Advocating for People with IDD: Why RHT and Rural Health Innovation Matters Now More Than Ever
Advocating for People with IDD: Why RHT and Rural Health Innovation Matters Now More Than Ever In the quiet corners of rural America, far from metropolitan health centers and bustling medical campuses, there are people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) whose voices too often go unheard, whose lives are shaped by gaps in care that others may not even
Detecting Health Risks Early: How the HRST® Screening Service Saves Lives
Detecting Health Risks Early: How the HRST® Screening Service Saves Lives For people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and other complex support needs, small changes in health can quickly become life-threatening if overlooked. Intellectual and developmental disabilities are present from birth and can affect multiple body parts and the individual’s physical development. These disabilities impact adaptive behavior, life
Understanding the Health Risk Screening Tool (HRST®): A Proven Way to Replace Risk with Health and Wellness
Understanding the Health Risk Screening Tool (HRST®): A Proven Way to Replace Risk with Health and Wellness By Aliah Farley Every day, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) face health risks that often go unnoticed until it’s too late. These health risks affect individuals with IDD, who may require specialized support and monitoring. Many intellectual and developmental disabilities are
Top Reasons People Don’t “Act Right”: Understanding the Medical and Environmental Roots of Behavior in People with IDD
Top Reasons People Don’t “Act Right”: Understanding the Medical and Environmental Roots of Behavior in People with IDD When an individual with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) begins to act differently — withdrawing, becoming irritable, losing interest in food or daily routines — supporters often describe it simply as, “They’re just not acting right.” But what does that really mean?
Optimizing HCBS and Healthcare Spending for People with IDD in a Time of Medicaid Cuts: 10 Strategies for Better Outcomes and Smarter Spending
Optimizing HCBS and Healthcare Spending for People with IDD in a Time of Medicaid Cuts: 10 Strategies for Better Outcomes and Smarter Spending By Aliah Farley As states prepare for significant shifts in Medicaid funding, providers and policymakers are asking the same urgent question: How can we continue delivering high-quality services while managing tighter budgets? The current healthcare system for
Supporting Aging People with IDD: Key Insights from Pam Merkle and Dr. Craig Escudé
Supporting Aging People with IDD: Key Insights from Pam Merkle and Dr. Craig Escudé By Aliah Farley As life expectancy increases, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are living longer than ever before. This presents both opportunities and challenges for service providers, families, and healthcare professionals. In a recent IDD Perspectives webinar, Pam Merkle, Executive Director of the Association
10 Strategies to Optimize HCBS Spending and Improve Outcomes
10 Strategies to Optimize HCBS Spending and Improve Outcomes By Aliah Farley Medicaid-funded home- and community-based services (HCBS) are at a crossroads. Demand continues to grow as more people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), older adults, and people with physical disabilities seek support in their homes and communities. Yet funding is strained, costs keep rising, and the workforce is
IDD Smarter Spending, Better Outcomes: How States Can Optimize HCBS with IntellectAbility
IDD Smarter Spending, Better Outcomes: How States Can Optimize HCBS with IntellectAbility By Aliah Farley Medicaid programs across the country face a familiar challenge: rising demand, finite budgets, and a system too often forced into crisis response. The question isn’t whether states can keep spending more, it’s whether they can spend smarter. That’s where home- and community-based services (HCBS) come
Bullying: How You Can Take Action To Identify, Address and Prevent This Destructive Behavior
Written by Lorene Reagan, RN, MS Published in the August 2023 edition of EP (Exceptional Parent) Magazine. Sign up for this newsletter for free! As we prepare to return to school, it is critical to ensure all children, including those with disabilities, are in an environment where they can learn, grow, and socialize without fear. This article describes bullying, its
Health Risk Informed Telemedicine and How it Benefits People with IDD
What is Health Risk Informed Telemedicine and How Can it Benefit the People You Support By Lorene Reagan, Director of Public Relations, IntellectAbility Janet is a 50-year-old woman who has a history of urinary tract infections. It’s Saturday afternoon, and she’s complaining of pain with urination and refused to eat her lunch earlier in the day. The group home staff
Bright, Well-Educated, Strong Work History, But Still Looking for Meaningful Employment
THREE BASIC CONSIDERATIONS FOR MAINTAINING A COMPETENT AND DIVERSE WORKFORCE | 4 MIN READ By Lorene Reagan, RN, MS – Dir. of Public Relations, IntellectAbility In recognition of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we interviewed Curtis Glover, who holds a Bachelor’s degree in Game Art and Development and is an accomplished graphic artist, public speaker, fundraiser, photographer, disability advocate, and
Please, May I Have More Data?
By Lorene Reagan Director of Public Relations, IntellectAbility Rate-setting considerations for long-term services and supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Most actuaries working in the Medicaid space are well acquainted with the acute care rate-setting process. But many may not be familiar with rate setting for Medicaid long-term support and services (LTSS), Home and community-based services (HCBS) for
Employing People with IDD as a Way to Help with the Hiring Crisis
Employing People with IDD as a Way to Help with the Hiring Crisis In this article, we explore successful strategies for recruiting and retaining people with IDD in the workforce and increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. According to a March 2022 report[1] from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment–population ratio—the percentage of the population that is
The National Council on Disability Health Equity Framework: Four Actionable Steps to Better Health for People with Disabilities
On February 14, 2022, the National Council on Disability (NCD) issued the Health Equity Framework. Within the framework is a call to action involving an "all-of-government approach to comprehensively address the health needs of the over 64 million people with disabilities in this country and in our territories...
Making Friends Using Person-Centered Practices
By Patrick Lane One of the best things about being a person is having friends. Some of us have a lot and others have a few, but we all need friends. Yet so many of the people we support have lives marked with loneliness and isolation. Often anxiety, depression, overreactions, and even health risks are rooted in not having at
Direct Support Professionals | Dynamic, Selfless, & Passionate
By Hilary Gaytan – Former DSP, QIDP | Business Development Rep. IntellectAbility I think you could argue that DSPs are some of the most talented people in the world. (And I say that not just because I used to be one!) What other career requires you to wear as many hats? At any given moment on a shift you may
Protective Equipment and Persons with IDD
Although people might be getting a little weary of hearing about the COVID-19 pandemic, it is still a very real issue and we need to remain highly vigilant. That includes wearing protective equipment when appropriate. When should masks be worn and how do you safely put them on and off? The World Health Organization (WHO) offers simplistic and helpful demonstrations and explanations
