1. Screening for Hidden Disability in Single Parent Families Receiving Public Assistance Barbara G. Connors, M.Ed. LRC, LPC University of New Orleans Training, Resource, and Assistive-Technology Center

2. Partners 1. Office of Family Support 2. University of New Orleans Training, Resource, and Assistive- Technology Center 3. Louisiana Rehabilitation Services

3. On-Site Screening  A specially designed screening instrument has been constructed to assess STEP participants of the Office of Family Support for hidden disabilities.  The instrument assesses the most common developmental disorders including LD and ADHD, mental health disorders, and substance abuse.

4. Skills and Adjustment Assessment  Consent form  Background Information (family history, medical history, school history, work history, social/legal history  LD screening  ADHD screening  Alcohol/Drug screening  Mental Health screening

5. Learning Disabilities  Reading  Math  Written Language (Spell/Write)  Expressive Language  Receptive Language  Articulation  Sequencing  Organization  Memory  Non Verbal (Visual/Spatial)  Interpersonal  Other

6. LD Symptomatology  Examples:  Do not like reading  Poor at basic math  Misspell same word different ways  Difficulty learning new words  Need verbal repetition  Errors in pronunciation  Trouble telling time  Forget things, lose things  Hard to memorize  Messy handwriting, clumsy  Left/Right confusion  Few or no friends  Auditory memory like a tape recorder

7. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder  Russel A. Barkely and DSM-IV TR  Adult Symptoms (past 6 months)  Childhood Symptoms (age 5 to 12 years)  No biological test is currently available

8. Attention Hyperactivity  Careless mistakes  Attention  Listening  Unfinished  Organization  Concentration  Lose things  Distracted  forgetful  Fidget  Leave seat  Restless  Noisy  Driven by a motor  Talking  Blurt out  Can’t wait  Interrupt

9. Substance Abuse Do you ever drink alcohol? Have you ever experimented with drugs? CAGE Have you ever felt you should Cut down on your drinking? Have people Annoyed you by criticizing your drinking? Have you ever felt Guilty about your drinking? Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning (Eye opener)?

10. Substance Abuse CAGE-AID Do you use any drugs other than those prescribed? Has a physician ever told you to cut down or quit? Has your use caused family, job, or legal problems? Have you ever had a memory loss or blackout?

11. Psychiatric Symptomatology  Anxiety  Depression  Hostility  Interpersonal Sensitivity  Obsessive-Compulsivity  Paranoid Ideation  Phobic Anxiety  Somatization  Psychoticism

12. SA-45  Examples:  Feeling fearful  Feeling no interest in things  Check and double-check  Feeling weak  Feeling afraid to go out  Temper outbursts  Feeling very self conscious  Feeling you are watched or talked about  Hearing voices other do not hear

13. Prevalence of Learning Disorders  5% of students in public schools (DSM- IV)  Co-existence with ADHD and/or Dysthymic Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder  Association with deficits in visual perception, linguistic processes, memory, coordination

14. Prevalence of LD/ADHD National Center for Health Statistics 1997-98  Children 6-11 years  3% ADHD/no LD  4% LD/no ADHD  4% both Ld/ADHD  Therefore: 7% ADHD and 8% LD

15. Data Summary June 2002 to June 2005  Total Screened: 1557  LD/ADHD 508  Mental Health 350  Substance Abuse 13  Physical Disability 177  No Referral 509

16. Data Summary 6/02 – 6/05  LD/ADHD 33%  Mental Health 22%  Substance Abuse 1%  Physical Disability 11%  No Refferal33%

17. Data Summary 06/02 – 06/05

18. Data Summary 6/02 – 6/05  Total Referred For Services:  1048  67%  No Referral:  509  33%

19. Screening Recommendations  Referral to La Rehabilitation Svcs  Referral to Center for Addictive Disorders  Referral to DDS for SSI/DI application  No Referral

20. Welfare Reform  AFDC becomes TANF (1996)  60 months lifetime TANF benefits  Performance standards and/or work requirements  24 months in Louisiana

21. Conclusion  Data suggests that disabilities in the TANF population screened may be substantial.  Families may face the end of benefits without rehabilitation services.  Enforcing work participation without accommodations may disproportionately subject recipients to sanctions and benefit termination.

22. For further information: Contact: Barbara G. Connors University of New Orleans P.O. Box 1051 New Orleans, LA 70148 504-280-5700 bgconnor@uno.edu