Institute for Exceptional Care

09/29/2026

We are excited to share the new Dental Training Pathway!

We looked at hundreds of trainings, guides, and tools. Self-advocates, family caregivers, and healthcare workers all helped us choose the best ones. Then we organized them into a step-by-step pathway for dentists to follow.

The Dental Training Pathway teaches dentists:
➡️ What IDD is, and why it matters in a dental office
➡️ How to talk with and support patients with IDD
➡️ Health conditions that often go along with IDD
➡️ Tips for exams and dental care
➡️ How to make the office feel more welcoming
➡️ Resources for caregivers and families

See the Training Pathway: https://na2.hubs.ly/H082TYH0

09/16/2026

Tomorrow! Thursday, September 17 at 7:30 pm ET

Join IEC's Rachel Grimm and the American Association of Women Dentists for Practical Tools for Treating Patients with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities.

Learn about the barriers to oral healthcare experienced by people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities and practical ways dental professionals can improve patient interactions and outcomes.

✨ Earn 1 CE

Register here: https://na2.hubs.ly/H07Qdhd0

09/14/2026

In July, we launched our new workforce Fellowship Program. This month, we'd like to introduce you to one of our Fellows: Chris Bean—a talented artist, engaged community member, valued self-advocate, and incredible human being!

"I'm excited to learn professional development skills and gain knowledge in health topics from the IEC Fellowship Program. I want to get better at speaking to more people and have more opportunities. I'll be a trained expert in advocacy." - Chris Bean

Watch this video to learn more about Chris and the Fellowship.

Support Chris and the other Fellows here: https://na2.hubs.ly/H07MdM20

09/02/2026

Training doesn't create change until it's actually used.

"The resources compiled by the IEC were not only impressive and comprehensive, but they were tangible. I was able to take the resources from IEC to use in my clinical work that day, thus allowing the work of the IEC to have an immediate impact on the lives of the people with disabilities." - Ley Linder, Founder and CEO of Crescent Behavioral Health Services

Real-world impact is the goal behind our ABC3 initiatives, which are changing how doctors, nurses, and dentists are trained to treat people with IDD.

In 2025, more than 400 medical professionals completed our course, and we reviewed 200+ IDD clinical resources to build stronger training pathways for primary care clinicians and dentists.

See the full 2025 Impact Report: https://na2.hubs.ly/H07wLPL0

08/27/2026

We are deeply concerned that the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) is shutting the community out of important decisions about autism research and services.

The IACC is a federal committee that helps decide how the government spends hundreds of millions of dollars in autism research funding. Based on the posted agenda, it appears that tomorrow the Committee will vote on a new Strategic Plan: the document that will guide those spending priorities going forward.

Federal law requires the IACC to seek public comment before finalizing the Strategic Plan and publish those comments well before the meeting. But public comments submitted to the IACC between August 15 to August 20 were not even distributed to Committee members until this afternoon. They were not considered for inclusion in the revised draft, nor are they available online. The publicly posted deadline for comment submission was August 20.

The comments at issue include thousands of pages of detailed, constructive input from advocacy organizations and community members. We urge the IACC and its leadership to share all timely comments with Committee members, review them carefully, and meaningfully incorporate them before any vote takes place.

Public input isn’t a formality: it is a basic requirement. All public comment deserves to be heard, and all community feedback deserves real consideration. Our community is broad and often has different priorities, but we agree on these key points: the IACC should adhere to Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) requirements and all voices should be heard.

08/25/2026

"It is critical for openly disabled people to be at the forefront of the disability rights movement. We still need allies, but it is important we have a seat at the table. If we are not at the table, we are on the menu." - Lizzy Graham

That belief is built into how IEC works. Every initiative we run is guided by people with IDD and their families, not just designed on their behalf. It's why our solutions hold up in the real world.

Read more about our 2025 Impact: https://na2.hubs.ly/H07nwvf0

08/19/2026

We are very excited to release IEC's 2025 Impact Report. It was a challenging year that required adaptation in a fast-changing environment. 2025 tested us, but IDD self-advocates, families, and healthcare leaders kept us focused on what matters most.

With a quickly changing landscape, we adapted to best serve people with IDD and their families. We spoke up on policy, working with partners to protect Medicaid, disability rights, and hard-won progress. At the same time, we kept building practical tools for clinicians, payers, families, and self-advocates. And we created spaces for people with IDD to be heard because we won't solve our biggest problems without hearing everyone.

In 2026, we're working to expand our clinician tools, keep leading on IDD health education, and piloting a new fellowship to help people with IDD build job and advocacy skills.

https://na2.hubs.ly/H07hQc30

07/09/2026

We've very excited that the University of Illinois Chicago is now offering a 12-week health promotion program developed for and by people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD).

There is an informational session on July 14.

Still register if you can't make the session because you will be able to get a recording.

Click here to register:

Please join us for an informational webinar to explore the HealthMatters Program, learn about the application process and key dates, and ask questions during a live Q&A session. A recording will be shared with all registered participants. Contact: Jasmina Sisirak, ([email protected])

07/09/2026

Calling all dentists, dental hygienists, assistants, and front office staff who interact directly with patients and families! Don’t miss this free continuing education opportunity at VCU School Of Dentistry on August 1.

You will learn about the sensory, motor, and communication needs of children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and how these differences can impact dental experiences and outcomes.

The training will focus on practical modifications you can make to your office or practice to improve patient comfort, participation, and care. There will also be hands-on activities, including opportunities to modify a dental bay and experience a Sensory Adapted Dental Environment firsthand.

To register, visit the link in our Instagram bio or https://reg.learningstream.com/reg/event_page.aspx?ek=0017-0015-F205D0FA5819412496C6E648D768AB85.

07/06/2026

We are excited to announce our new IDD Fellowship Program!

It is a workforce development program for young adults and adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities aimed at alleviating poverty, addressing chronic under- and unemployment, and helping our self-advocates to meet the new Medicaid working requirements set forth by the BBB.

Each fellowship cohort’s programming runs for 2 years and supports:

- Working experience and professional development training
- 1:1 mentoring via a community-solicited career mentor
- A monthly fellowship stipend while learning, vital, career-building skills
- A collaborative network of supportive self-advocates and professionals

More information on the fellowship: https://na2.hubs.ly/H06tBKB0

How you can support: https://na2.hubs.ly/H06tC050