Purpose of Summit:
The Arc of Pennsylvania is seeking proposals for a one-day conference that will take place on March 19th, 2025, at the Sheraton Hotel in Harrisburg PA. This is an in-person only event, with no option to attend or present virtually. The theme of the day will be Advancing Health Equity for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. We are looking for innovative projects, ideas, and research that aligns with the theme. All interested parties must complete the on-line Request for Proposals. Scroll down to the bottom to find the on-line submission link. You will be notified, if selected. Each session will be one hour long. There will be multiple concurrent sessions. If you feel your topic needs additional time, please indicate on your submission. Thank you for your interest and submission!
Please reach out to Nancy Shirley if you have any questions at nshirley@thearcpa.org.
Background:
People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) have long been experiencing health disparities. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, came worsened health outcomes for people with IDD. It also brought about much needed attention and funds to research the emerging health disparities. The Arc of Pennsylvania was provided funds through the Pennsylvania Department of Health to do just that, and the results of the three-year long project are what prompted this summit. Years of previous research on this topic was further reinforced by the findings from the Arc of PA’s Initiative to Address COVID-19 Health Disparities Among People with Disabilities. Consequently, the need for a conference dedicated exclusively to addressing health equity for people with IDD became apparent.
This conference seeks to dive deeper into four major focus areas. These areas are described in detail below: (1) Education of Medical Professionals, (2) Elevating the Voices of Self Advocates, (3) Policy Changes, (4) Advancing Dental Care, and (5) Data Collection.
Education of Medical Professionals
Healthcare professionals must have the knowledge and capacity needed to provide adequate care to the IDD community. However, current research shows that an overwhelming amount of health care providers hold negative beliefs about the quality of life that people with disabilities have. We need to ensure that education and training work to combat these biases and stigmas. Discomfort and lack of knowledge can result in refusal of care, misdiagnosis, inaccurate treatment plans, dismissal of pain, and devaluation of the patient’s ability to self-report systems.
This focus area of the conference aims to highlight programs or ideas that are working to educate medical professionals about people with IDD. The Arc of Pennsylvania wishes to invite institutes of higher education, current medical professionals, and disability organizations to submit a proposal detailing their work in this field.
Elevating the Voices of Self Advocates
People with lived experience of disability and their family members or caregivers are the best people to describe health experiences and how they have impacted their lives. Barriers to health care for people with disabilities are complex and nuanced. Personal knowledge is critical to identify barriers not recognized by those without lived experience, understand the full scope of the impact of policies and provide feasible solutions to barriers.
The Arc of Pennsylvania wishes to invite self-advocates, family members, and caregivers to submit a proposal indicating their interest to share their experience in health care settings.
Policy Changes
Robust changes in policy are needed to ensure that Pennsylvanians with disabilities receive equitable access to accessible healthcare. This focus area is a broad umbrella segment of the conference that aims to discuss any current policy change, the impact of past policy changes, or ideas for policy change in the realm of health care and health equity.
The Arc of Pennsylvania wishes to invite health care organizations, disability organizations, or government entities to submit a proposal detailing a policy change.
Advancing Dental Care
Dental care is another facet of overall health that is often overlooked. People with disabilities face unique challenges in receiving dental care which can lead to difficulties with regular dental visits.
The Arc of Pennsylvania wishes to invite any organization or company with a vested interest in dental care for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities to submit a proposal detailing their current work in this field.
Data Collection
The sentiment of “those who are counted, count” is a phrase that exemplifies the necessity of data collection. Currently, there are no standards or systematic methods of data collection regarding disability. Disability is not integrated as a category in electronic health records or other information collection systems. Data is essential for health systems to understand the needs of people with disabilities, so they can address the health barriers faced and increase access.
This focus area of the conference aims to highlight programs or ideas that are working to include people with IDD in health related data collection initiatives. The Arc of Pennsylvania wishes to invite institutes of higher education, health care organizations, disability organizations, and research groups to submit a proposal detailing their work in this area.
Use this link to submit your proposal: https://arc-pa.questionpro.com/2025DHAS