AADMD – Project ECHO®: Epilepsy & IDD
6-Part Global Live + Virtual Event Series

The AADMD-led Epilepsy & Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Project ECHO® is a coordinated six-part national and international education series designed to improve epilepsy care for individuals with IDD through case-based learning, community engagement, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

In partnership with the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) and supported by unrestricted educational grants from UCB Pharma and Neurelis. AMA PRA Category 1 CME™ credits will be provided for eligible participants.

Questions? Contact echo@aadmd.org.

PROJECT ECHO SERIES EVENTS

  • 📅 October 11, 2025 (Completed)
    📍 Pan-Caribbean Developmental Medicine & Dentistry Conference – Negril, Jamaica
    🎥 Live + Virtual Hybrid

    • Inaugural session of the Epilepsy & IDD Project ECHO series

    • Established the global framework for all subsequent ECHO hubs

    • Regional Caribbean leadership with ILAE collaboration

  • 📅 June 5 | 8:39 AM – 9:30 AM
    📍 Hilton Dallas Southlake Town Square, Dallas, TX
    🎥 Hybrid Live Community Event + ECHO Session

    • Dr. Seth M. Keller, Dr. Irving Mackenzie, Dr. Yona Lunsky, Dr. Deborah Weisfuse, Dr. Wisdom Okereke, Dr. Vincent Siasoco

    • Join us for a dynamic plenary session bringing together international leaders to explore the state of care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) across diverse regions of the world. This interactive panel will move beyond traditional presentations to foster meaningful dialogue, offering attendees a global lens on health equity, innovation, and collaboration.

      Panelists will each provide a brief overview of their regional perspective—highlighting current systems of care, persistent challenges, and emerging initiatives aimed at improving outcomes for individuals with IDD. Topics will include mental health integration, oral health access, system-building efforts in under-resourced regions, and the expansion of education and training programs worldwide.

      Following these insights, the session will transition into a moderated discussion and audience Q&A, creating space for shared learning and cross-regional exchange. Together, panelists and attendees will explore common barriers, identify opportunities for global partnership, and consider the evolving role of AADMD in advancing health equity—including the development of student and resident engagement internationally.

      This session is part of the morning plenary, welcoming all conference attendees to engage in a thoughtful and forward-looking conversation on advancing inclusive, equitable care for individuals with IDD worldwide.

  • 📅 July 11 | 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM
    📍 UNO Community Engagement Center – Omaha, NE
    🎥 Hybrid Live Community Event + ECHO Session

    • Hub Lead: Dr. Sookyong (Sooky) Koh, MD, PhD (UNMC)

    • Local Lead: Melonie Welsh (Munroe-Meyer Institute, UNMC)

    • Key Partners: UCEDD, Special Olympics Nebraska, DD Council Nebraska, The Arc of Omaha, The Arc of Nebraska, AADMD Student Chapter

  • 📅 August 6, 2026
    📍 TUFH 2026 Conference – Manila, Philippines
    🎥 Conference-Integrated Project ECHO Session

    • Hub Support: Philippine League Against Epilepsy (PLAE)

    • Hub Lead: Dr. Maria Angelica Geronimo, MD

    • Institutional Support: Woods System of Care (Executive Leadership & CMO Sailaja Musunuri, MD)

  • Project ECHO: Epilepsy and Intellectual Development Disabilities - Insight into Tuberous Sclerosis Complex

    📅 September 19 | 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
    📍 ELMS Room 208A at SMC Campus Center at University of Maryland-Baltimore
    🎥 Live Community Engagement Event + ECHO Hub Integration

    • Sponsor & Live Event Partner: Kennedy Krieger Institute

    • Clinical Lead: Dr. Danielle Gordon, MD (Tuberous Sclerosis Clinic)

    • Supports both live event and Johns Hopkins ECHO hub team

    • Speakers: Dr. Jodi Lindsey, MD (Kennedy Krieger Institute) and Dr. Pete Crino, MD, PhD (University of Maryland School of Medicine")

    10:30 AM    Registration 

    11:00 – 11:30 AM     Opening Remarks and Introductions 

    Research Initiatives within TSC Alliance and our institutions 

    11:30 AM – 12:30 PM   CASE #1: Diagnosis and Management of Epilepsy in Tuberous Sclerosis Patients 

    12:30 PM – 1:00 PM     Lunch Break 

    1:00 – 2:00 PM    CASE # 2: Association between Epilepsy and TSC-Associated Neuropsychiatric Disorder (TAND)

    2:00 – 3:00 PM    Q&A Panel with TSC Experts

  • 📅 September 15, 2026, 11am EST
    📍 Plymouth, United Kingdom
    🎥 Virtual

    • Hub Lead: Dr. Rohit Shankar

    • Partners: University of Plymouth, Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

  • 📅 Date TBD (Early Planning Phase)
    📍 New York, NY – Possible venue: Positive Exposure
    🎥 Planned Live Community Engagement Event

Future AADMD ECHO Programs

Future Neuro-IDD ECHO Programs

  • Cerebral Palsy (motor disorders, spasticity, pain, aging effects)

  • Autism Spectrum Disorder (behavioral health, seizures, communication, sensory needs)

  • Movement Disorders in IDD (dystonia, Parkinsonism, medication-induced motor dysfunction)

  • Genetic & Rare Syndromes (Down syndrome, Fragile X, Angelman, Rett, TSC, and others)

ECHO Programs Focused on Major IDD Health Concerns

  • Cardiovascular health

  • Nutrition, dysphagia, gastrointestinal motility disorders

  • Respiratory health and aspiration risk

  • Infection vulnerability and immune issues

  • Dementia in IDD populations

  • Dental/oral health

  • Behavioral & mental health conditions

  • Musculoskeletal and chronic pain concerns

Support from the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE)

The International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) plays a vital role in supporting the development, visibility, and global reach of the AADMD Epilepsy & IDD Project ECHO initiative. As the world’s leading organization dedicated to advancing epilepsy care, research, and education, ILAE has helped strengthen the scientific foundation and international connectivity of this work.

Through collaboration with regional ILAE chapters — including the Philippine League Against Epilepsy (PLAE), Caribbean advocates, and international academic partners — the ECHO program benefits from:

  • Global epilepsy expertise

  • Access to international educational resources

  • Connections with neurologists, epilepsy specialists, and researchers worldwide

  • Alignment with ILAE’s mission to improve the lives of people with epilepsy through education and innovation

  • Support for culturally relevant, low-resource, and community-centered approaches

The partnership enhances both the clinical and community-facing components of the ECHO series and helps ensure that IDD-focused epilepsy care receives recognition on the world stage.

Learn more about ILAE: https://www.ilae.org

Educational Grant Support

The AADMD Epilepsy & IDD Project ECHO series is supported by an unrestricted educational grant from UCB Pharma and Neurelis. This support enables the development of international training collaborations, multidisciplinary teaching, and expanded access to epilepsy-focused education for the IDD community.

UCB Pharma is a global biopharmaceutical leader specializing in neurology and immunology, advancing treatments that improve the lives of people living with epilepsy and other chronic conditions.

Learn more about UCB Pharma: https://www.ucb.com

Neurelis is a neuroscience-focused company committed to providing innovative treatments for epilepsy and acute seizure management, including rescue therapies designed for real-world use.

Learn more about Neurelis: https://www.neurelis.com