A simulated caregivers experience identifying state resources for intellectual disability on e-government websites

Background: With an increasing number of Americans turning to the internet for health information, there is a need to evaluate intellectual/developmental disability (I/DD) resource information from e-government websites. Individuals with I/DD benefit from coordination in health care, and often require residential and social services to enhance quality of life and ability to lead healthy and engaging lives in the community. Methods: Descriptive, cross-sectional assessment of e-government websites to identify available services for the adult with I/DD was conducted by three researchers. Results: Available information on services and ease of access was recorded across all fifty states and the District of Columbia. Our focus of e-government sites was deemed as appropriate websites for state services, and provided uniform comparison among states. Specifically, information on services was available as follows: Residential (51/51), respite (49/51), transportation (45/51), medical equipment (29/51), aging (28/51), and transitional (24/51). For contact information, a phone number was listed (49/51), a phone number with a local area code (33/51), an email (23/51), and an inquiry form (3/51). Unique state programs and unique challenges were documented. Conclusions: Disparities in information for available resources across 51 e-government websites were found. Dead-links, unavailable webpages, poor internal search functions, unlisted services, unlisted contact information, and a lack of response communication from different states were some of the challenges. We recommend that e-government sites, where applicable, address these obstacles, consider publically informing caregivers about the availability of services, and implement the unique programs identified while highlighting their own unique programs in an easy-to-access manner.