Seeking People of Color with Disabilities Who Self-Direct Their Services: Participate in a Research Study on Your Experiences

Below is text you might use when emailing potential participants of the Self-Direction Study. You would fill in information about you or your organization as needed. You would also choose which graphics to include in the email. (You might choose those graphics that best reflect and resonate with your audience.)

Hi _____, [or Dear _____,] 

I hope this email finds you well. I just found out about this study that you might be interested in. Please email Jen at sdequity@brandeis.edu for more info. 

Thanks, 

[Your name]

____________

[Insert selected Self-Direction Study graphic. Alt text for all graphics is available here.]

The Lurie Institute for Disability Policy is seeking people of color with disabilities who self-direct their services to participate in a research study on self-direction experiences.

The Lurie Institute for Disability Policy at Brandeis University is conducting a research study on the self-direction of Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS). Self-directing means that the person who needs services decides how and when their services and supports will be provided and who will provide them.

Are you a person of color with a disability who hires your own PCAs or other services and support workers?
Do you feel like you have choice and control over your services and that you manage or oversee how your services are provided?

• Interviews for this study last between 1 and 1.5 hours. During that time, you would discuss your experiences with self-direction. You must be 18 years old or above to participate.

• To learn more about the study and how to participate, please visit the study website. You may also email Jennifer Lee-Rambharose at sdequity@brandeis.edu.

This Lurie Institute research study is funded by National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR).

*** NOTE: Due to the high rate of bot and spam activity associated with social media, please do not use our recruitment materials on your social media accounts. Please circulate by email to individual people or distribute by regular mail, in-person distribution, or other trusted means. ***

[Insert additional Self-Direction Study graphics and/or screen-reader accessible PDFs, if desired.]

Email, Website, and Similar Graphics:

SENIORS:

• Senior 1
• Senior 2
• Senior 3
• Senior 4

ADULTS (non-seniors):

•  Adult 1
• Adult 2

TRANSITION-AGE YOUTH:

•  Youth 1
• Youth 2

Poster Graphics (print quality):

SENIORS:

 Senior - poster PDF

ADULTS (non-seniors):

 Adult - poster PDF

TRANSITION-AGE YOUTH:

 Youth - poster PDF

Email, Website, and Similar Graphics:

SENIORS:

• Senior 1
  • Alt text: An elderly Black man removes lettuce from a grocery bag and box as he directs a care worker in the background in the preparation of a meal. Text reads: "Participate in a study exploring the experiences of people of color who direct their own home and community-based services! We’re talking to disabled people of color about their experience of choice, control, and oversight in who provides their services, how and when those services are performed, and how they compensate their support staff." Interviews last between 1 and 1.5 hours. Contact us to learn more about participating. Must be 18 years or older. Email: sdequity@brandeis.edu / Logo for the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy at Brandeis University. Learn more: https://heller.brandeis.edu/community-living-policy/clec/research/studies/self-direction-people-of-color.html 
• Senior 2
  • Alt text: An older woman of color in a plaid shirt is attended by a care worker who leans over the elderly woman's shoulder, smiling. Text reads: "We’re holding confidential interviews with disabled people of color who want to share their experiences hiring, training, and managing direct care workers." Interviews last between 1 and 1.5 hours. Contact us to learn more about participating! Must be 18 years or older. Email: sdequity@brandeis.edu / Logo for the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy at Brandeis University / Learn more:  https://heller.brandeis.edu/community-living-policy/clec/research/studies/self-direction-people-of-color.html
• Senior 3
  • Alt text: An older Black woman in a dark pink pullover is sitting on a couch with a care worker who appears to be explaining a set of documents; the first woman smiles at the woman assisting her. Text reads: "Participate in a study exploring the experiences of people of color who direct their own home and community-based services! We’re talking to disabled people of color about their experience of choice, control, and oversight in who provides their services, how and when those services are performed, and how they compensate their support staff." Interviews last between 1 and 1.5 hours. Contact us to learn more about participating! Must be 18 years or older. Email: sdequity@brandeis.edu / Logo for the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy at Brandeis University. Learn more: https://heller.brandeis.edu/community-living-policy/clec/research/studies/self-direction-people-of-color.html
• Senior 4
  • Alt text: An older Black man seated in a wicker chair and looking outward is being assisted by a care worker, a younger Black woman. Text reads: "Do you receive Home and Community-Based Services? We’re holding confidential interviews with disabled people of color who want to talk about their experiences hiring, training, and managing direct care workers. Sharing your experiences could help influence future models of services self-direction." Contact us to learn more about participating. Must be 18 years or older. Email: sdequity@brandeis.edu / Logo for the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy at Brandeis University. Learn more: https://heller.brandeis.edu/community-living-policy/clec/research/studies/self-direction-people-of-color.html

ADULTS (non-seniors):

•  Adult 1
  • Alt text: A Black man wearing a brown long-sleeved pullover shirt and gray pants and who is using a wheelchair sits with his chin supported by his left hand. Text reads: "Telling YOUR story can help others. We’re holding confidential interviews with disabled people of color who want to talk about their experiences hiring, training, and managing direct care workers. Sharing your experiences could help influence future models of services self-direction." Contact us to learn about participating! Must be 18 years or older. Email: sdequity@brandeis.edu / Logo for the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy at Brandeis University. Learn more: https://heller.brandeis.edu/community-living-policy/clec/research/studies/self-direction-people-of-color.html
• Adult 2
  • Alt text: Two men of color talking to each other while on the way somewhere; one of the men is Black and is walking, wearing jeans and a white t-shirt with open flannel shirt, and the other is Hispanic and without legs, using a wheelchair and wearing a blue long-sleeved pullover shirt. Text reads: "Share your experiences and help influence the future of self-directed services. We’re holding confidential interviews with disabled people of color who want to talk about their experiences hiring, training, and managing direct care workers. Telling YOUR story can help others." Email: sdequity@brandeis.edu / Learn more: https://heller.brandeis.edu/community-living-policy/clec/research/studies/self-direction-people-of-color.html / Logo for the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy at Brandeis University

TRANSITION-AGE YOUTH:

•  Youth 1
  • Alt text: Headshot of an older teenager or young woman of color with straight black hair and bangs looking outward. Text reads: "Telling YOUR story can help others. We’re holding confidential interviews with disabled people of color who want to share their experiences hiring, training, and managing direct care workers." Interviews last between 1 and 1.5 hours. Contact us to learn about participating! Must be 18 years or older. Email: sdequity@brandeis.edu / QR code: https://heller.brandeis.edu/community-living-policy/clec/research/studies/self-direction-people-of-color.html / Logo for the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy at Brandeis University
• Youth 2
  • Alt text: A young woman or older teenager of color wearing dark glasses sits reading a book in Braille, set against a medium blue blackground. Text reads: "Telling YOUR story can help others and influence the future of self-directed services. We’re holding confidential interviews with disabled people of color who want to share their experiences hiring, training, and managing direct care workers." Interviews last between 1 and 1.5 hours. Contact us to learn about participating! Must be 18 years or older. Email: sdequity@brandeis.edu / Logo for the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy at Brandeis University / Learn more: https://heller.brandeis.edu/community-living-policy/clec/research/studies/self-direction-people-of-color.html

Poster Graphics (print quality):

SENIORS:

 Senior 1

• Alt text: An older woman of color in a plaid shirt is attended by a care worker who leans over the elderly woman's shoulder, smiling. Text reads: "Sharing your experiences could help influence future models of self-direction in Home and Community-Based Services. We’re holding confidential interviews with disabled people of color who want to talk about their experiences hiring, training, and managing direct care workers." Interviews last between 1 and 1.5 hours. Contact us to learn more about participating! Must be 18 years or older. Email: sdequity@brandeis.edu / Learn more: https://heller.brandeis.edu/community-living-policy/clec/research/studies/self-direction-people-of-color.html / Logo for the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy at Brandeis University

ADULTS (non-seniors):

 Adult 1

• Alt text: A Black man wearing a brown long-sleeved pullover shirt and gray pants and who is using a wheelchair sits with his chin supported by his left hand. Text reads: "Telling YOUR story can help others. We’re holding confidential interviews with disabled people of color who want to talk about their experiences hiring, training, and managing direct care workers. Sharing your experiences could help influence future models of self-direction in services." Interviews last between 1 and 1.5 hours. Contact us to learn more about participating! Must be 18 years or older. Email: sdequity@brandeis.edu / Logo for the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy at Brandeis University / Learn more: https://heller.brandeis.edu/community-living-policy/clec/research/studies/self-direction-people-of-color.html

TRANSITION-AGE YOUTH:

 Youth 1

• Alt text: Headshot of an older teenager or young woman of color with straight black hair and bangs looking outward. Text reads: "We’re holding confidential interviews with disabled people of color who want to share their experiences hiring, training, and managing direct care workers. Telling YOUR story can help others." Interviews last between 1 and 1.5 hours. Contact us to learn more about participating! Must be 18 years or older. Email: sdequity@brandeis.edu / QR code: https://heller.brandeis.edu/community-living-policy/clec/research/studies/self-direction-people-of-color.html / Logo for the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy at Brandeis University