The VKC Conversation Series on Research in Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities is designed to share research in plain, accessible language with the community while fielding questions from the audience. We invite anyone who is interested in learning more about VKC research to attend this event.

Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) report mental distress almost five times more often than adults without disabilities. Despite the prevalence, little is known about the best approaches for supporting the needs of people with IDD and co-occurring mental health challenges. Individuals with IDD can experience a multitude of psychiatric disorders, however, unlike the general population, psychiatric symptoms in this population are often attributed to their disability rather than mental illness, in a phenomenon known as "diagnostic overshadowing.”

Join an online community discussion with VKC researchers on the topic of mental health and IDD, touching on themes such as increased stigma, accessibility and affordability of supports and treatment options, and more. The speakers will speak in accessible, plain language while answering questions from the viewing audience in real time.

Register for the Microsoft Teams link here: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/57e8a94b-acdc-48c4-8b6e-b3520f723609@ef575030-1424-4ed8-b83c-12c533d879ab