The Golisano Institute for Developmental Disability Nursing

Promoting positive change for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through the vehicle of nursing.

The Golisano Institute transforms the quality of care and support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) regionally, nationally, and internationally by training nursing professionals in field-specific skills and knowledge. 

  • a nurse lifting up the chin of a patient with IDD, steated in a wheelchair, to look at her eyes
    Continuing Education: Acute Care for Individuals with IDD

    The online, self-paced Acute Care Series is made by nurse educators to equip clinical staff with a better understanding of the IDD population and the tools needed for care. Explore the collection to strengthen your skills today!

    Explore the Acute Care Series at FisherNext

Our Work

The Golisano Institute promotes health equity for people with IDD through: 

  • The creation and evaluation of an undergraduate and graduate academic nursing program with integrated IDD competencies
  • The development of high-impact, evidence-based learning activities in IDD health care for an interprofessional health care workforce
  • The expansion of partnerships with health care systems, community-based organizations, people with IDD, their families, and care providers to inform and shape its work
  • Leveraging technology and analytics to advance its mission
  • The development of global thought leaders to influence IDD scholarship, practice, education, and policy through the Golisano Fellowship in Intellectual and Developmental Disability Nursing
  • Influencing policy and practice to achieve health equity for the IDD population at the national and international levels