Louise and Lisa began the Inclusive Health Forum to strengthen education and awareness around inclusive healthcare. Recognizing an opportunity to provide future healthcare professionals with greater knowledge and understanding of intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), the youth leaders brought together medical students, healthcare professionals, advocates, and people with lived experience.

Through their project, participants gained direct access to experts and personal perspectives, helping build confidence and prepare future providers to deliver more inclusive, accessible, and person-centered care. Louise and Lisa’s initiative demonstrated how education and shared learning can help create a more inclusive healthcare system and community.
Louise and Lisa were inspired by professionals, advocates, and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) who are working to make healthcare more inclusive. Throughout the planning process, the youth leaders received valuable guidance and support from mentors, healthcare professionals, and members of their community, who helped bring their vision to life.

For Lisa, inspiration also came from her experiences with Special Olympics. Through this work, she saw the positive impact that inclusive practices can have on individuals and families and was motivated to bring that perspective into healthcare education. The encouragement of mentors and colleagues further inspired both youth leaders to continue promoting more inclusive healthcare spaces.
The Inclusive Health Forum was designed as a half-day educational event introducing medical and health students to inclusive healthcare practices and strategies for creating more welcoming and accessible healthcare environments.

The day began with an overview of intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and the importance of inclusive healthcare. Participants then explored practical communication strategies designed to help future healthcare professionals engage respectfully and effectively with people with IDD.

The forum also introduced students to resources that can support healthcare professionals in providing inclusive, person-centered care. Through accessible communication tools and practical approaches, participants gained strategies they could carry into their future practice.

The forum concluded with a panel discussion featuring youth leaders, disability advocates, and health ambassadors. By bringing together professional expertise and lived experience, the panel gave students an opportunity to learn directly from diverse perspectives and better understand how they can contribute to more inclusive healthcare experiences.
Louise and Lisa’s forum successfully achieved its goal of educating medical and health students about inclusive healthcare practices and building their confidence to apply these approaches in future professional settings. Building on the success of a previous event, the project expanded its reach by engaging more university students and strengthening connections with universities across the state. The youth leaders also connected with local government representatives to broaden support for inclusive healthcare education.

Participant feedback highlighted the value of the forum’s practical approach, with attendees noting how discussions around communication, person-centered care, and understanding behavior as communication could be applied to their future practice. Looking ahead, Louise and Lisa hope to share the forum’s findings through a scientific journal and contribute to ongoing efforts to strengthen the integration of IDD healthcare education into university curricula.
Reflecting on the forum, Louise shared how rewarding it was to see students actively engaging with the content. During presentations, seeing students inspired by the speakers reinforced the value of the forum and affirmed the importance of continuing this work for Louise.

For Lisa, the most meaningful achievement was creating a welcoming and inclusive environment where students felt comfortable learning, asking questions, and engaging in open discussion. She was proud that the forum not only educated future healthcare professionals but also fostered a culture of respect and inclusion.