Featured Panels

In My Words: Self-Advocates on Health Equity

Moderator: Bill Deponte, COO, Special Olympics New Jersey

Panelists: Patrice Jetter (SO New Jersey), Justin Steinberg (SO Northern California & Nevada Board of Director) and Kathleen Maggi (SO New York)

We are proud to welcome three Special Olympics Athletes — Patrice Jetter, Justin Steinberg and Kathleen Maggie — who will walk us through what it’s like to experience healthcare inequities in their lives. This panel will explore the unique challenges facing people with IDD and how clinicians can help overcome those challenges.

The Time is Now: Vaccine Advocacy

Moderator: David A. Ervin, BSc, MA, FAAIDD

Panelists: Liz Weintraub, Joseph M. Macbeth, Emily Johnson, MD, Maureen Van Stone

People with IDD, have higher rates of complications and death due to Covid-19, when compared to the general population. At the beginning of the pandemic, and despite this risk, public health recommendations for this population were sparse and vary greatly from state-to-state. The AADMD believed there needed to be clear guidelines applied nationally to reduce the impact of COVID-19 on individuals with IDD. To address this urgent need, AADMD developed the white paper: COVID-19 Support Guidelines for Individuals with IDD During the Pandemic.

David Ervin will moderate this panel of vaccine and IDD experts. He will walk the audience through the efforts of the AADMD, along with many like-minded organizations, to advocate for people with IDD during the pandemic - and what we need to do now to ensure people with IDD are prioritized when it comes to vaccines.

Perceptions are Reality: How Attitudes Create Health Disparities

Moderator: Ilka Riddle, PhD

Panelists: Lisa Iezzoni, MD, Amy Houtrow, MD, Teresa Nguyen, MPH

In this panel session, attendees will hear about the latest data and research about healthcare providers’ attitudes towards patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities and the lived experiences of the speakers.