Commentary from the Field
Bridging Gaps in Access to IDD Diagnosis and Services
Shannon McFadden, MS
Jerome McFadden Educational Center
Misinformation about intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) remains widespread, particularly in culturally diverse, low-resource urban and rural communities. As they communicate with people from marginalized communities, professionals need to extend the concept of humility to the intersection of financial and cultural diversity.
Information may be difficult for families to access. Information gaps can contribute to a misdiagnosis or the absence of diagnosis in childhood that, upon reaching adulthood, presents an individual with a substantial barrier to accessing crucial supports.
To prevent further marginalizing those with IDD in communities facing systemic barriers, greater resources should be dedicated toward culturally appropriate outreach to deliver information on IDD and expanding access to appropriate diagnostic assessments through schools and other facilities after age 21.
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Ariel Schwartz, PhD, and Katherine McDonald, PhD, FAAIDD, Launch the Equipped to Engage Toolkit
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