In this episode of IDD Health Matters, Dr. Craig Escudé sits down with Wesley Anderson, Director of Employment and Community Services at the National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDDS). Live from Salt Lake City, they dive deep into the critical connection between employment and health outcomes for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

Wesley discusses his work co-leading the State Employment Leadership Network, a collaborative effort with 26 U.S. states aimed at integrating employment across all levels of support systems. Learn how employment isn’t just about earning a paycheck—it’s a powerful social determinant of health that affects access to food, healthcare, transportation, social inclusion, and overall wellbeing.

From dismantling common misconceptions about hiring people with disabilities to explaining how employers can access support services at no cost, Wesley delivers actionable insight for businesses, caregivers, and policymakers alike. He also shares his personal journey into the field and offers three powerful takeaways for anyone looking to make a difference in the IDD community.

Whether you’re an employer, advocate, support provider, or simply curious about how inclusive employment can shape lives, this episode will expand your understanding and inspire you to act.

🎧 Listen now to explore how meaningful employment supports not just independence—but health, dignity, and community connection.

In this powerful episode of IDD Health Matters, Dr. Craig Escudé welcomes Kathryn Pears, Chief Operations Officer of the National Task Group on Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia Practices (NTG). With over 40 years of experience in the field of dementia, Kathryn shares her personal and professional journey, beginning with her father's early-onset Alzheimer's diagnosis, and how it ultimately led her to advocate for individuals with intellectual disabilities who are aging and at risk for dementia.

Kathryn discusses the groundbreaking work of the NTG, including their development of the Early Detection Screen for Dementia (NTG-EDSD)—a free, intuitive tool used nationwide to help caregivers identify subtle changes that could indicate early signs of dementia in people with IDD. She also dives into NTG’s national curriculum, which has trained thousands of frontline staff, healthcare professionals, and even law enforcement on how to provide compassionate, effective care for aging individuals with IDD and dementia.

From federal advocacy and workforce training to innovative partnerships in Texas aimed at improving emergency responses, Kathryn and the NTG are changing the landscape of aging and dementia care for this often-overlooked population.

Tune in to learn three key takeaways from Kathryn’s decades of experience:

1. Don’t assume behavioral changes equal dementia—rule out treatable conditions first.

2. The heart of quality care is treating others the way you’d want to be treated.

3. You don’t need to be an expert—just be informed enough to advocate.

Visit www.theNTG.org to access free resources, publications, and tools mentioned in this episode.

In this powerful episode of IDD Health Matters, host Dr. Craig Escudé sits down with Dr. Mike Cummings, Vice Chair of Psychiatry at the University of Buffalo School of Medicine and Medical Director for several psychiatric programs across New York State. Dr. Cummings brings a wealth of experience from leading New York’s busiest psychiatric ER to developing innovative programs like START and APEC that provide person-centered psychiatric support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

Together, they unpack the challenges of polypharmacy, the importance of understanding behavior as communication, and how to empower families and individuals through education and collaborative care. Dr. Cummings also shares insights into his YouTube series Coffee Talk with Mike and Janelle, which aims to demystify psychiatric care for families and caregivers in the IDD community.

From crisis prevention to positive psychology, this episode is a must-listen for healthcare providers, support professionals, and anyone committed to improving the quality of mental health care for people with IDD.

🔗 Learn more about the work of Dr. Escudé and IntellectAbility at replacingrisk.com 🔗 Explore career opportunities with Friends for Life at friendsforliferc.com 🎥 Find Dr. Cummings’ YouTube channel by searching Coffee Talk with Mike and Janelle on YouTube.

#IDDHealthMatters #DisabilityHealth #MentalHealth #IDD #Psychiatry #Polypharmacy #PersonCenteredCare #DrMikeCummings #DrCraigEscude #STARTModel #CoffeeTalkWithMikeAndJanelle #FriendsForLife #IntellectAbility #HealthEquity

In this episode of IDD Health Matters, Dr. Craig Escudé is joined by Ricardo Ortega and Babar Nawaz of iCare Manager—an innovative electronic health record (EHR) company revolutionizing care for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Together, they explore how technology can improve efficiency, documentation, and most importantly, the quality of care delivered by providers across 25 states and counting.

Ricardo and Babar share their insights into the unique challenges of healthcare in the IDD field, such as state-specific compliance, staffing shortages, and underfunding. Learn how iCare Manager was built from the ground up—with direct input from DSPs, nurses, coordinators, and executives—to create a one-stop, user-friendly solution that empowers providers to spend more time supporting individuals and less time on paperwork.

The conversation also looks ahead to the future of healthcare technology, highlighting the exciting (and sometimes scary!) potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in automating assessments, generating personalized care plans, and enhancing service delivery—all while preserving the vital human touch.

Topics include:

• The origin and mission of iCare Manager

• Addressing compliance across state systems

• EHR systems built by providers, for providers

• How AI can improve outcomes and efficiency

• The importance of person-centered planning and funding in the IDD space

Whether you're a provider, administrator, or simply passionate about inclusive healthcare, this episode offers powerful insight into how technology and compassion can go hand-in-hand to support people with IDD.

🔗 Learn more about iCare Manager: https://icaremanager.com 🌐 Explore resources at Friends for Life and IntellectAbility

🎧 IDD Health Matters is brought to you by Friends for Life and IntellectAbility. Subscribe for more conversations that advance health equity and wellness for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

#IDD #DisabilityServices #ElectronicHealthRecords #DSP #PersonCenteredPlanning #IDDHealthMatters #iCareManager #HealthcareTechnology #DevelopmentalDisabilities #DrCraigEscude #AIinHealthcare #HealthEquity #DisabilityAdvocacy #IntellectAbility #FriendsForLife

In this insightful episode of IDD Health Matters, Dr. Craig Escudé is joined by nurse educator Michael Sigelman, who brings a wealth of experience and passion to improving healthcare practices for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Michael shares how his early experiences shaped his career and how he now plays a crucial role in training registered nurses and direct support professionals across his state.

Together, they discuss the importance of structured nurse education, the value of trained medication employees (TMEs), and the essential role of accurate documentation in providing consistent and person-centered care. Michael also emphasizes the power of listening, knowing individual baselines, and taking time—three simple yet impactful practices that can vastly improve health outcomes.

Through real-world examples, Michael and Dr. Escudé highlight the challenges and opportunities in achieving health equity, the significance of interprofessional collaboration, and the critical need for increased clinical training in IDD care. Whether you're a clinician, DSP, policymaker, or advocate, this episode offers actionable insights into creating a more inclusive, responsive, and informed healthcare system.

👉 Learn more about the tools and training mentioned in this episode at replacingrisk.com 👉 Explore career opportunities in IDD services at friendsforliferc.com

🎧 IDD Health Matters is a joint production of Friends for Life and IntellectAbility. Subscribe for more conversations on health, wellness, and equity for people with IDD.

In this episode of IDD Health Matters, Dr. Craig Escudé sits down with long-time advocate and leader Shelly Chandler to explore a lifetime of service and passion in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). From growing up immersed in the world of special education to running provider agencies and leading the Iowa Association of Community Providers for 17 years, Shelly shares how her personal and professional journey continues to influence better health outcomes for individuals with IDD.

Recorded live at the Kansas InterHab Conference, this conversation dives into the challenges of bridging communication gaps between providers, healthcare professionals, and managed care organizations—and why learning to "speak the same language" is essential for improving equity in healthcare. Shelly also offers key advice on building human-centered relationships, listening without assumptions, and staying relentless in the pursuit of opportunity and dignity for every person with IDD.

🎧 Tune in to hear:

• Shelly's insights from four decades in the field

• The critical role of communication in healthcare equity

• Why managed care needs to learn the language of IDD supports

• Her three powerful pieces of advice for advocates and professionals alike

Learn more in the show notes and don’t forget to subscribe for more conversations that move the needle toward health equity.

On this episode of IDD Health Matters, Dr. Craig Escudé sits down with two remarkable nurses—Patty Haberkorn and Deanna Cox—at the Illinois Developmental Disabilities Nurses Conference. With a combined four decades of experience supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), Patty and Deanna share powerful insights into nursing, advocacy, communication, and the often-overlooked emotional rewards of this career path.

Patty, who began her journey as a nurse and now serves as Executive Director at Futures Unlimited, and Deanna, a dedicated nurse who found her calling in DD care after working in long-term care, both reflect on how they "fell into the field" and stayed out of passion. They open up about the gaps in nursing education regarding IDD, the importance of understanding non-verbal communication, and the critical role of baseline behavior in diagnosing health issues.

This episode covers:

• The value of advocacy from nurses and direct support professionals

• Real-world challenges in educating physicians and gaining respect for individuals with IDD

• Why knowing a person's baseline behavior is crucial for accurate medical care

• The emotional connection between care staff and the individuals they support

• Staffing and funding challenges in the IDD sector—and why passion still keeps them going

Whether you're a nurse, DSP, administrator, or someone curious about working in disability services, this conversation offers heartfelt stories and essential wisdom about the importance—and joy—of working in this field.

🔗 Learn more about IDD Health Matters and explore career opportunities: Friends for Life Residential Care – https://www.friendsforliferc.com IntellectAbility – https://www.replacingrisk.com

In this inspiring episode of IDD Health Matters with Dr. Craig Escudé, we welcome Tony Thomas, Executive Director of Welcome House in Cleveland, Ohio. With over 24 years of leadership experience, Tony shares his remarkable journey into the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) — from a life-changing family discovery to a lifelong career dedicated to empowering individuals and advancing health equity.

Tony discusses how frontline Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) are the heart of the disability services field, his innovative initiatives to improve healthcare access for people with IDD, and how Welcome House is creating clear career pathways for DSPs, including specialized medical support roles. He also talks about the urgent need to address workforce shortages and improve wages for caregivers.

If you’re passionate about making a difference, building a meaningful career, or learning how true inclusion transforms lives, this episode is packed with wisdom, hope, and practical ideas for the future of IDD services.

🎙 Topics Covered:

• Tony's personal journey into disability services

• The importance of DSP career growth and training

• Innovative healthcare solutions for people with disabilities

• Advocacy for higher wages and better workforce support

• Why working in this field is both rewarding and life-changing

🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on health, wellness, and equity for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities!

#IDDHealthMatters #DisabilityAdvocacy #DirectSupportProfessionals #DevelopmentalDisabilities #HealthEquity #DSPCareers #Inclusion #WelcomeHouse #HealthcareAccess

In this episode of IDD Health Matters, Dr. Craig Escudé sits down with Dr. Alice Bacherini, a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Perugia in Italy, to explore how psychological research is helping dismantle biases in healthcare for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Dr. Bacherini discusses her groundbreaking work developing tools to measure erroneous assumptions and self-efficacy among physicians when treating individuals with IDD. Together, they dive into how clinician attitudes impact health equity, the role of social dominance orientation in perpetuating stereotypes, and why direct interaction and inclusive communication are essential to better care outcomes.

Tune in to hear why IDD-specific training—especially hands-on experiences—can shift perspectives and improve quality of care. Dr. Bacherini also shares where to find her published scale, the Beliefs About Adults with ID (BAAID), and her three key pieces of advice for creating a more inclusive healthcare system.

Learn more at: replacingrisk.com Career opportunities with Friends for Life: friendsforliferc.com

🎧 IDD Health Matters is a joint production of Friends for Life and IntellectAbility.

In this powerful episode of IDD Health Matters, Dr. Craig Escudé sits down with longtime civil rights attorney, disability advocate, and former Acting Administrator of the Administration for Community Living, Alison Barkoff. Now serving as the Hirsch Health Law and Policy Professor at George Washington University’s Milken Institute School of Public Health, Alison shares her personal journey rooted in her experiences as a sibling of a person with an intellectual disability—and how that shaped her life’s mission to advance health equity, civil rights, and inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

Together, they explore:

• The historic update to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act—modernizing anti-discrimination protections in healthcare for the first time in nearly 50 years.

• The hard truths about ableism, medical bias, and discriminatory crisis standards of care exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• The urgent need to incorporate clinical care curricula into medical and health professional training to eliminate health disparities for people with IDD.

• The challenges of navigating a fragmented service system—and why it's still worth the fight.

Alison also shares her top three calls to action for improving the lives of people with IDD: building personal connections, embracing inclusive healthcare reform, and confronting the systemic complexity with commitment and compassion.

If you're a healthcare professional, policymaker, or advocate looking to better understand the intersection of disability rights, healthcare, and public policy—this is an episode you don't want to miss.

🔗 Learn more about Alison Barkoff’s work and resources mentioned in the episode in the show notes.