On Wednesday, May 27, the Operation House Call (OHC) team led two classes, one at Tufts University School of Medicine, and one at the LEAD@Lahey track at UMass Chan Medical School.
OHC is transforming healthcare education by teaching these future medical professionals how to provide more inclusive, compassionate care for people with autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Through a unique curriculum grounded in lived experience, parent instructors share foundational learning and personal stories that help students better understand health disparities, access barriers, communication strategies, implicit bias, and the dangers of diagnostic overshadowing. By learning directly from individuals with disabilities and their families, students gain practical skills and a deeper understanding of how to partner with patients and caregivers in meaningful and respectful ways.
Thank you to co-teachers, Dee Cotter, Mia Cappuccio, and Korbin Johnson for sharing their perspectives and engaging with students in Q&A.
Next, the learning experience extends beyond the classroom through home visits with dedicated host families, giving these students the opportunity to build connections and learn in a real-world setting outside of clinical environments. The classroom didactic session and home visits together help future healthcare providers grow in knowledge, confidence, and interest in caring for individuals with IDD and autism.
