Preparing health professionals to provide care to individuals with disabilities.

Aim: To review the perceptions of dental/medical educators and their students in the United States on the adequacy of didactic and clinical preparation to provide service for individuals with disabilities.

Methodology: An e-mailed questionnaire with follow-up was sent to 198 deans of dental/medical schools, 1,628 directors of residency programs in nine medical/dental residency programs, 427 medical students in 12 medical schools, and 368 health related organizations, facilities and programs.

Results: More than half (58%) of the responding deans of reported that a curriculum for patients with disabilities was not a high priority at their school.

The American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry: eliminating health disparities for individuals with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities.

Recent reports by Special Olympics International and the U.S. Surgeon General have revealed significant disparities and unmet health needs encountered by persons with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities (MR/DD).