As 2024 draws to a close, we’re proud to celebrate the incredible progress we’ve made towards building a healthcare system that truly includes and supports people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD). At IEC, we’re committed to making real change by transforming how healthcare is taught, delivered, and paid for—and this year, we’ve taken major steps forward.

Thanks to the support of our growing IEC community, we’ve reached transformative milestones:

• Published a Roadmap for Disability-Inclusive Healthcare: In March, we released a groundbreaking strategy developed with over 180 organizational and individual supporters to better prepare clinicians to serve people with IDD. We’re now using this roadmap to develop new resources to improve clinical culture and training. See the Roadmap.

• Developed an App to Empower People With IDD: We finished beta testing the Always Uniquely Me app, which helps people with IDD explain their needs to clinicians in emergency departments (EDs), one of the most dangerous areas of healthcare for people with IDD. We’re also partnering with New York State’s largest hospital system to reimagine how EDs care for the IDD community. Learn more about SCANS.

• Outlined Health Priorities for National Leaders: At our IIDDEAL Policy Summit, leaders aligned national goals to improve health for people with IDD, which was featured in JAMA. We are working to identify key healthcare priorities to guide insurers and governments in funding impactful services. Read the JAMA article.

• Partnered With the Community: Launched in late 2023, our grassroots IDD Advocate Corps grew to over 80 members advocating for more inclusive healthcare. The Corps is proving that community members and healthcare professionals can take collective action to drive meaningful change. Learn about the IDD Advocate Corps.

These accomplishments remind us that when healthcare centers on the individual, outcomes improve for everyone.

None of this progress would have been possible without you—our community of self-advocates, partners, funders, and supporters. Together, we are proving that change is not just possible but achievable when built on trust, empathy, and a shared commitment to progress.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Your commitment to our mission drives everything we do. Together, we are creating a brighter, more inclusive future for all.

With gratitude,

Mai Pham, MD
President and CEO

Rick Gilfillan, MD
Board Chair

We need your support now! Will you join me in making healthcare safer and better for people with IDD?