title: Uncovering health care inequalities among adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
abstract: Even as attention is drawn to the increasing number of individuals who experience health inequalities in the United States, little is known about the health inequalities experienced by individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Current disability research mainly focuses on physical disabilities. This article discusses the health disparities experienced by individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.The authors conducted focus groups with parents/guardians, self-advocates, and community support professionals and key informant interviews with health care professionals to assess the needs of this less frequently documented population. Results from this study indicate that individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities face health care disparities and inequities in four areas: access, knowledge, communication, and quality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology, Anthropology, Social Work, and Criminal Justice, SUNY Fredonia, NY 14063, USA. rolanda.ward@gmail.com
authors.forename: Rolanda L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.forename: Amanda D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Nichols
authors.forename: Ruth I
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Freedman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017028:Caregivers; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D015897:Comorbidity; D002658:Developmental Disabilities; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008404:Massachusetts; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010290:Parents; D010344:Patient Advocacy