Quality of Life in Adults With Intellectual Disability: Observation‐Measurement Findings and Social Validity Among Direct Service Providers

ABSTRACT The quality of life (QoL) of persons with intellectual disability should be a fundamental concern for behavior analysis practitioners. In this pilot study, we designed an observation‐measurement form for direct service providers (DSPs) to record QoL indicators at two residential homes operated by a human services organization. The observation‐measurement form had good interobserver agreement, yielded many positive ratings of 12 QoL indicators, and suggested several areas of QoL that could be improved. Also, the DSPs completed a social validity questionnaire that revealed desirable impressions of QoL among adults living in the homes. Though preliminary, the study suggests a methodology for measuring QoL objectively at behavior analysis service organizations and monitoring QoL systematically by practitioners who support persons with intellectual disability.