The WITH Foundation had the honor this past week to sponsor The UCSF 18th Annual Developmental Disabilities Update and to participate in the 12th Annual Developmental Disabilities Public Policy Conference in Sacramento.
This is sixth year WITH has sponsored the UCSF Developmental Disabilities conference. The event provides updates to the medical community from experts in the care and the future of individuals with disabilities. This year’s conference featured the Office of Developmental Primary Care (ODPC) — also a WITH grantee.
Highlights from the UCSF Developmental Disability Conference
Image Description: 5 women with different skin and hair colors sit at a long table covered with a black banner with UCSF in gold letters.
A panel discussion with members of the CART Services Mobile Consult team led by Clarissa Kripke, MD, FAAFP from UCSF’s Office of Developmental Primary Care (ODPC). The team provides services to people with developmental disabilities, clinicians, family members and support professionals such as:
- Phone & email consultations
- Clinical assessments & consultations
- Training & technical assistance
- Policy advocacy
- Sharing online resources.
The panel shared lessons learned through this groundbreaking program.
Trauma Informed Care
Many individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities (IDD) have experienced abuse, neglect, institutionalization, restraint and seclusion, abandonment, bullying and other forms of maltreatment at higher rates than the general population. “Trauma-informed care” refers to the ability of care providers to recognize the impact of past trauma on behavior and appreciate the significance of trauma histories for the populations they serve.
“Trauma-informed care, which includes steps aimed at improving a sense of safety (emotional/physical), and trustworthiness (maintaining appropriate boundaries and making tasks clear), were often missing from treatment plans/framework aimed at reducing behaviors,” said Dr. Kripke, “Reframing the behaviors in the context of the whole person and taking into account trauma histories improves outcomes and reduces maladaptive behaviors.”
Lessons learned by the CART Team include the following:
- There are no shortcuts to seeing patients in their environment or team-based care.
- The reason for consults are often different from what the team encountered once on the scene.
- Observing the whole team supporting a person and their environment is critical.
- Attitudes are a major health care access issue.
- Family, Direct Support Professionals, and Service Providers are front line health professionals who need training, support, and oversight. It isn’t enough to focus exclusively on the needs of people living in higher level group homes because that isn’t where most people with disabilities live.
Learn more about the CART Model here.
Highlights from the Developmental Disability Public Policy Conference
The theme of this year’s conference was intersections – where disability and life meet.
People with intellectual and developmental disabilities experience many intersections through their life spans. Critical choices must be made about health, education, housing, employment, transportation, criminal justice and family and personal relationships at many junctures.
Intersectionality: Disability in all of our communities
A smiling black male with glasses and trimmed salt and pepper beard.
Ryan Easterly, the Executive Director of the WITH Foundation, discussed the concept of “intersectionality” and how disability can be found within all communities. In sharing aspects of his personal journey, Ryan demonstrated how intersectionality is not just a theory, but that individuals with intersecting identities exist within the disability community. He shared data regarding the diversity that can be found within the disability community and encouraged individuals to do what they can to ensure that the diversity within the disability community is reflected in its efforts – when disability programming and policy are developed.
“We all need to do what we can to see that individuals that are least represented have a seat at the table (of influence, decision-making, power),” said Ryan, “because we all benefit from each other’s experience and skills.”
Finally, Dr. Clarissa Kripke appeared (once again!) to discuss gaps and opportunities in healthcare for people with disabilities. She shared the podium with Matthew Kaufman MD of telemedicine provider StationMD, Jennifer Dresen, Director of the Arc San Francisco’s Health Advocate Model and Self-Advocate Gladys Rodriguez.
Many thanks to the following for participating:
The California Department of Developmental Services
The Golden Gate Regional Center
The mission of WITH Foundation is to promote comprehensive healthcare for adults with developmental disabilities.