An evaluation of support needs is fundamental to the provision of services to people with
intellectual and developmental disabilities. Services should be organized by considering the support
that people need to improve their quality of life and enforce their rights as citizens. This systematic
review is conducted to analyze the rigor and usefulness of the available standardized tools for
assessing support needs, as well as the uses of their results. Several databases were consulted,
includingWeb of Sciences, Scopus, PubMed, ProQuest Central, PsycInfo, ERIC, and CINAHL, and the
86 documents that met the review criteria were organized into four sections: (a) measurement
tools, (b) descriptive/correlational studies, (c) predictive studies, and (d) interventions. The results
showed that age, level of intellectual disability, adaptive behavior skills, the number and type of
associated disabilities, and medical and behavioral needs a ected the support needs of people
with disabilities. Quality of life outcomes have been predicted by the individual’s support needs,
explaining a significant percentage of their variability. The findings are useful in guiding assessments
and planning interventions. Further research should address the e ectiveness of specific support
strategies and the development of social policies and indicators for inclusion that involve assessing
support needs.
