(Palo Alto, CA, February 19, 2019) — The WITH Foundation and the American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry (AADMD) are pleased to announce that a total of $150,000 will be awarded to three organizations as a result of their joint RFP. The RFP provided a unique funding opportunity for organizations to foster new partnerships or significantly enhance existing partnerships that support comprehensive healthcare delivery models for adults with IDD, improve health practitioner competency, and/or resolve barriers to high-quality healthcare.
“We are pleased to support these projects that will create new partnerships or significantly enhance existing partnerships within local communities and result in the improvement of healthcare delivery for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.” said Ryan Easterly, Executive Director of the WITH Foundation. Steve Sulkes, President of the AADMD agreed, adding that he was impressed by the collaborative spirit of each of the grantees efforts.
The following projects were selected for funding:
University of Louisville Research Foundation: This project aims to improve physician competency through education and training by engaging medical students, residents, and practicing physicians. Clinicians will partner with adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD)to enhance their role as self-advocates with teaching skills, and train physician faculty to be facilitators of teaching methodologies that partner with self-advocates. Dyads of trained self-advocates and facilitators will engage in activities with medical students in a variety of efforts including: the Culturally Effective Care Symposium, Interdisciplinary Clinical Cases, Patient Simulation Sessions, and Health Disparities Curriculum. This project partners with Special Olympics Kentucky (SOKY) and Down Syndrome Louisville (DSL).
Baylor College of Medicine: This project is an interdisciplinary collaboration seeking improved access to dental care for adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD). Its primary objectives include: 1) Implementing a clinic integrating medical, dental, and behavioral health providers within an existing primary care setting; 2) Developing a curriculum for health care providers and trainees to increase comfort and confidence caring for individuals with I/DD and their dental needs and 3) Training health care providers to utilize desensitization strategies to increase access to dental care, improve the patient experience, and decrease the need for sedation services in order to receive dental care. This project partners with UTHealth School of Dentistry (UTSD) and the United HealthCare Community Plan of Texas (UHC).
University of Rochester – Eastman Institute for Oral Health: The aim of this project is to establish a sustainable and reproducible curriculum in training healthcare providers (residents, fellows and healthcare providers in practice) to 1) understand the healthcare disparities, 2) acquire the skill set needed to provide high quality healthcare and appropriately deliver care and 3) establish a multidisciplinary healthcare network to ensure the continuity of care for people with IDD. Modules will be interactive and co-led by self-advocates with IDD. This project partners with Monroe Community College and Special Olympics International (SOI).
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WITH Foundation promotes comprehensive and accessible healthcare for adults with developmental disabilities.
The mission of the American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry is to improve the quality of healthcare for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
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Press Contact:
Laura Shumaker
Director of Communications, WITH
communications@withfoundation.