Date of Publication
1-29-2025
Abstract
Background: Champlain Community Services (CCS) is a Vermont-based non-profit which helps adults with intellectual disabilities and autism find meaningful employment and community engagement opportunities. We sought to investigate large language models (LLMs), a form of artificial intelligence (AI), as a tool to enhance the work of Direct Support Professionals. Specifically, we aimed to assess knowledge of LLMs and routes for their implementation at CCS. Methods: Staff members (n=66) were administered a pre-training survey (responses = 39) prior to a 30-minute training session. Attendees (n=40) were given a post-training survey (responses = 25). Responses were analyzed in Python. Results: After the training, 3.3% and 14.4% more participants described themselves as “somewhat familiar” or “familiar” with AI, respectively. No participants rated themselves as “not familiar at all” with AI, compared to 15.4% of participants pre-training. Smaller percentages of participants were concerned about job displacement (percent change (PC) = -3.1%), lack of training (PC = -3.3%), and effectiveness (PC = -4.7%). An increased percentage were concerned about privacy and data security (PC = 11.9%). 19% more respondents thought AI could improve CCS’s services while 12.7% fewer people thought AI would not improve their services. Conclusion: Employees’ enhanced familiarity with AI and belief in its benefits support the utility of LLMs in services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and autism after training is provided. Participants’ remaining concerns following training suggest future sessions should focus on addressing privacy-related concerns. Further inquiry should investigate applications of AI within larger organizations within and beyond Vermont.
Advisor(s)
Stephen Everse, PhD
Larner College of Medicine
Mike Reilly, MA
Champlain Community Services
Agency
Champlain Community Services
Subjects
Health Communication and Health Information Technology, Hearing and Other Sensory or Communication Disorders, People with Disabilities, Sensory or Communication Disorders, Workforce, Educational and Community-Based Programs
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 License
Recommended Citation
Abadi, Neelia; Burhans, Naomi; Joos, Margret; Harrington, Edward; Marrogi, Eryney; Masters, Aiden; Narain, Jai; and Plante, Curtis, "Transforming Disability Services: A Study on Large Language Model Acceptance and Utilization Among Support Staff" (2025). Public Health Projects, 2008-present. 335.
https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/comphp_gallery/335
