Research and Evaluation
What We Do
The UAA Center for Human Development has a team of 14 dedicated research professionals and technicians who keep our funding flowing, our data gathered, and our publications streaming!
Our projects fall under 4 core areas:
- Employment - Making Alaska an "Employment First" state for people with disabilities
- Health - Creating health and wellness opportunities for people with disabilities and their allies
- Disability Justice - Building systems capacity between domestic violence/sexual assault networks and disability service agencies
- Workforce Development - Training today's professionals in Disability Services for excellence now and into the future.
Our researchers use a variety of tools of the trade to make their magic happen including:
- Evaluation (programs, trainings, conferences)
- Mixed methods
- Interviews
- Focus groups
- Survey design
- Community needs assessments
- Information dissemination (infographics)
- Grant writing
- Institutional Review Board applications (including Tribal entities)
Current Projects
- Alaska Traumatic Brain Injury Partnership ProgramMore Info: Lucy Cordwell (907) 264-6223 lkcordwell@alaska.edu
- Childhood Understanding Behaviors Survey (CUBS)More Info: Tamara Douglas (907) 264-6277 tmdouglas2@alaska.edu
- Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Parent SurveyMore Info: Tamara Douglas (907) 264-6277 tmdouglas2@alaska.edu
- Friendships & Dating Program
More Info: Caitie Jones (907) 264-6262 cmjones@alaska.edu
The Friendships & Dating Program (FDP) is an evidence-based, comprehensive approach to teach individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities the skills needed to develop meaningful relationships and prevent interpersonal violence. In 2014, at the request from behavioral health providers familiar with the program, a version of the FDP was developed for youth with serious emotional disturbance (SED).
The FDP is a 10-week curricular intervention that focuses on skill building using a group process and experiential learning opportunities. The FDP is a train-the-trainer program; community agency personnel facilitate the program to groups of teens and adults in agency and community settings. The curriculum is designed to be taught in small groups of 6-10 mixed-gendered participants.Publications
- Ward, K.M., Atkinson, J.P., Smith, C.A., & Windsor, R. (2013). A friendships & dating program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities: A formative evaluation. American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 51(1), 22-32.
- Atkinson, J.P., & Ward, K.M. (2012). The development of an assessment of interpersonal violence for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Sexuality and Disability, 30(3), 301-309. doi 10.1007/s11195-012-9275-3
- Ward, K. M., Windsor, R., & Atkinson, J. P. (2012). A process evaluation of the Friendships and Dating Program for adults with developmental disabilities: Measuring the fidelity of program delivery. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 33(1), 69-75. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2011.08.016
- Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities (LEND)More Info: Nathan Rabang (907) 264-6288 lend@alaskachd.org
- Microenterprise Grant Evaluation
- Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS)More Info: Tamara Douglas (907) 264-6277 tmdouglas2@alaska.edu
- Project ECHOMore Info: Jessica Harvill (907) 264-6242 jjharvill2@alaska.edu
Past Projects
Resources
- Disability Justice
- Employment
Publications
Vandagriff, K.L., Heath, K. (2017). Alaska case study: Pathway to employment for all in the last frontier! Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 47(3), 295-306. DOI: 10.3233/JVR-170903
Heath, K. L., Ward, K. M., & Reed, D.L. (2013). Customized self-employment and the use of Discovery for entrepreneurs with disabilities, Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 39(2), 23-27. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3233/JVR-130639
Heath, K. L. & Reed, D. L. (2013). Industry-Driven Support (IDS) model to build social capital and business skills of low-income entrepreneurs with disabilities. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 38(2), 139-148. DOI: 10.3233/JVR-130627
- Health
- Alaska Healthcare Provider Toolkit - Patients with I/DD
- MyHealth Toolkit
- Physical Activity and Nutrition Among Alaskan Adults with Disabilities
- Sexual Health Among Alaskan Adults with Disabilities
- Substance Use Among Alaskan Adults with Disabilities
- Tobacco Use Among Alaskan Adults with Disabilities
Publications
Ward, K.M., Atkinson, J.P., Smith, C.A., & Windsor, R. (2013). A friendships & dating program for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities: A formative evaluation. American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 51(1), 22-32.
Atkinson, J.P., & Ward, K.M. (2012). The development of an assessment of interpersonal violence for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Sexuality and Disability, 30(3), 301-309. doi 10.1007/s11195-012-9275-3
Ward, K. M., Windsor, R., & Atkinson, J. P. (2012). A process evaluation of the Friendships and Dating Program for adults with developmental disabilities: Measuring the fidelity of program delivery. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 33(1), 69-75. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2011.08.016
- Workforce Development