TY - JOUR
T1 - The development of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program enrollment accessibility (SNAP-access) score
AU - Samuel, Laura J.
AU - Xiao, Emily
AU - Cerilli, Caroline
AU - Sweeney, Fiona
AU - Campanile, Jessica
AU - Milki, Nubaira
AU - Smith, Jared
AU - Zhu, Jiafeng
AU - Yenokyan, Gayane
AU - Gherman, Adi
AU - Varadaraj, Varshini
AU - Swenor, Bonnielin K.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Author(s)
PY - 2022/10
Y1 - 2022/10
N2 - Background: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a federal public benefit providing food assistance to millions of Americans. However, it is typically administered by states, creating potential variation in accessibility and transparency of information about enrollment for people with disabilities. Objective: To develop and demonstrate the use of a method to assess the accessibility and transparency of information about the disability-inclusive process and practices of SNAP enrollment. Methods: Cross-sectional data was collected from SNAP landing and enrollment webpages from all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and New York City from June–August 2021. Based on principles of universal design and accessibility, scores were determined for each SNAP program across three areas: flexibility in the enrollment process (6 points), efficiency of finding information about enrollment on SNAP websites (6 points), and the accessibility of SNAP webpages (6 points). Total scores were the sum of these sub-categories (18 points maximum). Results: Of the 52 SNAP programs assessed, mean scores were 10.66 (SD = 2.51) for the total score, 2.67 (SD = 0.91) for flexibility in the enrollment process, 3.32 (SD = 1.19) for efficiency of finding information about enrollment on SNAP websites, and 4.67 (SD = 1.72) for the accessibility of SNAP webpages. No programs received the maximum flexibility score (6 points) on flexibility, 2 programs received the maximum on efficiency, and 31 programs the maximum on accessibility. Conclusions: We found differences in the accessibility, flexibility, and efficiency of SNAP program enrollment information available on SNAP websites and outline room for improvement across all three of these areas.
AB - Background: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a federal public benefit providing food assistance to millions of Americans. However, it is typically administered by states, creating potential variation in accessibility and transparency of information about enrollment for people with disabilities. Objective: To develop and demonstrate the use of a method to assess the accessibility and transparency of information about the disability-inclusive process and practices of SNAP enrollment. Methods: Cross-sectional data was collected from SNAP landing and enrollment webpages from all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and New York City from June–August 2021. Based on principles of universal design and accessibility, scores were determined for each SNAP program across three areas: flexibility in the enrollment process (6 points), efficiency of finding information about enrollment on SNAP websites (6 points), and the accessibility of SNAP webpages (6 points). Total scores were the sum of these sub-categories (18 points maximum). Results: Of the 52 SNAP programs assessed, mean scores were 10.66 (SD = 2.51) for the total score, 2.67 (SD = 0.91) for flexibility in the enrollment process, 3.32 (SD = 1.19) for efficiency of finding information about enrollment on SNAP websites, and 4.67 (SD = 1.72) for the accessibility of SNAP webpages. No programs received the maximum flexibility score (6 points) on flexibility, 2 programs received the maximum on efficiency, and 31 programs the maximum on accessibility. Conclusions: We found differences in the accessibility, flexibility, and efficiency of SNAP program enrollment information available on SNAP websites and outline room for improvement across all three of these areas.
KW - Disability
KW - Food assistance
KW - Food insecurity
KW - Socioeconomic factors
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U2 - 10.1016/j.dhjo.2022.101366
DO - 10.1016/j.dhjo.2022.101366
M3 - Article
C2 - 36041996
AN - SCOPUS:85136707916
SN - 1936-6574
VL - 15
JO - Disability and Health Journal
JF - Disability and Health Journal
IS - 4
M1 - 101366
ER -