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Leadership in IDD       

April 2026


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Leadership in IDD newsletter here.

Perspectives 

Commentary from the Field

Craig Escudé

Rural Health Transformation: A Critical Opportunity for People with IDD 

Craig Escudé, MD, FAAIDD

Across the country, states are beginning to implement the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), a federal initiative providing funding and flexibility to strengthen rural health systems. Each state grantee is designing its own approach, presenting a unique opportunity to address health disparities in underserved communities. 

People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in rural areas face persistent barriers, including limited access to specialists, long travel distances, and fragmented coordination between medical care and long-term supports. Without intentional inclusion, people with IDD may not fully benefit from these transformative investments. 

Providers, families, and self-advocates can influence state plans by asking how people with IDD are prioritized, sharing lived experiences and data, and supporting partnerships between health systems and disability service providers. Early engagement can shape priorities, metrics, and investments. 

Now is the moment for action. As states determine how they will use Rural Health Transformation funds, advocates must ensure people with IDD are not left out. Engage decision-makers and elevate this issue by asking how your state is including people with IDD. Inclusion today will shape healthier outcomes tomorrow. #IDDinRHTP


AAIDD Announces its Sesqui Awards

Members were selected for recognition in the areas of Research, Service, Policy, Practice, and Advocacy, and will be presented with their awards at the 150th annual meeting in Chicago, Illinois, June 22-24, 2026

Research Awardees

  • Leonard Abbeduto, PhD, FAAIDD
  • Giulia Balboni, PhD, FAAIDD
  • Julie Bershadsky, PhD, FAAIDD
  • Meghan Burke, PhD, FAAIDD
  • Joe Caldwell, PhD
  • Erik Carter, PhD, FAAIDD
  • Marie Moore Channell, PhD
  • Susan Copeland, PhD, FAAIDD
  • Evan Dean, PhD, FAAIDD
  • Glenn Fujiura, PhD, FAAIDD
  • Laura E. Gómez, PhD, FAAIDD
  • Susan Havercamp, PhD, FAAIDD
  • Tamar Heller, PhD
  • Amy Hewitt, PhD, FAAIDD
  • Jessica M. Kramer, PhD, FAAIDD

  • Sheryl Larson, PhD, FAAIDD
  • Susan Loveall, PhD
  • Katherine McDonald, PhD, FAAIDD
  • Diane Morin, CM, CQ, PhD, FAAIDD
  • Ariel Schwartz, PhD
  • Kathryn Sheridanl, PhD
  • Karrie Shogren, PhD, FAAIDD
  • Roger Stancliffe, PhD, FAAIDD
  • Frank Symons, PhD, FAAIDD
  • Marc J. Tassé, PhD, FAAIDD
  • Renáta Tichá, PhD, FAAIDD
  • Miguel Ángel Verdugo, PhD, FAAIDD
  • Steve Warren, PhD, FAAIDD
  • Michael Wehmeyer, PhD, FAAIDD
  • Dan Zhang, PhD, FAAIDD

Service Awardees

  • Paul D. Aitken
  • Maria Alfaro
  • Vincent Bemmel, PhD
  • A. Michael Bloom, MA, MS, FAAIDD
  • Vincent M. Chesney, MS, FAAIDD
  • M. Doreen Croser, MS, FAAIDD
  • Ann Delpha, JD
  • Kim W. Fisher, PhD, FAAIDD
  • William Gaventa, MDiv, FAAIDD
  • Sharon Gomez, FAAIDD
  • Sarah Hall, PhD, FAAIDD
  • Asela Jayasinghe
  • William Kiernan, PhD, FAAIDD
  • Justin Kuehl, PsyD, FAAIDD
  • Leena Landmark, PhD, FAAIDD
  • Pat Landry, FAAIDD
  • Ravita Maharaj, PhD, FAAIDD
  • Jacqueline McGinley, PhD, FAAIDD
  • Laura Lee McIntyre, PhD, FAAIDD
  • Margaret A. Nygren, EdD, FAAIDD
  • Susan Palmer, PhD, FAAIDD
  • Joanna Pierson, PhD, FAAIDD
  • Sheida K. Raley, PhD, FAAIDD
  • LaRon A. Scott, EdD, FAAIDD
  • Tamara Shetron, PhD
  • Colleen Thoma, PhD, FAAIDD
  • Michelle B. Thompson, PhD
  • Valaida Walker, EdD, FAAIDD
  • Elizabeth Kurfiss Watts, MSW, FAAIDD
  • Heather Williamson, DrPH, FAAIDD

Policy Awardees

  • Kara Ayers, PhD
  • Alexandra Bonardi, MSOT, MHA, FAAIDD
  • David Braddock, PhD, FAAIDD
  • Valerie Bradley, MA, FAAIDD
  • Elaine C. Brown, PhD, FAAIDD
  • Robert Bruininks, PhD, FAAIDD
  • Guy Caruso, PhD, FAAIDD
  • Atilla Cavkaytar, PhD, FAAIDD
  • David L. Coulter, MD, FAAIDD
  • Steve Eidelman, MSW, FAAIDD
  • Jim Ellis, JD, FAAIDD
  • David A. Ervin, MA, FAAIDD
  • Craig Escudé, MD, FAAIDD
  • Marty Ford, MS, JD, FAAIDD
  • Kelly Friedlander, MSW, MPA, FAAIDD
  • Dorothy Hiersteiner, MPP, FAAIDD
  • Barbara Kleist, JD, MEd, FAAIDD
  • Sharon Lewis
  • Ruth Luckasson, JD, FAAIDD
  • Amie Lulinski, PhD, FAAIDD
  • Sandy Magaña, PhD, MSW
  • Kelly Monroe
  • Derick Nord, PhD, FAAIDD
  • Kristina Rios, PhD
  • Robert Schalock, PhD, FAAIDD
  • Sehrish Shikarpurya, PhD
  • Emily Shea Tanis, PhD, FAAIDD
  • Cathy Ficker Terrill, MS, FAAIDD
  • Nancy Thaler, MHOS
  • Elisa Velardo, MMHS, FAAIDD

Practice Awardees

  • Katie Arnold, PhD, FAAIDD
  • Katherine R. Brendli Brown, PhD, FAAIDD
  • Luigi Croce, MD
  • Melissa DiSipio, MSA, FAAIDD
  • Anna Esbensen, PhD, FAAIDD
  • Celia Feinstein, MA, FAAIDD
  • Geoffrey Garwick, PhD
  • Karyn Harvey, PhD, FAAIDD
  • Paul Kolstoe, PhD, FAAIDD
  • John Lancaster, PhD
  • Carol Britton Laws, PhD, FAAIDD
  • James Lemanowicz, MBA, FAAIDD
  • Marco Lombardi, MA, FAAIDD
  • David Morstad, MEd, FAAIDD
  • James Patton, EdD
  • Liz Perkins, PhD, FAAIDD
  • Michelle Reynolds, PhD, FAAIDD
  • Anthony Rodriguez, PhD, FAAIDD
  • MaryAnn Romski, PhD, FAAIDD
  • Cordelia Robinson Rosenberg, PhD, FAAIDD
  • David Rotholz, PhD, FAAIDD
  • Sharon Spurlock
  • Guðný Stefánsdóttir, MA, FAAIDD
  • Angela John Thurman, PhD, FAAIDD
  • Ann Turnbull, EdD, FAAIDD
  • Lieke van Heumen, PhD, FAAIDD
  • Leslie Walker-Hirsch, MEd, FAAIDD
  • Sheryl White-Scott, MD, FAAIDD
  • Holly Whittenburg, PhD
  • Andrew Wojcik, PhD

Advocacy Awardees

  • Kruti Acharya, MD, FAAIDD
  • Angela Amado, PhD, FAAIDD
  • Tiffany Banks, PhD
  • Joan B. Beasley, PhD
  • Rhonda S. Black, EdD, FAAIDD
  • Matthew Bogenschutz, PhD
  • Kate Brady
  • Lauren Bruno, PhD
  • Richard Chapman, PhD
  • Shelly Christensen, MA, FAAIDD
  • David Ferleger, JD, MAJS, FAAIDD
  • Tawara Goode, MA
  • George S. Gotto, PhD
  • Stephen Greenspan, PhD, FAAIDD
  • Brianna Grumstrup, PhD
  • Nicole LeBlanc
  • Philip McCallion, PhD
  • Seung Hee Park, PhD FAAIDD
  • Jean Phelps, MSW, FAAIDD
  • John Poulos, MS
  • Mary Kay Rizzolo, PhD, FAAIDD
  • Gregory Robinson, MPH
  • Rose A. Sevcik, PhD, FAAIDD
  • Jerry Smith, MBA
  • Sue Swenson, MBA
  • Hilda Trahan, FAAIDD
  • Hatice Uyanık, PhD
  • Nancy Weiss, MSW, FAAIDD
  • Rebecca Wells, PhD
  • Dion White, MBA, FAAIDD

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