Tufts School of Medicine welcomed Maura Sullivan and Brendan Durkin to teach almost 200 incoming medical students about health equity and inclusive healthcare for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This annual event is a powerful opportunity to share lived experiences with young medical students.
Maura’s learning objectives included teaching the students about the health disparities and access to care issues that our community faces. She shared about disability history and helped them break down the systems of care that support people with autism and IDD. The students also heard about her family’s lived experience and the importance of a medical team that supports her son, who is non speaking and medically complex.
The students loved hearing from Brendan, who shared his journey through school and now his life as an adult with Down syndrome. After hearing the lecture, many students are now reaching out to The Arc to help with healthcare advocacy and to learn more!
