We Have a Voice

You Made Me Want to Smile Again

Two short films about adults living with I/DD and the healthcare professionals who champion them. 

Virtual Screening and Q&A

Wednesday, March 12 at 7 pm EST

Featuring Dr. Dian Chin Kit-Wells, President of the AADMD (American Academy of Medicine and Dentistry), and Paris Adams, the AADMD Self Advocate of the Quarter.

61 million US adults have some type of disability, of which approximately 4.92 million individuals live with I/DD. Nearly half a million children with special healthcare needs become adults each year, thereby leading to an increased number of adolescents and young adults moving from a child-centered medical system to a fractured, adult healthcare world.

Individuals with I/DD are living longer than any such adults in prior generations. Lifelong developmental disability often requires various support needs, especially with associated behavioral challenges, communication limitations and complex health issues. It is therefore imperative that training for PCPs and health care providers in training is contextualized with the images and voices of the very community they need to serve.

Individuals with I/DD need to be presented in a positive, person-centered way to the receiving end of the of the adult healthcare community, so that they can both learn about the various conditions of their potential patients and see the human side; not just the diagnosis.

According to Meelin Dian Chin Kit-Wells DDS, Clinical Assistant Professor at Buffalo, AADMD President:

“It is so important to prioritize & prepare primary care clinicians (& clinicians-in-training) to care for our aging population of individuals with I/DD in communities of color. Far too many individuals experience misguided trust, distrust, closed doors to care, elder neglect, ageist attitudes, ableism, racism & discrimination which further widens the gap. The relationship with the provider is crucial. It should be natural. And many, especially as we age, find it easier to communicate with providers that have grown up in their community, that may know the family or a family like theirs.”

These films were made in collaboration with the AADMD, and were made possible with the generous support of the WITH Foundation and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Image Description: On a black background is the following text: “Positive Exposure Film Screening. Wednesday, March 12, 7pm EST. We Have a Voice Engelic and Paris, Aging Adults Living with I/DD, Share Their Stories with You Featuring AADMD’s Self Advocate of the Quarter, Paris Adams. Screening Virtually. You Made Me Want to Smile Again. Our Healthcare Champions Devoted to Aging I/DD Communities of Color.” The poster contains two images; The first is a close-up portrait of a man wearing a blue shirt, sunglasses, and a black hat beside a woman wearing tinted glasses, bright yellow earrings, and a white baseball cap. Below is a still image of a woman seated on a couch, smiling brightly and lifting her pointer finger.