IDD Health Equity
Interprofessional educational resources designed to improve health professions education and reduce health disparities experienced by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Teaching and Learning Resources
Disability-Specific Organizations
Explore disability-led organizations, professional resources, educational materials, and health care information addressing the experiences and access needs of diverse disability communities.
Disability is diverse. People may have different communication, sensory, cognitive, mobility, accessibility, and support needs, and many people identify across more than one disability community.
These resources can help health professions educators, clinicians, and students learn directly from disability communities and strengthen accessible, respectful, and person-centered care.
Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities
Organizations and resources supporting health equity, inclusion, education, research, and community participation for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Association of University Centers on Disabilities
AUCD's national network includes University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, LEND programs, and other interdisciplinary centers conducting education, research, service, and community-engaged work.
The Arc
A national organization promoting and protecting the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and supporting inclusion throughout the lifespan.
Special Olympics Health
Special Olympics works to improve health and health care for people with intellectual disabilities through inclusive health programming, health-professional education, health promotion, and health-systems initiatives.
Autism & Neurodiversity
Resources supporting participatory, accessible, respectful, and neurodiversity-affirming approaches to health care, research, education, and community engagement.
AASPIRE
The Academic Autism Spectrum Partnership in Research and Education brings together autistic people, researchers, family members, disability professionals, and health professionals in community-engaged research.
AASPIRE Healthcare Toolkit
Resources developed with autistic adults to improve health care experiences, communication, preparation for visits, accommodations, and understanding between autistic patients and health professionals.
Autistic Self Advocacy Network
ASAN is a nonprofit organization run by and for autistic people, focusing on disability rights, public policy, advocacy, autonomy, and community inclusion.
Developmental & Genetic Disabilities
Condition-specific organizations offering education, clinical information, community resources, and connections to specialized care.
National Down Syndrome Society
NDSS provides resources, advocacy, education, and information supporting people with Down syndrome and their families across the lifespan.
National Fragile X Foundation
NFXF provides education and resources for families and professionals, supports research, and maintains connections to specialized Fragile X clinics and clinical expertise.
FASD United
FASD United provides education, advocacy, support, and a national resource directory related to fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
United Cerebral Palsy
United Cerebral Palsy supports people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities through advocacy, community programs, information, and a national affiliate network.
Dementia & Cognitive Disability
Resources supporting person-centered care, communication, education, and clinical practice for people living with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.
Alzheimer's Association — Professional Resources
Professional resources include evidence-based, person-centered dementia information, guidelines, continuing education, tools, and training for health professionals and care providers.
National Institute on Aging — Alzheimer's & Dementia
The National Institute on Aging provides evidence-based information about Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, diagnosis, care, research, and support.
Stroke & Brain Injury
Resources addressing acute care, rehabilitation, communication, long-term recovery, participation, and support following stroke or traumatic brain injury.
American Stroke Association
The Stroke Resource Library includes professional and patient-focused resources covering prevention, acute treatment, post-stroke care, rehabilitation, education, and recovery.
Brain Injury Association of America
BIAA provides education, advocacy, information, support, and resources for people affected by brain injury, families, professionals, and communities.
Communication Disabilities & AAC
Resources supporting communication access for people who communicate in ways other than, or in addition to, typical spoken communication.
Communication Disabilities Access Canada
CDAC promotes accessibility and inclusion for people with speech and communication disabilities and provides resources on communication assistance, accommodations, consent, autonomy, and health care access.
Patient-Provider Communication Network
Practical tools for improving communication access during health care encounters, including communication planning, supports, accommodations, and health care visit tools.
CommunicationFIRST
CommunicationFIRST is a disability-led organization advocating for the civil rights, autonomy, and inclusion of people who cannot rely on speech alone to be heard and understood.
USSAAC
The United States Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication supports education, advocacy, research, and access related to AAC and people with complex communication needs.
Deaf & Hard of Hearing
Resources addressing communication access, culturally responsive care, accommodations, accessibility, and health equity for Deaf and hard-of-hearing people.
National Association of the Deaf
NAD is a civil rights organization of, by, and for Deaf and hard-of-hearing people. Its work addresses communication access, health care, legal rights, accessibility, and policy.
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Patient Care
Educational training for health professionals focused on strengthening knowledge, accessibility, and communication practices when caring for patients who are Deaf or hard of hearing.
Hearing Loss Association of America
HLAA provides education, advocacy, support, and resources for people with hearing loss, including communication access and assistive technology information.
Blindness & Low Vision
Disability-led organizations and resources addressing accessibility, independence, information access, health, and inclusion for people who are blind or have low vision.
American Council of the Blind
ACB is a national consumer organization advocating for independence, accessibility, equality, and opportunity for people who are blind or have low vision.
National Federation of the Blind
NFB is a nationwide organization of blind people providing advocacy, education, mentorship, programs, and resources addressing accessibility and full participation.
Mobility & Physical Disabilities
Resources addressing accessibility, health, participation, community living, and equitable care for people with mobility and physical disabilities.
United Spinal Association
United Spinal advocates for people with spinal cord injuries and disorders and other mobility disabilities and provides resources related to health, accessibility, community living, employment, and civil rights.
Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation
The Reeve Foundation provides information, education, support, and resources for people living with paralysis, families, caregivers, and health professionals.
United Cerebral Palsy
UCP provides advocacy, information, services, and community connections for people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities through its national network.
Health Professionals & Students with Disabilities
Organizations and resources supporting disability inclusion, accessibility, accommodations, mentorship, and representation within health professions education and the health care workforce.
Medical Students with Disability and Chronic Illness
MSDCI is a student-led national organization supporting medical students with disabilities and chronic illnesses through community, mentorship, education, advocacy, and efforts to improve accessibility in medical education.
Association on Higher Education and Disability
AHEAD provides professional resources, education, and guidance supporting disability access and equity in postsecondary education, including accommodations and inclusive educational practice.
National Organization of Nurses with Disabilities
NOND promotes equity and inclusion for nurses and nursing students with disabilities and works to remove barriers within nursing education and professional practice.
Center the Expertise of People with Disabilities
When selecting educational materials, ADHCE encourages educators and health professionals to include resources developed by, with, and for people with disabilities and to meaningfully include people with disabilities in curriculum design, teaching, simulation, research, and evaluation.
About This Collection
This page is a curated starting point rather than a comprehensive directory. Disability communities are diverse, terminology and individual preferences vary, and many people identify across multiple disability communities. Inclusion of an external resource does not imply ADHCE endorsement of all content or positions of the originating organization.
About the AllianceThe Alliance for Disability in Health Care Education, Inc. (ADHCE), is a '501(c)(3) Public Charity' organization of healthcare educators and professionals who are working to integrate disability-related content and experiences into healthcare education and training programs. |
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