Need Continued... Issues cited included: societal misunderstanding; lack of health care provider experience and knowledge in caring for those with DD; improving provider incentives to ensure the health of this population and the need for more research related to the health care needs of this population among other things. This project is necessary to understand the scope of the problem in Massachusetts and how best to intervene so that improvements can be made.  Since our project will rely on effective alliances with other disability organizations, public agencies, public officials and health care systems, it will be necessary to have reliable data with which to develop a plan and outreach to other groups and to propose statewide changes.  Purpose of the Health Care Project Continued... Focus groups will be completed with self-advocates, parents/guardians, and long-term support professionals.  Through an on-line survey, the project will also gain experiences and perspectives from families, consumers, and developmental disability providers not included in the focus groups.   Additionally, we will use the interview method to collect knowledge and experience amongst medical personnel, state legislators, and insurance providers. Once information is retrieved from the focus groups, on-line surveys, and interviews, coding and analysis will begin.  We will inquire how to effectively make systematic statewide change.