The Tower Foundation commissioned Wilder Research to help us get a deeper understanding of attitudes and experiences, related to intellectual disabilities, learning disabilities and mental health, of residents living in the Foundation’s geographic regions. We also wanted to hear from parents of children living with an intellectual disability and /or a learning disability, and from young people directly. It’s not often that these families, and the youth themselves, have a space for their voice to be heard, especially about their experiences living in their communities.

To collect this data, Wilder developed surveys for the three different audiences: community residents, parents of children living with an intellectual disability and /or a learning disability, and young people living with an intellectual disability and/or a learning disability. We started with the community survey in 2017 and the Parent and Individual Youth Surveys the following year. We repeat the survey process every two years.

The Foundation uses this information to inform its work and hope others will do the same. Below are the survey summaries from the Foundation’s geographical regions:

Massachusetts

YEAR
COUNTIES
 FOCUS AREA(S) TYPE OF SURVEY
2023 Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket Intellectual Disabilities Learning Disabilities
Mental Health Issues
Community Survey Download
(PDF 12 pgs)
2023 Essex Intellectual Disabilities Learning Disabilities
Mental Health Issues
Community Survey Download
(PDF 12 pgs)
2022 Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket Intellectual Disabilities Family Survey/Parent Download
(PDF 6 pgs)
2022 Essex, Dukes, Barnstable, and Nantucket Learning Disabilities Family Survey/Parent Download
(PDF 8 pgs)
2020 Essex, Dukes, Barnstable, and Nantucket and Erie and Niagara Counties-New York Intellectual Disabilities
Learning Disabilities
COVID-19
Family Survey/Parent Summary Report
Download
(PDF 3 pgs)
2020 Essex, Dukes, Barnstable, and Nantucket Intellectual Disabilities COVID-19
Family Survey/Parent
Download
(PDF 8 pgs)
2020 Essex, Dukes, Barnstable, and Nantucket Learning Disabilities COVID-19
Family Survey/Parent
Download
(PDF 5 pgs)
2020 Essex, Dukes, Barnstable, and Nantucket Intellectual Disabilities Family Survey
Parent
Download
(PDF 7 pgs)
2020 Essex, Dukes, Barnstable, and Nantucket Learning Disabilities Family Survey
Parent
Download
(PDF 5 pgs)
2020 Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket Learning Disability Family Survey
Youth
Download
(PDF 4 pgs)
2020 Essex Learning Disabilities Family Survey
Youth
Download
(PDF 4 pgs)
2019 Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket Intellectual Disabilities Learning Disabilities
Mental Health Issues
Community Survey Download
(PDF 7 pgs)
2019 Essex Intellectual Disabilities Learning Disabilities
Mental Health Issues
Community Survey Download
(PDF 7 pgs)
2018 Essex, Dukes, Barnstable, and Nantucket Intellectual Disabilities Family Survey
Parents of Youth
Download
(PDF 5 pgs)
2018 Essex, Dukes, Barnstable, and Nantucket Learning Disabilities Family Survey
Parent
Download
(PDF 8 pgs)
2018 Essex, Dukes, Barnstable, and Nantucket and Erie and Niagara Counties-New York Learning Disabilities Family Survey
Youth
Download
(PDF 6 pgs)
2017 Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket Intellectual Disabilities Learning Disabilities
Mental Health Issues
Community Survey Download
PDF (3 pgs)
2017 Essex Intellectual Disabilities Learning Disabilities
Mental Health Issues
Community Survey Download
PDF (3 pgs)

New York

YEAR
COUNTIES
FOCUS AREA(S) TYPE OF
SURVEY
2023 Erie and Niagara Intellectual Disabilities Learning Disabilities
Mental Health Issues
Community Survey Download
(PDF 13 pgs)
2022 Erie and Niagara Intellectual Disabilities Family Survey/Parent Download
(9 pages)
2022 Erie and Niagara Learning Disabilities Family Survey/Parent Download
(6 pages)
2020 Essex, Dukes, Barnstable, and Nantucket-MA and Erie and Niagara Counties Intellectual Disabilities
Learning Disabilities
COVID-19
Family Survey/Parent
Summary Report
Download
(PDF 3 pgs)
2020 Erie and Niagara Intellectual Disabilities COVID-19
Family Survey/Parent
Download
(PDF 8 pgs)
2020 Erie and Niagara Learning Disabilities COVID-19
Family Survey/Parent
Download
(PDF 5 pgs)
2020 Erie and Niagara Intellectual Disabilities Family Survey
Parent
Download
(PDF 7 pgs)
2020 Erie and Niagara Learning Disabilities Family Survey
Parent
Download
(PDF 5 pgs)
2020 Erie and Niagara Learning Disability Family Survey
Youth
Download
(PDF 4 pgs)
2019 Erie and Niagara Intellectual Disabilities Learning Disabilities
Mental Health Issues
Community Survey Download
(PDF 7 pgs)
2018 Erie and Niagara Intellectual Disabilities Family Survey
Parents of Youth
Download
(PDF 5 pgs)
2018 Erie and Niagara Learning Disabilities Family Survey
Parent
Download
(PDF 7 pgs)
2018 Essex, Dukes, Barnstable, and Nantucket and Erie and Niagara Counties-New York Learning Disabilities Family Survey
Youth
Download
(PDF 6 pgs)
2017 Erie and Niagara Intellectual Disabilities Learning Disabilities
Mental Health Issues
Community Survey Download
(PDF 3 pgs)

 

Explore the Data

The Tower Foundation believes that the grants it makes improve the lives of young people and their families affected by intellectual disabilities, learning disabilities, mental illness, and/or substance use disorders. We pay careful attention to how the projects we fund are performing, but what about the bigger picture? The TowerDATA Dashboard is designed to provide a sense of how these groups are doing in the communities in which the Foundation works.

We invite you to explore, learn, and ask your own questions about the data. Click the box below to access the Dashboard.