Policy Statements

JUL 2024// Incorporate Disability Curricula into U.S. Medical Schools via Standardized Patients 

Many medical students enter and finish medical school with minimal exposure to working with patients with disabilities, especially intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). There remains a critical need to enhance early training for medical students in regards to working with the neurodiverse population [1]. One strategy is to incorporate greater diversity among standardized patients (SPs), especially by including SPs with disabilities. Medical schools in the United States that have integrated SPs with disabilities in their curriculum are rare, and there are fewer still that have included IDD specifically [2]. Incorporation of disability competency into medical student curricula through SP programs provides an experience that will better prepare students to work with populations with IDD and thereby improve medical care for persons with disabilities in the future. 

AUG 2022// Statement on Supreme Court Ruling regarding Dobbs vs. Jackson

The American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry (AADMD) is committed to improving the quality of and access to care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in all healthcare settings. People with IDD experience significant healthcare disparities, notably including reproductive healthcare. The AADMD believes that the Supreme Court ruling on Dobbs vs Jackson will further restrict access to individualized reproductive care and widen healthcare disparities for women with IDD, and that they will unequally bear the burden of this decision, leading to poorer health and social outcomes.

OCT 2020// DEC 2020 (Updated) // Joint Position Statement on Equity for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Regarding COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation and Safety

 The aim of this joint position statement is to address the risks facing people with IDD during the pandemic and to recommend how they should be included in vaccine allocation frameworks. The final provisions for vaccine allocation will ultimately be determined on a state level, and many different allocation frameworks exist. The following recommendations are intended to be broadly adaptable to state and national allocation frameworks.

NOV 2020 // Response to the World Health Organization on Routine and Preventive Dental Care

 The AADMD respectfully requests that the WHO re-evaluate their recommendation to delay routine and preventive oral healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic and consider at risk populations such as children and adults with IDD.

APR 2020 // Hospitalized Patients & Designated Support Staff Visitation Policy Statement

Providing hospitalized patients with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) with Designated Support Staff During the COVID19 Pandemic: Rationale for Revised Visitor’s Policy

APR 2020 // Ventilators & COVID-19 Policy Statement + SOFA Addendum

People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and the Allocation of Ventilators During the COVID-19 Pandemic

MAY 2019 // DPS-DNR Policy Statement

The Role of the Direct Support Professional & Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Orders

DEC 2018 // Physician Decision Making Policy Statement

Physician Decision Making in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

JUN 2018 // Separating Immigrant Children and Parents Policy Statement

 AADMD Position on Separating Immigrant Children and Parents

AUG 2017 // Medical Immobilization and Procedural Stabilization Policy Statement

AADMD Guidelines for Medical Immobilization and Procedural Stabilization

AUG 2017 // Use of Marijuana as a Therapy Policy Statement

The Use of Marijuana as a Therapy in Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities