VRM-IDD: Virtual Research Methods for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities - Applying inclusive participatory research throughout this 5-year project, The American Institutes for Research (AIR) offers the field rigorously validated research methods appropriate for remote virtual environments. Project partners include coresearchers from TASH, peer navigators and an Advisory Panel with diverse expertise. The goals of this project are to identify, vet, develop and test virtual research methods for people with IDD, to promote uptake of validated methods, and build research teams’ capacity to use them. The objectives are first, to conduct research to identify, vet, develop and document methods for conducting virtual interviews, World Cafés, and surveys, with particular emphasis on producing a virtual mode, in English and Spanish, of the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) member of the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers & Systems (CAHPS) family of surveys, used by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Secondly, to promote utilization, AIR will apply universal design for learning in all project activities, in particular a Usability Lab to investigate best practices for using pertinent devices and platforms. Third, the team will develop, identify and disseminate how-to resources based on project findings. The chief expected product is an online toolkit housing three modules for i) researchers; ii) people with IDD; and iii) caregivers and support professionals for people with IDD. Longterm outcomes include improved services to and quality of life (QOL) for people with IDD who receive HBCS; greater effectiveness of virtual research methods used in the field, and consequently, improved services and QOL for individuals with IDD generally; and increased meaningful participation of people with IDD in the research enterprise.
