Addressing Emotional Health Needs of People with IDD During a Pandemic:  A Model Demonstration Project to Promote Engagement and Comfort During a Crisis 

August 25 2020

Presenters:
Ande Kolp is the Executive Director of The Arc Maryland. Over three decades, Ande has supported people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families in various positions within Maryland and Iowa. Ande holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Therapy from the University of Iowa and a Master’s Degree in Special Education with a Concentration in Severe Disabilities from The Johns Hopkins University. Prior to joining The Arc Maryland, she was the executive director for Compass, Inc.; a private non-profit organization, specializing in residential and employment supports for people with co-occurring IDD and mental health conditions.

Rachel London is the Executive Director of the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council, a statewide public policy and advocacy organization promoting the inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in all facets of community life. Rachel has been with the Council for 12 years, serving as the Director of Children & Family Policy and Deputy Director prior to becoming Executive Director. Rachel earned her Bachelor’s Degree and Law Degree from the University of Maryland. After law school, she was a staff attorney at Disability Rights Maryland where she was active in many important civil rights issues for adults with developmental disabilities, including the closure of the Rosewood Center.

Learning Objectives
1. Describe the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council and The Arc Maryland’s initiative to support people with DD, families, and provider agencies during the COVID-19 pandemic.
2. Identify effective strategies that people with DD, families, and provider agencies employed to maintain and promote engagement with family and friends and alleviate stress and anxiety during periods of social distancing and isolation.
3. Discuss lessons learned from the initiative and implications for the future.

REGISTER

COVID-19 Webinar Series is presented by the HealthMatters Program (https://www.healthmattersprogram.org), Department of Disability and Human Development, College of Applied Health Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago through continued partnership with Project SEARCH (https://www.projectsearch.us) funded by the Ohio Developmental Disabilities Council, Grant # 17CH03FA20 and Aspire (https://aspirechicago.com).

www.HealthMattersProgram.org