Deinstitutionalization and the measurement of consumer outcomes: The Oklahoma experience 1992-1999

Abstract

The deinstitutionalization movement in the United States has taken on many forms and has had significant impact on individuals, governments, and communities. In response to government policy concerncs, social scientists have investigated the theoretical and methological tasks
of conceptualizing and measuring the impact of deinstitutionalization. Procedures for examing the impact of community based correctional and mental health facilities have become well established,
but far less attention has been paid to the deinstitutionalization of persons with developmental disability. This paper provides an overview of the deinstitutionalization movement as applied to persons with developmental disabilities and places the Oklahoma experience within the context of that movement. The analysis examined four indicators of quality of life (independence, integration, productivity, and satisfaction) drawn from the 1987 Amendments to the Developmental Disabilities Act. Results show higher mean scores on each indicator used to measure quality of life since community placement.