Disabilities Research Centre

Aims of the Disabilities Research Centre

The Disabilities Research Centre at the University of Adelaide brings together the interests and expertise of its members to the investigation of issues concerning people with disabilities. The Unit aims to improve understanding of methods for assessing the needs of people with disabilities and to develop interventions which will advance the provision of disability services addressed to these needs

Academic Staff

• Dr. Neil Kirby (Director)
• Prof. Ted Nettelbeck

Research Staff

• Roma Guscia
• Julia Harries
• Dr. Leah Wilson

 Research Interests

• Needs assessment
• Disability service evaluation
• Rehabilitation research
• Training programs for people with disabilities
• Aging and Disability

PhD Students

• Roma Guscia
• Julia Harries
• Kelly Partridge
• Fiona Rillotta
• Maire Sutherland

Current Research Projects

Needs Assessment

The DRU is currently working in collaboration with the Office of Disability and Client Services (ODACS) of the Department for Families and Communities (DFC) on a project examining the assessment and associated funding of support needs for people with disabilities. The objective of the project is to develop a needs assessment system, the Disability, Support, Training and Resource Tool (D-START) for people with diverse disabilities that will provide a rational and empirical basis for the distribution of financial resources to meet those needs. D-START can also be used for individual program planning, service planning and risk assessment.

Driver Rehabilitation

This project develops a model of driver rehabilitation and training, based on speed of information processing variables, for people with acquired brain injuries (ABI). Current evaluations of fitness to drive lack sufficient theoretical and empirical foundations. Consequent problems include inappropriate decisions about fitness to drive, compromised driver safety, and inadequate driver training. Accurate assessment of ABI processing deficits will generate driver-training programs tailored to individual needs. The project also addresses rehabilitation and training outcomes, particularly as they relate to reduced social services needs and enhanced quality of life. It provides a paradigm for evaluating rehabilitation outcomes in wider contexts.

Evaluation of community living

This project is being conducted in conjunction with Flinders University and is funded by the Department for Families and Communities (DFC). The purpose of this 18-month evaluation is to assess the process of the move of 30 residents from Strathmont Centre to purpose built community houses. The evaluation uses a pre-post design to measure well-being and quality of life and the primary focus concerns whether the devolution is conducted in such a way that enhances the quality of life benefits for residents, and minimizes any potential negative impacts for residents, family members, staff and volunteers. Project recommendations will identify any unanticipated impacts and dynamics that should be considered in future processes and inform the development of best practice principles, policies and processes for the move of future residents.

Evaluation of aged care resident committees

This project will be a joint venture between the DRU and the Aged Rights Advocacy Service (ARAS), funded by the Department of Health and Ageing (DHA). It is due to start late 2007. Currently Australian government regulations require that aged care facilities provide their residents with opportunities for decision-making and control. Previous DRU research suggests that while a large number of aged care facilities have introduced resident committees as a method to meet these regulations, there is relativelylittle evidence for their effectiveness. The aim of the project is therefore to produce nationally applicable, accessible tools and guidelines for resident committees in residential aged care facilities. These will strengthen the ability of residents to participate within the aged care internal feedback processes, with the ultimate aim of enhancing resident quality of life.

Other Areas of Research

• Assessing learning support for people with intellectual disabilities.
• Measuring changes in support needs for people with disabilities.
• Psychometric properties of support need instruments.
• Relationship between measures of adaptive behaviour and support needs.
• Evaluating patient care procedures in an intensive care unit.
• Evaluation of work life transitions in people with intellectual disabilities.
• Quality of life of families having a member with an intellectual disability .
• Inclusion of children with special needs into vacation care programs.
• Aging and intellectual disability.
• Service Need Assessment Profile (SNAP): strengths and weaknesses.
• Current systems of assessment at three South Australian residential facilities servicing people with disabilities.
• An alternative needs assessment measure: The Inventory for Client and Agency Planning (ICAP).

Details of Grants and Funding Supporting Our Research

 ARC & Office of Disability and Client Services

Kirby , N.H. , Nettelbeck, T.J., Taplin, J.E. Support needs assessment: a developmental model for use in support, training and funding for individuals with single and multiple disabilities

 ARC & General Repatriation Hospital

Kirby , N.H. , Nettelbeck, TJ, Crotty, M, Taplin, JE., & Clark, MJ An assessment of the relationship between cognitive capacity and driver competence following acquired brain injury: Implications for driver rehabilitation. 

Department for Families and Communities

Kirby, N. & Ford, J. Strathmont Centre redevelopment and community living project.

Department of Health and Ageing

Wilson, L. & Kirby, N.The development of an accreditation-compatible instrument with associated guidelines for assessing and improving the effectiveness of resident committees in aged care facilities.

Selected Publications

Members of the Disabilities Research Unit are recognized both nationally and internationally for their contributions to the disability field. Professor Ted Nettelbeck was listed among the top 10 researchers in the field of developmental disabilities, in a recent publication by Logan, Lott and Mayville (2000), entitled “Top researchers and institutions in mental retardation: 1979-1999”. The University of Adelaide was also included among the 50 most productive institutions in developmental disability research.

Guscia, R., Harries, J., Kirby, N., Nettelbeck, T., & Taplin, J. (2006). Rater bias and the measurement of support. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 31(3) pp 156-160.

Guscia, R., Harries, J., Kirby, N., Nettelbeck, T., & Taplin, J. (2006) Construct and criterion validities of the Service Need Assessment Profile. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 31(3) pp 148-155.

Guscia, R., Eckberg, S., Harries, J., Kirby, N. (2006). Measurement of environmental constructs in disability assessment. Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disability 3(3) pp 173-180.

Guscia, R., Harries, J., Kirby, N., Nettelbeck, T., & Taplin, J. (2005). Reliability of the Service Need Assessment Profile (SNAP): A measure of support for people with disabilities. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 30 (1), pp. 24-30.

Harries, J., Guscia, R., Kirby, N., Nettelbeck, T., & Taplin, J. (2005). Support needs and adaptive behaviour. American Journal on Mental Retardation, 110 (5), pp.393-404

Kirby, N., Harries, J., Guscia, R., (2005). Support needs assessment: Measures and critical issues. Intellectual Disability Australasia, 26(2).

Kirby, N., Taplin, J., Nettelbeck, T. & Caudrey, D. (2001). Individual needs assessment and resource allocation in disability services. Australian Journal of Psychology, 53, Supplement (Abstract), 159.

Nettelbeck, T., & Wilson, C. (2002) Personal vulnerability of persons with mental retardation. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse. 3, 289-306.

Nettelbeck, T., & Wilson, C. (2000).Criminal victimization of persons with mental retardation: The influence of interpersonal competence on risk. In L. Glidden (Ed.), International Review of Research in Mental Retardation, 24, (pp.137-169). New York: Academic Press.

Nettelbeck, T., Wilson, C., Potter, R., & Perry, C. (2000). The influence of interpersonal competence on personal vulnerability of persons with mental retardation. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 15, 46-62.

Wilson, L. & Kirby, N. (2006). Ideal versus actual levels of decision-making in South Australian aged care resident committees. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 25(2), 69-73.

Wilson, L. & Kirby, N. (2005). How resident committees function in low-level residential aged care facilities. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 24(4), 207-212.

Selected Conference Presentations

Kirby, N. Guscia, R., & Harries, J. (2005, October). Disability and the environment: facilitators, barriers and needs. Paper presented at the 40 th Annual Australian Society for the Study of Intellectual Disability, Auckland, New Zealand.

Kirby, N ., Guscia, R., Harries, J., & Ekberg, S. (2005, June). Measurement of environmental constructs in disability assessment. Paper presented at the First Asian-Pacific International Australasian Society for the Study of Intellectual Disability, Taipei, Taiwan.

Kirby, N., Harries J., & Guscia, R. (2004, November). Developing a support needs assessment system for use across the disability sector for service planning and resource allocation. Workshop presented at Australian Council for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled Conference. Sydney, NSW.

Kirby, N., Guscia, R., & Harries, J. (2004, November). Support needs assessment: Measures and critical issues. Paper presented at the 39 th Annual Australian Society for the Study of Intellectual Disability Conference, Adelaide, South Australia.

Kirby, N., & Harries, J. (2004, October) Support needs and adaptive behaviour. Paper presented at the 39 th Annual Australian Psychological Society Conference, Sydney, NSW.

Kirby, N. (2003, November). Assessment of the support needs of people with disabilities: The perceived feasibility of different instruments. Paper presented at the 38 th Annual Australian Society for the Study of Intellectual Disability, Brisbane, Queensland.

Kirby, N. (2003, April). Client Assessment Tools. National Accommodation and Community Support Conference presentation. Melbourne, Victoria.

Kirby , N.H. (2001, November). An evaluation of the Service Need Assessment Profile. Paper presented at the Australian Council for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled Conference. Adelaide, South Australia.

Sutherland, M. & Kirby, N. (2002, December) An overview of current employment support models for integrating people with disabilities into the community. Paper presented at UNESCAP Asia Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons 1992-2002 Campaign 2001. Integrating Persons with Disabilities into the Community. Hanoi, Vietnam.

Taplin, J.E. (2000). Achievements and future directions for clinical practice in disability services. In J. Wagner & J. Martin (Eds.), Developmental disability services in the new millenium. Sydney: PSYCHDD.

General enquiries can be directed to:

Roma Guscia
Ph: 8303 5849
Fax: 8303 3770
Rm 111a, Hughes Building
School of Psychology
University of Adelaide
North Tce Campus
Adelaide, SA, 5005