Golisano Institute Joins Effort to Mandate Disability Education for Health Care Professionals

A new initiative would impact the next generation of doctors, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants, transforming care for people with IDD.

Dr. Holly Brown, Executive Director, was named a member of the advisory committee for the Project Disability-Inspired Medical Education (DIME), a three-year initiative aimed at mandating disability clinical competency training for all doctors, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. The mandate would impact more than 85,000 students who graduate each year from MD, DO, NP, and PA programs.

Project DIME supporters include the National Council on Disability, the American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry (AADMD), the American Association on Health and Disability, the Developmental Disabilities Nurses Association (DDNA), and the Alliance for Disability in Health Care Education (ADHCE). The project is funded by Orange Grove Center, a service provider for people with IDD and their families. 

Other members of the advisory board include the co-chair of the US National Task Group on Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia Practices, the President of the American Board of Developmental Medicine, and the Executive Director of the American Association on Health and Disability.

"Project DIME represents a powerful opportunity to drive transformative change at the national level. Advancing health equity for people with disabilities requires bold action, and this initiative is a critical step forward," says Dr. Brown. "We believe nurses must be part of this conversation. That’s why we proudly support efforts to make disability a required component of pre-licensure education across all health professions, including nursing."