IDD Health Matters

IDD Health Matters

IDD Health Matters hosted by Craig Escudé, MD, FAAFP, FAADM features guests from across the globe who are leading the efforts to improve health, wellness and health equity for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Episodes

October 13, 2025 23 mins

In this episode of the IDD Health Matters podcast, Terry Reiser discusses her deep involvement in the field of aging and developmental disabilities, highlighting her journey from attending a conference in 2017 to becoming a board member of the Association on Aging with Developmental Disabilities. She shares a personal story about her aunt with Down syndrome, who lived through the traumatic experience of Willowbrook, a notorious ins...

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Dr. Alicia Thatcher, a family physician from Saskatchewan, Canada, specializes in primary care for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Her passion for this field began as a camp counselor and evolved through involvement in organizations like Special Olympics and Best Buddies. Recognizing the gap in adult services compared to pediatric care, she has pioneered curriculum development for medical education, a...

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Andrea Palmer, CEO and co-founder of Awake Labs, was featured on the IDD Health Matters podcast to discuss her company’s innovative assistive technology designed to support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Awake Labs uses smartwatches to monitor stress and emotional escalation in real time, providing alerts for self-regulation and enabling timely intervention by support teams. The system includes ...

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Massalan Forfana Bility, honored as the Direct Support Professional of the Year at the ANCOR conference, shares her inspiring journey in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) support. Starting in 2018, she transitioned from hospital work to direct support, driven by a passion for helping others. Her role involves assisting individuals with daily routines, promoting independence, administering medications, a...

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Melody Johnson, Director of Education and Professional Development at Arc of Monroe, shares her personal and professional journey in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Growing up in a family that provided care for individuals transitioning out of institutions, Melody was deeply influenced by her mother’s progressive approach to fostering independence. Her career evolved from direct support professional ...

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In this IDD Perspectives webinar episode Dr. Craig Escudé and behavior analyst Ley Linder discuss the five core functions of behavior—access to items/activities, access to attention, escape, avoidance, and sensory/autonomic reinforcement—and emphasize that behaviors are typically multi-functional and require multidisciplinary approaches for effective support. They highlight the importance of recognizing behavioral changes as potent...

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Dr. Jack Dillenberg is a pioneering figure in public health and dentistry, known for founding the Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health with a focus on service, public health, and underserved communities. His career spans impactful roles including state health director in Arizona, global health work in Jamaica and India, and advocacy for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He championed innovations l...

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This IDD Health Matters podcast features a conversation between Dr. Craig Escudé and Ley Linder, focusing on a collaborative initiative called “Unlocking Behaviors.” This project, inspired by Dr. Rick Rader, aims to bridge the gap between medical and behavioral approaches when evaluating challenging behaviors in individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The discussion emphasizes the importance of integrate...

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Dr. Anthony Rodriguez, featured on the IDD Health Matters podcast during the 2025 AAIDD Conference, shares his journey from a finance major to a full professor at Providence College, driven by a passion for supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). His work blends mathematics education with advocacy, focusing on financial literacy and scam prevention to empower people with IDD. He highlights the...

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This IDD Perspectives webinar episode features Dr. M. Dian Chin Kit-Wells, a board-certified pediatric dentist and president of the American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry. The discussion centers on the most common dental health concerns affecting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Topics include the systemic importance of oral health, gum disease, halitosis, tongue abnormalities, e...

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Rebecca Enders discusses supports and services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Rebecca, a board-certified case manager and director of case management at Optimal Health Care in Maryland, outlines the importance of coordinated services, including Medicaid waivers, community integration, and support across the lifespan. Having transitioned from a 15-year career in education, Rebecca found renewed pur...

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Carol Price Guthrie has spent over three decades working in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), beginning as a direct support professional in Tennessee. Her career journey includes roles in case management, program development, and managed care, with experience founding her own case management agency and contributing to projects at UnitedHealthcare. Currently, she serves as Senior Director of Waiver and ...

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Jean Phelps, CEO of Encompass Human Services, passionately advocates for expanding awareness and accessibility in services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Her organization offers a wide range of supports, including residential, day, employment, and brain injury services, all designed to integrate individuals meaningfully into their communities. Jean emphasizes that the core qualifications for becom...

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Dr. Susan Haverkamp, featured on the IDD Health Matters podcast, discusses her work on improving health equity for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). She highlig...

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In this episode of the IDD Health Matters podcast, Dr. Craig Escudé interviews Sharon Gomez, a passionate advocate and leader in the field of intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) services. Sharon shares her lifelong dedication to supporting individuals with IDD, tracing her journey from youth volunteerism with The Arc to executive leadership roles, including at Evergreen Life Services. She discusses the impact of landmar...

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In this episode of IDD Health Matters, host Dr. Craig Escudé interviews A.J. Forster, a professional with over a decade of experience supporting individuals with intellectual and developmen...

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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 int...

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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...

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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 psychiat...

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