"Of course, this year has been really tough for IEC and for many other organizations. We have also seen it take a real toll on people with IDD who are our partners in our work and on their family members." - Mai Pham, IEC President and CEO

🚨 Big News! 🎉 Today (Aug 26, 2025) our CEO Dr. Mai Pham joins Dr. Teal Benevides, Dr. Julie Seibert & Dr. Kathryn Thompson to present key findings from the IIDDEAL project. @academyhealth.bsky.social This #virtual event is FREE & open to all! Register here 👉 academyhealth.org/events/webin...

“I like the camaraderie of like-minded people, meeting other self-advocates, and being part of something bigger than myself.” — Gyasi Burks-Abbott, IDD Advocate Corps Member Learn more about the Advocate Corps and other accomplishments in our 2024 Impact Report: www.ie-care.org/making-healt...

In 2024, we released The Roadmap for Disability-Inclusive Healthcare, a shared vision for a future where people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD) receive safe, equitable care. Find The Roadmap and our vision for inclusive healthcare here: www.inclusivecareroadmap.org

Our 2024 Impact Report is here 🎉 We're working to create a healthcare system that works for people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD). In 2024, we made meaningful progress thanks to our supporters, partners, and self-advocates. Read it: www.ie-care.org/making-healt...

We’re excited to share that our president and CEO, Dr. Mai Pham, was featured on the latest episode of Our Voices, Our Future, a podcast by @amwadoctors.bsky.social 🎧 Listen to the episode! Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/d... Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/1yrm...

“Today is our day to celebrate who we are. So be proud of who we are. But tomorrow is a new day, and a new battle is coming.” — BJ Stasio, Disability Self-Advocate BJ delivered a powerful message at New York’s celebration of the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Today, the U.S. House passed a budget bill that includes deep cuts to Medicaid. This will directly harm millions of people with disabilities who rely on Medicaid for healthcare, home support, and services that help them live in their communities. Full statement: www.ie-care.org/a-step-backw...

With recent policy changes creating new obstacles for trans youth and their families, being an informed ally can make a big difference in improving healthcare for the trans disability community. www.ie-care.org/be-a-better-...

🩺 Standing up for Medicaid Access We recently joined 190 leading health organizations in signing onto a letter from the Modern Medicaid Alliance to Senate leadership, urging them to reject harmful Medicaid cuts. Read the letter here: lnkd.in/edhvt67v #MedicaidMatters #IDD #ProtectMedicaid

🚀 New Resource Guide: Essential Tools for IDD Advocates We're excited to share Essential Resources for IDD Advocates, a curated collection of 45 tools, guides, and reports designed to help self-advocates and family members. #DisabilityRights #Healthcare #Advocacy www.ie-care.org/essential-re...

People with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD) often face unfair barriers to getting quality healthcare. These 7 resources can help explain your rights, prepare for healthcare visits, and give you tools to lead the life that you want and deserve. www.ie-care.org/7-resources-...

Proposed federal budget could lead to over 51,000 preventable deaths, researchers from @yalesph.bsky.social @upenn.edu warn. ysph.yale.edu/news-article...

📣 Important Medicaid Update This week, we joined more than 730 organizations in urging Congress to reject harmful Medicaid cuts that would jeopardize access to care for millions of people with disabilities, older adults, pregnant women, and children.

Come work with us! We're hiring for a Director of Development or Chief Advancement Officer to manage and implement a strategic vision for our comprehensive fundraising program. ➡️ $150,000-$175,000 ➡️ Fully Remote Click here to apply: jobs.gusto.com/postings/ins...

"Take time to talk to your constituents with disabilities. Get to know them as people. Get to know them for who they are, not what you see on TV or in the news. My disability doesn’t define me. It enhances my humanness." - BJ Stasio

Medicaid is a lifeline for our communities, and we cannot afford any part of it to be cut. That's why we joined 435 organizations in urging Congress to oppose any funding cuts, work requirements, or eligibility restrictions to Medicaid. Read the letter: www.c-c-d.org/fichiers/Let...

We're recognizing #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth by highlighting resources and personal stories shared by members of IEC's IDD Advocate Corps. For Yolanda, wellness takes preparation. She puts in real time and energy to plan for the days when her mental health is not at its best.

"Imagine losing access to the care that helps you get out of bed, go to work, and live life with dignity. For millions of Americans with disabilities, Medicaid is the difference between independence and isolation." New oped in @buffalonews.com: buffalonews.com/opinion/arti...

Big changes in healthcare start with informed, passionate communities. IEC’s newsletter keeps you connected to make care better and safer for people with IDD. ✅ Stories of real impact ✅ Updates on the latest news ✅ Ways you can advocate or support Join: ie-care.us6.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=...

“It shows absolutely nothing about any Administration for Community Living (ACL) funding at all. Other operating divisions within HHS are identified, but there is nothing about disability, nothing about aging, nothing at all under the HHS category."

We're proud to share that our CEO Mai Pham is joining an excellent panel of leaders for a State of the Union for the Disability Community on 5/7 from 3-4 pm ET. Discuss disability priorities and the actions needed to improve access, quality, and outcomes. www.gih.org/event/state-...

Check out this guidance from @acog.org. They just published this important statement on how OBGYNs and other professionals can understand and address the barriers that disabled people face when trying to access reproductive healthcare. #DisabilityRights #HealthEquity #ReproductiveHealth #IDD

Too many disabled patients face barriers to quality reproductive care. Our latest guidance urges ob-gyns to address ableism, challenge bias, and ensure patients with disabilities receive the full range of services. Let’s build inclusive, patient-centered practices. Learn more: buff.ly/vAnO1oB

"Autistic people are not a burden to be managed. They are community members to be heard, respected and empowered." For Autism Acceptance Month, our CEO Mai Pham, co-authored a powerful letter in @washingtonpost.com with disability advocate Gyasi Burks-Abbott. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...

💬 “When I come here, I can laugh, I can be myself... It’s just a great experience and I can’t thank everyone enough for your input and your leadership." We want to share a powerful message from Nathaniel Lentz, a passionate self-advocate and member of our IDD Advocate Corps at IEC. 💙

"Chronic pain looks different in everyone. Chronic pain is more common and presents differently in autistic women and those presenting female at birth. My autistic mind cannot describe pain in the standard medical 1-10 scale." - Nicole Noblet, Autistic Self-Advocate #AutismAcceptanceMonth

IEC joined a coalition of leading Autism, disability, and public health organizations to stand united in our call for science-based decision-making and increased investment in the research, programs and services the Autism community needs to live fully. Statement: www.ie-care.org/leading-auti...

April is Autism Acceptance Month, a time to celebrate autistic people, honor their strengths, and advocate for a future where everyone belongs. Autism acceptance is more than just knowing autistic people exist. It means valuing them, supporting them, and creating communities where they can thrive.

Autism acceptance means more than awareness. It means honoring autistic people’s needs, histories & experiences. As Dennis Tran says, “Neurodivergent people have always existed.” Let’s build a healthcare system that sees and supports all of us. #AutismAcceptanceMonth

💻 Upcoming Webinar: Protecting the Health of People with Disabilities 💻 Tues, Apr 8 from 2-3 pm ET Join our President and CEO Mai Pham and IDD Advocate Corps member Yolanda Vargas for this webinar hosted by @apha.org Register: www.pathlms.com/health/cours... #DisabilityHealth #PublicHealth

In a recent Q&A with The American Journal of Managed Care (AJMC), our President and CEO Mai Pham shared her insights on how value-based care principles, workforce training, and authentic community engagement can drive systemic change. Read the full Q&A here: www.ajmc.com/view/managed...

Family dynamics also shape how neurodivergence is understood and accepted. Hoangmai Pham, Founder and President of IEC, shares how her Vietnamese immigrant family had to shift their expectations after her child, Alex, was diagnosed as autistic. coldteacollective.com/celebrating-...

A government agency that funds services and supports for people with #disabilities living in the community will be broken up as part of a massive reorganization of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The Administration for Community Living, housed in HHS, is shutting down. I spoke to disability experts for @motherjones.com about questions they have for what’s next, the services ACL provides, and how this move may lead to more folks being institutionalized. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...

🚨 We Stand with the Disability and Aging Collaborative 🚨 IEC strongly opposes the recent decision by HHS to dismantle the Administration for Community Living (ACL). Read the full DAC statement here: www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...

Designing care systems with neurodivergent individuals in mind ultimately benefits everyone. We are honored that we had an opportunity to join a @bhtech.bsky.social conversation to help reimagine autism care. More from @forbes.com: www.forbes.com/sites/jennif...

For more than a decade, value-based payment models have aimed to improve healthcare quality while controlling costs. But so far, the results have been mixed. Our proposal? Authentically engage patients and make them partners in shaping healthcare. Read more: www.healthaffairs.org/content/fore...

It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of our friend Jensen Caraballo. Jensen was a fierce disability rights advocate, a gifted writer, and a cherished voice in our community.

#Medicaid could face billions of dollars in federal cuts. That's alarmed families who rely on the program to pay for medical care and other support for their kids with chronic conditions and #disabilities.

Our response: Studies like this waste precious time and resources. Worse, they may also hurt autistic people. The focus should be on practical solutions to help autistic people achieve the best life possible. ✅ Better care ✅ More funding ✅ Stronger vaccine programs www.ie-care.org/iec-statemen...

IEC is dedicated to improving healthcare for people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD), including autism. We are concerned about the CDC’s decision to launch a new study on vaccines and autism. www.ie-care.org/iec-statemen...

“I’m basically fighting for my life. It’s frightening because this lawsuit could affect everything.” We were honored to partner with Jennifer Kucera on some of our projects. She shares her story with @washingtonpost.com about another attack on Medicaid. www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/202...

We are excited to share that IEC has been named the 2025 American Medical Women's Association @amwa-doctors.bsky.social Presidential Award for Improving Clinical Practice recipient! This recognition from AMWA highlights IEC’s impact in reshaping the way care is taught, delivered, and paid for.

This isn't just a policy debate. It's about real people losing access to the care they rely on every day. Medicaid: - Is the primary health insurance for millions of people with IDD - Helps people with IDD live, learn, and work in their communities There is still time to make your voice heard.

Medicaid is essential for people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD). ➡️ More than 15 million people with disabilities have Medicaid coverage ➡️ Helps keep people with IDD living and working in their communities ➡️ Save $ by reducing expensive institutional care and ER visits

📢 This Friday (2/28): Hear from IEC's Director of Policy and Programs, Lauren Erickson, MPH, about our National Roadmap for Disability-Inclusive Healthcare in the U.S. Register here: ddpcpforum.ca/webinar-1/

A recent executive order banned “diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA)” programs and policies within the federal government and for federal contractors. We're working to understand the impact on healthcare for people with IDD. Learn more here: www.linkedin.com/pulse/impact...

We are thrilled to welcome Nell Wood Buhlman, a senior healthcare executive with 35 years of experience in data analytics and performance improvement, to IEC’s Board of Directors. We look forward to the leadership and insight Nell will bring to IEC! Learn more: www.ie-care.org/welcome-nell...

"This project will make a big difference in the world, not just for me but for all special needs people." We spoke with Special Olympics athlete Shawn Richards about his inspiring work to improve dental care for people with disabilities. Read more: www.ie-care.org/meet-shawn-c...