Evaluating the supports intensity scale as a potential assessment instrument for resource allocation for persons with intellectual disability

•Three assessment tools are currently used in Taiwan: the medical diagnosis, the scales of ADL and IADL.•We evaluated the SIS as an assessment tool for funding patterns for people with ID.•SIS had higher correlations with the IADL than the ADL and medical diagnosis.•SIS can be a useful tool for resource allocation in terms of the support needs of users and saving funds.

This study evaluated the potential of using the Supports Intensity Scale (SIS) for resource allocation for people with intellectual disabilities (ID) in Taiwan. SIS scores were compared with those obtained from three tools that are currently used in Taiwan for homecare services: the medical diagnosis issued by local authorities and two scales measuring Activities of Daily Life (ADL) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Life (IADL). Data were collected on 139 persons with ID aged 16 or older. The correlation between SIS subscales and the other three tools were calculated and compared. Six subscales of the SIS demonstrated adequate reliability and validity and had higher correlations with the IADL than the ADL and medical diagnosis. The results of these analyses suggest that the SIS can be used as a reference tool for resources allocation in this population in Taiwan.