John Taylor, Professor of Economics at Stanford University and developer of the "Taylor Rule" for setting interest rates | Stanford University
John Taylor, Professor of Economics at Stanford University and developer of the "Taylor Rule" for setting interest rates | Stanford University
On a recent Friday morning, a group gathered at Stanford University's disability community space to discuss issues related to intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). These quarterly brunch meetings, organized by IDD@Stanford, aim to connect individuals working in the IDD field with community groups and families.
Holly Tabor, professor of medicine and director of the Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, emphasized the importance of building connections between Stanford's faculty, staff, students, researchers, individuals with IDD and their caregivers, as well as community organizations. "There was a real need to build connections," she said.
The initiative began in 2023 when Tabor recognized that while many at Stanford were involved with the local IDD community, there was no established forum for communication among projects and teams. The gatherings have attracted diverse attendees including members from Amazon’s assistive tech team and local school district parents.
This year, supported by an award from the Office of Community Engagement, the group will address challenges young adults with IDD face in accessing health care. The project is run by hubIDD-Transform within Stanford Medicine’s Center for Biomedical Ethics. It plans to collaborate with community partners to produce virtual health forums, medical education events for practitioners, and educational resources for patients alongside Special Olympics Northern California and PARCA.
Sue Digre from PARCA highlighted concerns about services ending abruptly when teens turn 18. “My families always worry when a child becomes 18,” she noted. Accessing health care remains one of the significant challenges for adults with IDD.
David Solo of Special Olympics Northern California stated that addressing health needs is central to their mission. The organization conducts health screenings during its events to help train providers on best practices for caring for the IDD population. Solo stressed the need for coordinated engagement around health disparities affecting people with IDD.
The project's advisory board includes researchers, clinicians, adults with IDD, caregivers, and representatives from community organizations. Justin Steinberg from Stanford Center for Bioethics underscored the importance of involving those with IDD in shaping project goals: “We often bring up things that are missed … We can help get the focus to where we can do the most good.”
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