Data
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Action
Through StateData Outcome Metrics, we help states collect and/or manage data on employment outcomes and meaningful day activities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
What can StateData Outcome Metrics do for you?
Collect the data you need to make thoughtful decisions for your state.
Our data experts and web developers build personalized data entry systems tailored to your state’s goals & organizational needs to support employment and community engagement.
Once you have the data, let it show!
Our data experts develop practical data displays for state personnel, policymakers, and researchers to browse at state, regional, and provider levels. These displays are user-friendly and engaging for people with disabilities and their families to make informed service choices.
We have built customizable online data collection systems and interactive data displays for Massachusetts and Maryland.
You bring the data, we build your interactive data display!
If your state has a data collection system in place, we can help your data reach those who want to use it: state personnel, policymakers, and researchers as well as people with disabilities and their families.
Washington and Michigan already collected their data, so we have built interactive data displays for these states.
We can be there every step of the way.
Our data experts and web developers are on call to support you in streamlining data entry, cleaning and managing data, integrating data, troubleshooting tech issues, and upgrading the website.
Your data, at your service!
We guarantee expert, on-demand data interpretation and reporting to support your state’s current needs and policies as well as your decision-making and accountability.
Why should my state collect data?
A standardized data collection and reporting process allows you to monitor progress toward state goals, establish and evaluate state actions to reach the goals, support decision making, and demonstrate accountability:
- Assess progress and identify investment needs and strategies
- Make informed decisions on support to providers, continuous quality improvement, and investments in training
- Encourage organizations to maintain a data-based approach to management and development
- Give individuals, families, and case managers the opportunity to assess a range of options to best support their individual goals and priorities
Data collection informs and promotes conversations about employment and provides an opportunity to establish common definitions and language about employment outcomes and supports for everyone.
What Data Points Do We Collect?
Employment Type is a core outcome variable. Employment is the goal. It is important to focus on employment outcomes rather than the employment services a person receives. These outcomes provide insight into progress toward economic stability, independence, and quality of life for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Employment Types include:
- individual integrated employment
- self-employment
- group integrated employment
- center-based (sheltered work)
These variables indicate the quality of the employment outcomes and contribute to a more complete picture of the employment landscape in your state. They help assess the characteristics and stability of people’s employment. Employment Quality Indicators include:
- hours worked
- wages earned
- whether the person receives paid time off (vacation/ holiday/ sick)
- retention or longevity in the current job
Sometimes states choose to collect additional information on employment, which may include:
- source of paycheck (e.g., business or employment services provider)
- industry/occupation
What do people do when they are not working? Knowing how people are spending their time and what meaningful activities they engage in outside of employment gives us insight into trends within services, such as:
- community-based non-work
- facility based non-work (day programs)
- other wrap-around services
Linking employment outcomes with demographic variables helps identify patterns across groups and explore how personal characteristics might influence employment outcomes. Demographic variables can include the following:
- Date of birth (age)
- Gender
- Disability type/diagnosis
- Level of support need
- Race
- Ethnicity
- Language spoken at home
- Residential setting
How is the Collected Data Used?
- Interactive dashboards show employment rates, wages, hours, participation in non-work services, regional differences, provider-level analytics, and more
- Individuals and their families can use this data as an empowering tool to help make informed choices about services
- State agency staff can use the data to identify providers that benefit from additional training and technical assistance
Long-term trend reporting is one of the most valuable things a state can do when managing services for people with IDD. States that track employment, meaningful day activities, service use, and quality over time make better decisions, fund better services, and are more accountable to the people they serve.
Here is an example of a report showing trends over time:
Percentage by Employment Type
Year | Total in Integrated Jobs* | Individual Supported Jobs | Group Supported Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
2021 | 42.7% | 26.7% | 17.1% |
2022 | 62.5% | 37.2% | 27.3% |
2023 | 68.0% | 38.9% | 31.3% |
2024 | 68.3% | 39.3% | 31.0% |
2025 | 69.6% | 40.0% | 31.7% |
* Total in Integrated Jobs includes both Individual Supported Jobs and Group Supported Jobs.
Is your state focusing on a specific policy or priority?
Customized reporting can provide insight into a specific domain or topical area, such as elimination of 14c subminimum wage, compliance with Employment First policy, or efforts to increase community inclusion.
Meet our Data Experts
Jean has over 20 years of experience researching the policies and practices of states with high rates of integrated employment and 15 years of experience providing technical assistance to employment system stakeholders. Her work includes efforts to understand the methods states use to collect data on employment, the strategies states use to fund employment services, and the factors that impact the choices individuals with disabilities make about employment. Read Jean’s bio>>
Agnes manages ThinkWork’s state data collection projects. Over her 10+ years of experience on the project, she’s played a key role in helping develop ICI’s data collection systems. Agnes works directly with states on data collection and reporting, addressing specific data requests, and providing robust communications with each state and their contracted providers. Agnes also monitors the entire data collection information system and works with the team on continuous improvement of tools and processes.
John supports data collection and analysis efforts with state agencies to improve employment and meaningful day outcomes for people with disabilities. His work focuses on designing and managing data systems that help states track progress, inform policy, and drive systems change. John works closely with providers and state partners to ensure data systems are practical and sustainable, offering day-to-day technical assistance with data entry, system navigation, troubleshooting, and implementation. By combining technical support with data expertise, he helps ensure high-quality data collection that supports long-term system goals. Read John's bio>>
Paul has 15+ years of experience developing and maintaining personalized data entry systems tailored to customer needs and building interactive, user-friendly data display websites. Paul helps non-technical staff communicate via the internet and creates websites that are accessible to all users. Paul’s background is in education and technology. Read Paul’s bio>>
