult.

	1 Not at all	2 Slight	3 Moderate	4 Significant	5 Major
The people themselves	The people themselves 1 Not at all	The people themselves 2 Slight	The people themselves 3 Moderate	The people themselves 4 Significant	The people themselves 5 Major
The families / relatives of the people	The families / relatives of the people 1 Not at all	The families / relatives of the people 2 Slight	The families / relatives of the people 3 Moderate	The families / relatives of the people 4 Significant	The families / relatives of the people 5 Major
The direct support workers in the workshop	The direct support workers in the workshop 1 Not at all	The direct support workers in the workshop 2 Slight	The direct support workers in the workshop 3 Moderate	The direct support workers in the workshop 4 Significant	The direct support workers in the workshop 5 Major
The managers at the workshop and the agency	The managers at the workshop and the agency 1 Not at all	The managers at the workshop and the agency 2 Slight	The managers at the workshop and the agency 3 Moderate	The managers at the workshop and the agency 4 Significant	The managers at the workshop and the agency 5 Major
Advocacy organization(s) such as The Arc, UCPA, VOR, etc.	Advocacy organization(s) such as The Arc, UCPA, VOR, etc. 1 Not at all	Advocacy organization(s) such as The Arc, UCPA, VOR, etc. 2 Slight	Advocacy organization(s) such as The Arc, UCPA, VOR, etc. 3 Moderate	Advocacy organization(s) such as The Arc, UCPA, VOR, etc. 4 Significant	Advocacy organization(s) such as The Arc, UCPA, VOR, etc. 5 Major
Unions (organized labor representing direct support and/or management workers)	Unions (organized labor representing direct support and/or management workers) 1 Not at all	Unions (organized labor representing direct support and/or management workers) 2 Slight	Unions (organized labor representing direct support and/or management workers) 3 Moderate	Unions (organized labor representing direct support and/or management workers) 4 Significant	Unions (organized labor representing direct support and/or management workers) 5 Major
Local government leaders	Local government leaders 1 Not at all	Local government leaders 2 Slight	Local government leaders 3 Moderate	Local government leaders 4 Significant	Local government leaders 5 Major
State government leaders	State government leaders 1 Not at all	State government leaders 2 Slight	State government leaders 3 Moderate	State government leaders 4 Significant	State government leaders 5 Major
Donors / sponsors / charities / fundraisers	Donors / sponsors / charities / fundraisers 1 Not at all	Donors / sponsors / charities / fundraisers 2 Slight	Donors / sponsors / charities / fundraisers 3 Moderate	Donors / sponsors / charities / fundraisers 4 Significant	Donors / sponsors / charities / fundraisers 5 Major
Other service providers (other workshop operators)	Other service providers (other workshop operators) 1 Not at all	Other service providers (other workshop operators) 2 Slight	Other service providers (other workshop operators) 3 Moderate	Other service providers (other workshop operators) 4 Significant	Other service providers (other workshop operators) 5 Major
Rules & regulations	Rules & regulations 1 Not at all	Rules & regulations 2 Slight	Rules & regulations 3 Moderate	Rules & regulations 4 Significant	Rules & regulations 5 Major
Fear of losing funds and going out of business	Fear of losing funds and going out of business 1 Not at all	Fear of losing funds and going out of business 2 Slight	Fear of losing funds and going out of business 3 Moderate	Fear of losing funds and going out of business 4 Significant	Fear of losing funds and going out of business 5 Major
State or local funding source leadership	State or local funding source leadership 1 Not at all	State or local funding source leadership 2 Slight	State or local funding source leadership 3 Moderate	State or local funding source leadership 4 Significant	State or local funding source leadership 5 Major
Funding mechanisms (made sheltered workshop easy to run, community employment and engagement difficult)	Funding mechanisms (made sheltered workshop easy to run, community employment and engagement difficult) 1 Not at all	Funding mechanisms (made sheltered workshop easy to run, community employment and engagement difficult) 2 Slight	Funding mechanisms (made sheltered workshop easy to run, community employment and engagement difficult) 3 Moderate	Funding mechanisms (made sheltered workshop easy to run, community employment and engagement difficult) 4 Significant	Funding mechanisms (made sheltered workshop easy to run, community employment and engagement difficult) 5 Major

Other (please specify)

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* 14. Has the conversion or closure of that sheltered employment center had a good or bad impact on the agency/organization?

	Very bad impact	Bad impact	No overall impact	Good impact	Very good impact
Your opinion of impact	Your opinion of impact Very bad impact	Your opinion of impact Bad impact	Your opinion of impact No overall impact	Your opinion of impact Good impact	Your opinion of impact Very good impact

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* 15. If you know of other leaders who were involved in a conversion, please refer us to them by providing names and how to find them - or if you prefer, send the link to this survey directly to them: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BS3Y38R

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* 1. Your name

Question Title

* 2. Your phone number for follow-up questions (optional):

Question Title

* 3. How many sheltered employment center conversions or closures have you been involved in?

Question Title

* 4. Please think of JUST ONE of those Centers to answer the rest of these questions.In what state or U.S. territory was that Center located?

Question Title

* 5. About what year was the decision made to phase down and/or close this center?

Question Title

* 6. In that year, about how many people worked in that center?

Question Title

* 7. About what year did that center finally close?

Question Title

* 8. Please ESTIMATE how many of those people went to each kind of alternative daily activity:

Question Title

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* 10. NOW: SINCE LEAVING THE SHELTERED EMPLOYMENT CENTER - please ESTIMATE about how many hours the average person was spending per week in paid work and other unpaid activities.Again, rough estimates are all we seek at this time.

Question Title

* 11. YOUR OPINIONS about outcomes: On the average, for all the people who left the sheltered employment center for an alternative, how are they doing in each way?

Question Title

* 12. Now please try to explain in short terms WHY you and the agency running that sheltered employment center decided to phase it out:

Question Title

* 13. SOURCES OF OPPOSITION: What were the sources of opposition to the phasedown and closure? Please rate the importance of each of the problems, barriers, challenges, resistance, things that made the transition more difficult.

Question Title

* 14. Has the conversion or closure of that sheltered employment center had a good or bad impact on the agency/organization?

Question Title

* 15. If you know of other leaders who were involved in a conversion, please refer us to them by providing names and how to find them - or if you prefer, send the link to this survey directly to them: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BS3Y38R

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* 16. Do you have any advice for leaders and organizations that might now or in the future decide to phase down and close sheltered employment?

* 4. Please think of JUST ONE of those Centers to answer the rest of these questions.

In what state or U.S. territory was that Center located?

* 10. NOW: SINCE LEAVING THE SHELTERED EMPLOYMENT CENTER - please ESTIMATE about how many hours the average person was spending per week in paid work and other unpaid activities.

Again, rough estimates are all we seek at this time.