Baseline Data Collection of Persons with ID/DD by Housing Status: A Cross-Sectional Baseline Survey of Adults with Disabilities in Supported Independent and Family Living
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This report presents findings from a baseline cross-sectional survey of autistic adults and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) connected to Our Stomping Ground (OSG), a nonprofit organization in northern Virginia committed to supported independent living. The survey was administered in 2022–2023 as the first wave of a planned longitudinal study, with the primary goal of establishing a comparable starting point between two groups: adults who were living — or preparing to live — independently in an OSG apartment building, and adults with disabilities who were continuing to live at home with family.
A total of 76 adults completed the survey out of 98 potential participants. The two groups were well-matched at baseline across a wide range of characteristics, which is exactly what a sound longitudinal design requires. This comparability means that when follow-up data are collected, any observed differences between the groups can be more confidently attributed to the experience of independent living rather than to pre-existing differences.
The main findings at baseline were as follows:
Key Baseline Findings
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The two groups — apartment residents and those living at home — did not differ significantly on any demographic, health, or psychosocial characteristic, with just two exceptions: more apartment residents completed the survey independently (93% vs. 69%), and, as expected, the groups differed on who they currently lived with.
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The most common diagnoses were autism spectrum disorder (69%), developmental disorders (82%), and intellectual or cognitive disorders (49%). The mean age of participants was 28 years.
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Mental health counseling was already the most common current treatment (41%), consistent with its documented importance to this population.
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Physical activity and BMI profiles were similar across groups: 24% low, 40% moderate, and 37% high physical activity; 50% normal weight, 24% obese.
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Quality of life, as measured by the WHO Quality of Life–BREF, was broadly positive: 84% rated their overall quality of life as good or very good.
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Social support, self-esteem, coping, loneliness, and community contribution were all similar across the two groups, providing a solid, equitable baseline for future comparison.
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At least one in four participants reported needing professional support in most areas of daily life, including employment, finances, transportation, and counseling — underscoring the level of support that makes independent living achievable.
These findings provide the empirical foundation for the longitudinal phase of this study and offer a meaningful snapshot of the health, well-being, and support needs of autistic adults and adults with IDD at a pivotal life stage.
