DHEI Module Title

Preparing for Clinical Encounters with Individuals with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities

A turnkey, accreditation-aligned curriculum for physician assistant (PA) education.

For PA programs seeking a structured and low-burden approach, the Disability Health Education Initiative (DHEI) offers a formal academic proposal outlining a pilot partnership model that integrates an established interactive educational module focused on clinical encounters with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

DHEI will integrate an asynchronous pilot educational program that strengthens clinicians' confidence and competence in caring for people with disabilities.

Course objectives: After completing this course, the learner should be able to:

1) Recognize healthcare disparities affecting quality of care and health outcomes among patients with IDD, including the role of physician bias.

2) Identify challenges faced by medical providers during clinical encounters with patients with IDD.

3) Adapt communication skills needed to best address the needs of patients with IDD.

Module 1: Foundations of Disability-Responsive Care

Introduces disability as a clinical and social construct and explores common systemic barriers encountered by patients with disabilities in healthcare settings.

Pilot Curriculum Overview

The proposal is intended for PA program leadership, faculty, and curriculum committees and details the educational rationale, curriculum components, learning objectives, evaluation framework, and potential pathways for sustainability and expansion.

What the Proposal Includes

Rationale for disability-responsive education in PA training
Alignment with ARC-PA standards and patient-centered care principle
Overview of the DHEI interactive, asynchronous curriculum
- Unscripted video encounters with individuals with IDD, family members, and learners
- Role-play and scenario-based learning grounded in real clinical challenges
- Interactive flash cards and guided reflection activities
- Strong adherence to the principle of “Nothing About Us Without Us,” with individuals with IDD actively involved throughout the course
Proposed pilot structure and learner outcomes
- Communicate effectively and respectfully with patients with IDD across a range of abilities
- Balance direct patient engagement with appropriate caregiver involvement
- Identify and address environmental and sensory factors that affect patient cooperation and comfort
- Recognize the role of bias and assumptions in clinical decision making
- Adapt history taking, review of systems, and social history to better serve patients with IDD
- Reflect on disability-responsive care as a core professional responsibility
Evaluation approach using aggregate, de-identified data
Opportunities for future program development and collaboration

DOWNLOAD PILOT PROPOSAL

FAQ's about the DHEI CORE SERIES

How long does the full curriculum take to complete?

The four-module Core Series will take approximately 2.5 hours total, with each module lasting 30–45 minutes.

Is the curriculum required or elective?

Programs may implement the curriculum as:

Required coursework
Embedded content within existing courses
Faculty or preceptor development
Remediation or confidence-building support

What platforms are supported?

The curriculum will be compatible with:

Articulate Rise (primary)
Canva

Materials will be provided in editable formats to support local LMS integration.

Does this align with PA accreditation standards?

Yes. The curriculum is designed to support ARC-PA Standards B1–B3 and PA core competencies, with copy-ready documentation provided for program use.

How will outcomes be measured?

Programs will be able to track:

Pre/post knowledge assessment
Self-confidence and self-efficacy measures
Completion and engagement metrics
Qualitative learner feedback

Aggregate reporting templates will be included.

Will there be a licensing fee?

Licensing and partnership models vary based on scope and implementation. DHEI works collaboratively with programs to identify feasible options.

Future Components

Following the pilot, each PA program and DHEI may explore:

Continued or expanded use of the modules
Integration into additional cohorts or courses
Faculty or preceptor development opportunity
Gradual transition to PA-specific, DHEI-developed modules