"They need to speak a language everyone can understand": Accessibility of COVID-19 vaccine information for Canadian adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Accessible vaccine information is one vital component of effective vaccination programs, however, there is limited research that explores how people with disabilities engage with public health messaging. This study aimed to understand how adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their caregivers navigated Canada's public health communications regarding COVID-19 vaccines. A national survey on the accessibility of vaccine information was conducted in the spring and summer of 2022.

Experiences, attitudes, and knowledge of medical students regarding intellectual and developmental disability: a Canadian study.

Background: As the healthcare of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) shifts toward community-based services, physicians in all areas of medicine are more likely to care for this population. To ensure that all physicians can provide high-quality care to people with IDD, further understanding and attention to undergraduate medical education related to IDD is needed.

Methods: A 24-item survey assessed the experiences, attitudes, knowledge, skills, and future interest of Canadian medical students regarding IDD.

Disability justice and collective access to labour and delivery care: a qualitative study.

Background: People with disabilities experience perinatal health disparities. This qualitative study examines disabled people's experiences of labour and delivery care from a disability justice lens.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted between July 2019 and February 2020 with 31 women and transgender people aged 18-45 years with physical, sensory, and/or intellectual/developmental disabilities, who were living in in Ontario, Canada and had given birth in the previous five years.

Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on access to sexual and reproductive health services for women and transgender people with disabilities in Canada: a qualitative study.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a detrimental impact on sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and rights globally. However, little is known about the experiences of people with disabilities accessing SRH services during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this community-engaged qualitative study, we examined COVID-related impacts on access to SRH services for people with disabilities.

Assessing plasticity in the primary sensory cortex and its relation with atypical tactile reactivity in autism: A TMS-EEG protocol.

Background: Atypical sensory reactivity is a cardinal presentation in autism. Within the tactile domain, atypical tactile reactivity (TR) is common, it emerges early, persists into adulthood, and impedes social interaction and daily functioning. Hence, atypical TR is a key target for biological intervention to improve outcomes.

Repeated use of hospital-based services and delayed hospital discharges in a population-based cohort of autistic adults in Canada.

We know that autistic people have more health problems and are more likely to go to the emergency department and get hospitalized than other people, but we know less about the problems they have once they get to the hospital. In this study, we looked at all autistic adults in Ontario and compared them to adults who were not autistic and to adults who had other kinds of developmental disabilities to see who came back to the emergency department in the month after an emergency department visit, who got re-hospitalized in the month after being sent home from hospital, and who stayed in the hospital longer than they needed to because there was no place appropriate for them to go to. We found that both autistic males and females were more likely to have these things happen to them than the same age- and sex-matched adults who did not have developmental disabilities.

Evaluation of an Interprofessional Educational Intervention in Mental Health and Intellectual and Developmental Disability for Health and Social Service Trainees.

Objective: Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) experience high rates of poor mental health and challenges accessing timely and high-quality services. There is limited interprofessional training on mental health care for this population.

Methods: A virtual, synchronous program based on the Project Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) Ontario IDD Mental Health program was developed for health and social service trainees.

Comparison of long-term healthcare use among older adults with disabilities following hospitalization for COVID-19, sepsis, or influenza: a population-based cohort study.

Background: People with disabilities are at elevated risk of adverse short-term outcomes following hospitalization for acute infectious illness. No prior studies have compared long-term healthcare use among this high-risk population. We compared the healthcare use of adults with disabilities in the one year following hospitalization for COVID-19 vs.

Predictors of mental well-being among family caregivers of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities during COVID-19.

Background: Internationally, stresses related to the COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected the mental health of family caregivers of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs).

Aims: This cross-sectional study investigated demographic, situational and psychological variables associated with mental wellbeing among family caregivers of adults with IDDs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Method: Baseline data from 202 family caregivers participating in virtual courses to support caregiver mental well-being were collected from October 2020 to June 2022 via online survey.

Negative and Positive Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Canadians With Developmental Disabilities: A One-Year Ontario-Based Survey.

Purpose: Understanding the experiences of people with developmental disabilities during the initial period of COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: Individuals with developmental disabilities and their caregivers completed baseline and up to five follow-up online surveys using the CRISIS-AFAR measures, between July 2020 and September 2021. We used qualitative (thematic analysis) and quantitative (MANOVA) analytic methods.

The impact of a virtual wellness course for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the third year of COVID-19.

The current study examines how a virtual wellness intervention may improve health outcomes in adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Thirty-six adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities participated in the wellness intervention. Outcome measures related to satisfaction, mental health, wellbeing, health behaviours and overall health were completed at three time points (pre, post and follow-up).

Brief Report: A population-based study of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on benzodiazepine use among children and young adults.

The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with increases in the prevalence of depression and anxiety among children and young adults. We studied whether the pandemic was associated with changes in prescription benzodiazepine use. We conducted a population-based study of benzodiazepine dispensing to children and young adults ≤ 24 years old between January 1, 2013, and June 30, 2022.

Bridging the gap: national virtual education programme for professionals caring for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities at the time of COVID-19.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the mental health of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). During this period of uncertainty and need for up-to-date information, various virtual training programmes demonstrated the role of tele-mentoring programmes.

Aim: The aim of this paper is to describe the educational evaluation of the National Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes - Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (ECHO-AIDD), a programme for service providers working with adults with IDD during COVID-19.

Prescription Medication Use in Pregnancy in People with Disabilities: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

Individuals with disabilities may require specific medications in pregnancy. The prevalence and patterns of medication use, overall and for medications with known teratogenic risks, are largely unknown. This population-based cohort study in Ontario, Canada, 2004-2021, comprised all recognized pregnancies among individuals eligible for public drug plan coverage.

Participation in Special Olympics reduces the rate for developing diabetes in adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Aim: Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) have a significantly higher prevalence of Type 2 diabetes than the general population. Evidence that lifestyle and/or behavioural interventions, such as participation in Special Olympics, decreases the risk of developing diabetes in adults with IDD could help minimize health disparities and promote overall health in this population.

Methods: This was a 20-year retrospective cohort study of adults with IDD (30-39 years) in the province of Ontario, Canada, that compared hazard rates of diabetes among Special Olympics participants (n = 4145) to non-participants (n = 31,009) using administrative health databases housed at ICES.

Impact of COVID-19 on psychoactive medication use among individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Ontario, Canada: A repeated cross-sectional study.

Background: Evidence for worsening mental health among individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) during COVID-19 sparked concerns for increased use of psychoactive medications.

Objective: To examine the impact of COVID-19 on psychoactive medication use and clinical monitoring among individuals with IDD in Ontario, Canada.

Methods: We conducted a repeated cross-sectional study among individuals with IDD and examined weekly trends for psychoactive medication dispensing and outpatient physician visits among those prescribed psychoactive medications between April 7, 2019, and March 25, 2023.

A retrospective cohort study of prescription drug use among youth with intellectual/developmental disabilities in British Columbia.

Background: People with intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD) are known to have high rates of prescription drug use, particularly for psychotropic medications. This is of concern due to the many side effects associated with these medications and because of the risks of polypharmacy. In this paper we compare the most commonly dispensed drugs and all psychotropic medications for youth with IDD compared with youth without IDD.

Prescriptions for Antipsychotics: Youth with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities Compared to Youth without Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare antipsychotic use by youth with intellectual/developmental disabilities to youth without IDD as they transitioned from pediatric to adult health care services. In addition, antipsychotic use was compared between youth with different types of IDD (autism, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Down syndrome and 'other').

Methods: Population level administrative health data was used to compare the dispensing of antipsychotics for youth aged 15 to 24 years with and without IDD, between 2010 and 2019.

The feasibility of an adapted virtual mindfulness intervention for Special Olympics athletes and their caregivers.

Background: Virtual mindfulness may be helpful for individuals with intellectual disabilities in the context of COVID-related disruptions of in-person programming, such as Special Olympics (SO). This study examined the feasibility of a virtual mindfulness intervention for SO athletes and their caregivers.

Method: SO athletes (n = 44) and their caregivers (n = 29) participated in a 6-week adapted virtual mindfulness intervention.

The Power of Partnerships to Identify and Address Mental Health Concerns Experienced by Adults With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

There are significant research gaps with regard to understanding and addressing the mental health concerns of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families. In this article, we reflect on research we have carried out about mental health and IDD prior to and during the pandemic in Ontario, Canada. We aim to address how partnering with people with IDD, family caregivers, service providers, and policy makers can help accelerate needed progress in this area.