How to make healthcare work for people with disabilities
Most medical and health professional education programs inadequately address care for people with developmental and intellectual developmental disabilities, a growing (and aging) population in the United States.
UCSF’s Annual Developmental Disabilities: An Update for Health Professionals Conference addresses this lack of professional medical education and now in its 19th year. The conference, presented by the UCSF School of Medicine and the UCSF School of Nursing, covers a broad spectrum of developmental disabilities. The conference is an invaluable opportunity for multidisciplinary dialogue among experts in the care and future of individuals with disabilities. It’s open to family members and caregivers of individuals with developmental disabilities as well.
The emphasis of this year’s conference is on communication, self-determination, and supported decision-making. WITH Foundation has served as one of the early funders of supported decision-making (SDM) within healthcare settings and SDM is a long-term area of focus from the foundation. Most recently, WITH was pleased to award 5 organizations with funding for SDM projects. This conference will also have a special focus on transitions from childhood to adulthood, access to healthcare systems and services from a variety of specialists.
Other topics to be discussed and highlighted include:
- The role of advocacy to improve healthcare systems for people with disabilities
- Special Needs Trusts, Self Determination and Supported Decision-Making
- The latest advancements in augmentative communication and assistive technologies
- Re imagining what’s possible for non-speaking, autistic people
- Special Considerations in dental care for children & adults with DD
- Mental Health Challenges/Psychopharmacology for Individuals with DD
- Cerebral Palsy: Personal & Professionals Perspectives…
…and much more. Read the entire program here.
“The pace of new information and research provides us with exciting opportunities to transform and improve the quality of care provided for with developmental and intellectual developmental disabilities,” say conference co-chairs Lucy S. Crain, MD, MPH, FAAP and Geraldine Collins-Bride, MS, ANP, FAAN
WITH Executive Director, Ryan Easterly, will be participating in the conference not once but twice! He’s presenting a talk about the role of philanthropy in enhancing healthcare for adults with developmental disabilities. He’ll also take part in the Cerebral Palsy: Personal & Professionals Perspectives panel.
Details:
What: UCSF’s 19th Annual Developmental Disabilities: An Update for Health Professionals Conference
When: March 5 – 6
Where: Holiday Inn Golden Gateway
1500 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco
Learn more and register here.
Read a history of the conference here.
The mission of WITH Foundation is to promote comprehensive healthcare for adults with developmental disabilities.