IDD Health Matters

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 tha...

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 highlights the lack of reliable national health data due to insufficient identification methods and advocates for simple survey questions to address this gap. Haverkamp also shares her role in creating core healthcare...

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....

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 developmental disabilities (IDD). Forster shares his journey from working in finance to becoming passionate about serving the IDD population through direct support and leadership roles. Now at Tarrytown Pharmacy, he help...

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 intellectual and developmental disabil...

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 diagnosis, and how it ultimately l...

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...

In this episode of IDD Health Matters , Dr. Craig Escudé is joined by Ricardo Ortega and Babar Nawaz of iCare Manager—an innovative electronic health record (EHR) company revolutionizing care for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Together, they explore how technology can improve efficiency, documentation, and most importantly, the quality of care delivered by providers...

In this insightful episode of IDD Health Matters , Dr. Craig Escudé is joined by nurse educator Michael Sigelman , who brings a wealth of experience and passion to improving healthcare practices for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Michael shares how his early experiences shaped his career and how he now plays a crucial role in training registered nurses and direct su...

In this episode of IDD Health Matters , Dr. Craig Escudé sits down with long-time advocate and leader Shelly Chandler to explore a lifetime of service and passion in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). From growing up immersed in the world of special education to running provider agencies and leading the Iowa Association of Community Providers for 17 years, Shelly share...

On this episode of IDD Health Matters , Dr. Craig Escudé sits down with two remarkable nurses— Patty Haberkorn and Deanna Cox —at the Illinois Developmental Disabilities Nurses Conference. With a combined four decades of experience supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), Patty and Deanna share powerful insights into nursing, advocacy, communication, and the often-...

In this inspiring episode of IDD Health Matters with Dr. Craig Escudé, we welcome Tony Thomas , Executive Director of Welcome House in Cleveland, Ohio. With over 24 years of leadership experience, Tony shares his remarkable journey into the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) — from a life-changing family discovery to a lifelong career dedicated to empowering individuals and...

In this episode of IDD Health Matters , Dr. Craig Escudé sits down with Dr. Alice Bacherini, a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Perugia in Italy, to explore how psychological research is helping dismantle biases in healthcare for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Dr. Bacherini discusses her groundbreaking work developing tools to measure erroneous assu...

In this powerful episode of IDD Health Matters , Dr. Craig Escudé sits down with longtime civil rights attorney, disability advocate, and former Acting Administrator of the Administration for Community Living, Alison Barkoff . Now serving as the Hirsch Health Law and Policy Professor at George Washington University's Milken Institute School of Public Health, Alison shares her personal journey root...

In this powerful episode of IDD Health Matters , Dr. Craig Escudé sits down with renowned disability advocate Liz Weintraub to explore what true health equity looks like for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Liz, a senior policy specialist at the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), brings her lived experience and professional expertise to the conv...

In this inspiring episode of IDD Health Matters , Dr. Craig Escudé is joined by Dr. Ben Warner, a healthcare professional whose unique journey spans from dental practice to medical school—all fueled by a lifelong desire to serve those with the greatest needs. Dr. Warner shares how his early experiences volunteering in hospitals sparked a deep commitment to healthcare and how that commitment evolve...

In this episode of IDD Health Matters , Dr. Craig Escudé sits down with Richard Chapman, Assistant Director for Disability Leadership at the Partnership for People with Disabilities in Richmond, Virginia. With a background in mental health counseling and a deep commitment to advancing equity, Richard shares his journey and current work at the intersection of mental health and self-determination fo...

In this episode of the IDD Health Matters Podcast , Dr. Craig Escudé sits down with Eddie Tuduri , a world-class drummer whose career included playing with legends like The Beach Boys, Loggins & Messina, Del Shannon, and Ricky Nelson . But in 1997, a life-altering accident left him paralyzed—an event that ultimately led him to create the Rhythmic Arts Project (TRAP) , a groundbreaking program that...

In this episode of IDD Health Matters , Dr. Craig Escudé sits down with Rachel Potts, a dedicated nurse and Director of Nursing for ICF homes, to discuss the challenges and rewards of providing healthcare for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Rachel shares her journey into the field, beginning as a school nurse for children with autism, and how she quickly develop...

In this episode of IDD Health Matters , Dr. Craig Escudé sits down with Chris Helfrich, a dedicated nurse and an integral member of the Developmental Disabilities Nurses Association, live from the DDNA annual conference in New Orleans. Chris shares her unexpected journey into the field, her experiences navigating healthcare for individuals with developmental disabilities, and the critical need for...

In this dynamic episode of the IDD Health Matters Podcast, Dr. Craig Escude sits down with Bob Sattler—whose extensive experience and passion for person-centered care have transformed developmental disability services. Recorded live at the NASD Conference in Portland, Oregon, this conversation delves into Bob's unique journey from a camp counselor and direct support professional to a pioneering co...

In this episode of the IDD Health Matters Podcast , Dr. Craig Escudé sits down with John Silfies , keynote speaker at the Kansas InterHab Conference and founder of Silfies Media , a company dedicated to making the developmental disabilities (DD) field famous . John shares his journey from Direct Support Professional (DSP) to marketing expert, emphasizing the power of storytelling in raising awaren...

On this episode of IDD Health Matters, Dr. Craig Escudé sits down with Johnathon Crumley, Chief Operations Officer of IntellectAbility, to discuss his unexpected journey into the field of intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) support. Originally planning a career as a military chaplain, Jonathan's path shifted when he discovered his passion for improving services and quality of life for...

In this episode of IDD Health Matters , Dr. Craig Escudé welcomes Sharon Parker Love, a nurse with 56 years of experience, to discuss her journey in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) nursing. Recorded at the Illinois Developmental Disabilities Nurses Association Conference, Sharon shares her remarkable career—from starting with a state grant program to dedicating over...

Welcome to another insightful episode of IDD Health Matters, hosted by Craig Escudé, MD, FAAFP, FAADM, president of IntellectAbility. In this episode, we explore pioneering approaches to healthcare for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Join us as Dr. Escude welcomes two distinguished guests from the international arena: Professor Angela Hassiotis from University College...