Evaluating a Novel Disability Education and Awareness Event for Health Professions Trainees.

Background: People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are at high risk for unmet health care needs and face barriers to equitable care, yet few health professions students receive adequate training to meet these needs.

Objectives: An interactive panel discussion with Special Olympics Pennsylvania (SOPA) athletes and staff was planned and implemented so that health professions students/trainees would gain knowledge of IDD, health barriers, SOPA resources, and volunteer opportunities.

Methods: Panelists included two SOPA athletes and their mentors; questions solicited responses about personal health care experiences (Fall 2019). Attendees completed a mixed-methods post-event survey capturing event satisfaction, reflections, and interest in learning more about patients with IDD.

Results: Sixty individuals attended, and 43 (72%) completed post-event evaluation. Attendees reported high satisfaction (88%), desire for future trainings (100%), and interest in learning about communicating (88%), providing care (88%), and addressing IDD health barriers (91%).

Conclusions: Collaborative community panels could be effective in engaging health care students in discussion about caring for patients with IDD.