Healthy Brain Initiative (HBI) for People with IDD (2021 HBI Series Webinar 1)

Beth Marks, PhD, RN, FAAN, HealthMatters Program, University of Illinois at Chicago
Matt Janicki, PhD, University of Illinois at Chicago, US National Task Group on Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia Practices
Kathy Service, RN, MS, FNP-BC, CDDN, US National Task Group on Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia Practices
Jasmina Sisirak PhD, MPH, HealthMatters Program, University of Illinois at Chicago

Overview. This presentation will introduce new the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Healthy Brain Initiative for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (HBI-PwIDD). HBI-PwIDD aims to enhance supports and quality of care and address misconceptions that Alzheimer’s disease and various types of dementias are a natural course of aging for people with IDD. Guided by the Healthy Brain Initiative Road Map Series and led by the HealthMatters Program team in partnership with the National Task Group (NTG) on Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia Practices and ENGAGE-IL HRSA Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP), HBI-PwIDD is developing culturally tailored brain health messages, resources, and trainings accessible to people with IDD, families, caregivers, community partners, public health and healthcare professionals. As we begin to develop a central resource with strategies to improve brain health across the lifespan for people with IDD and to support health and wellness of caregivers, we would like to mobilize our local, state, and national partners to raise awareness of (ADRDs) as a public health issue to achieve health equity among people with IDD. As we develop the healthy brain community-of-practice into a “one-stop space” offering trainings and curating brain health practices and dementia positive health care resources, this webinar will engage participants to discuss brain health questions, along with needed brain health resources for promoting healthy brains and dementia positive health care.