The transformation of disabilities organizations.
Disability service groups can modernize by adopting five clear traits: person-centered plans, data use, strong leadership, stable funding, and teamwork.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Matson et al. (2013) looked at how disability service groups can change for the better.
They read reports and stories from many agencies.
They picked out five traits that mark a modern, high-quality group.
What they found
The five traits are: person-centered plans, data-driven choices, strong leadership, steady money, and real teamwork.
Groups that show all five give better lives to the people they serve.
How this fits with other research
Bao et al. (2017) took the same five traits and added a cultural lens. They showed you must fit each trait to local values and language.
Turnbull et al. (2017) and Anonymous (2017) each built 12-step checklists. These checklists turn the traits into day-by-day tasks any agency can follow.
Ten Hoopen et al. (2025) found 15 hard barriers families hit when they try to get respite care. The five traits in Matson et al. (2013) are the fix for nearly every one of those barriers.
Why it matters
You can use the five traits as a quick audit. Walk through your agency and ask: Do we use data to decide? Are plans truly person-centered? If the answer is no to any item, you now have a clear next step to improve services.
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Pick one program area and run a five-item checklist: person-centered plan, data use, leadership, funding, teamwork. Note the weakest item and set one 30-day fix.
02At a glance
03Original abstract
This article summarizes the five major characteristics of the transformation era and describes how intellectual and closely related developmental disabilities organizations can apply specific transformation strategies associated with each characteristic. Collectively, the characteristics and strategies provide a framework for transformation thinking, learning, and acting. Specific application examples are given.
Intellectual and developmental disabilities, 2013 · doi:10.1352/1934-9556-51.4.273