Institute for Exceptional Care

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

06/23/2026

Yesterday was the 27th anniversary of Olmstead v. Lois Curtis, one of the most important disability rights decisions in U.S. history.

In that case, the Supreme Court ruled that the ADA prohibits the unnecessary institutionalization of people with disabilities. People with disabilities have the right to live in their own homes and communities, not be confined to institutions.

Today, instead of marking this anniversary with affirmation, the U.S. Department of Justice released a memo claiming the ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act contains no such mandate. This position is wrong.

It contradicts decades of federal court decisions. It contradicts the Olmstead ruling itself. And it contradicts the clear intent of Congress when it passed the ADA.

A memo from the DOJ does not change the law. Courts have not accepted this position. The rights of people with disabilities to live and receive services in their communities are firmly established and cannot be undone by an agency.

This is why IEC signed onto a letter from the Consortium for Constituents with Disabilities strongly condemning this DOJ memo and calls for its rejection. We will continue advocating for the self-determination, independence, and full inclusion of all people with disabilities in every aspect of society, as we have since 1973.

The law is on our side. We are not going back.

06/22/2026

"We identified that one major barrier to better access to respite care is how invisible the need is. We propose steering high school students who have to meet community service hours toward a new program that could train them to be respite providers for families in their community."

Our President & CEO Mai Pham attended a summit on expanding access to respite care for families of children with complex health needs.

By channeling students' required community service hours into a structured respite care training program, we can:
✅ Make an invisible need visible
✅ Give youth real, transferable healthcare skills
✅ Build a more empathetic generation of future leaders

Proud to have IEC represented in this important conversation!

06/14/2026

“We focus particularly on the community of people who have intellectual and or developmental disabilities, including conditions like autism or Down syndrome or fetal alcohol syndrome or cerebral palsy in some cases." - Mai Pham

Our president and CEO Mai Pham was interviewed by DC News Now as a DMV Doer.

Watch the interview:

Dr. Hoang Mai Pham, President, Instiute for Exceptional Care, talks...

06/06/2026

June is Pride Month, and we wanted to reshare this article by self-advocate Yolanda Vargas on how to be a better ally. Yolanda shares three resources that help inform us how the trans community often overlaps with disability and healthcare.

Helpful, and nonjudgemental resources to inform us how the trans community often overlaps with disability and healthcare.

06/03/2026

Typical ways we measure healthy aging can miss what matters for people with IDD. This report aims to correct that.

IEC brought together adults with IDD, family members, clinicians, insurers, researchers, and policymakers to define what healthy aging outcomes matter most to them. The answers went beyond disease prevention.

People described healthy aging as having energy, being comfortable, staying connected to their communities, making their own choices, and continuing to do the things they love.

Learn more about geroscience for people with IDD in our new report:

A major new report shares important recommendations for how healthcare systems can improve care for people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD).

06/01/2026

A major new report shares important recommendations for how healthcare systems can improve care for people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD).

The report is from Phase 3 of IIDDEAL (Individuals with IDD Engaged, Aligned, and Leading), a national effort to figure out what good health looks like for people with IDD and how to measure it. Thirty-eight partners, led by the Institute for Exceptional Care (IEC), reviewed dozens of quality measures to identify which are most important for people with IDD.

We are excited to publish these findings!

A major new report shares important recommendations for how healthcare systems can improve care for people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD).

05/19/2026

Accessible communication is vital for delivering equitable and inclusive healthcare, particularly for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). That's why we developed the IEC Dental Toolkit!

Effective communication begins with understanding patient needs, fostering inclusivity, and employing adaptable approaches that prioritize respect and accessibility.

Accessible communication is vital for delivering equitable and inclusive healthcare, particularly for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). That's why we developed the IEC Dental Toolkit! Effective communication begins with understanding patient needs, fostering inclusi