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.