Centering People with IDD
The IDD Fellowship Program
People with IDD are not just patients. They are advocates, professionals, and changemakers. IEC’s new IDD Fellowship Program gives them the training, mentorship, and paid experience to prove it.
The Problem
People with IDD face serious barriers to both healthcare and employment.
Compared to the general population, adults with IDD are more likely to be underemployed or unemployed, more likely to experience chronic health conditions like diabetes and mental illness, less likely to receive high-quality or preventive care, and more likely to face medical debt and financial strain.
These outcomes are not inevitable. Many of them stem from systems that are not prepared to meet the needs of people with IDD. IEC is working to change that, and the IDD Fellowship Program is one of the ways we do it.
- 1 in 20 Americans have IDD
- 67% of people with disabilities are unemployed
- Adults with disabilities have a median salary of $18,865 per year
- Adults with disabilities are almost twice as likely to have income 200% below the Federal Poverty Level
What Our Fellowship Program Does
The IDD Fellowship Program is a two-year, paid workforce development initiative. It trains working-age adults with IDD to become stronger advocates and systems contributors, helping to build a more inclusive and responsive workforce.
Fellows receive:
- A stipend of $50 per hour while they learn and work
- One-on-one mentorship from a volunteer mentor
- Professional development training and hands-on project experience
- A peer network of self-advocates for ongoing support and community
Fellows go on to co-design healthcare tools, contribute to clinical education, and improve care quality and outcomes within their communities. The program responds directly to what self-advocates have asked for: paid leadership roles, career-building opportunities, and a seat at the table.
Together, We Can Build Something Better
Adults with IDD deserve to be seen, valued, and given real opportunities to lead. The IDD Fellowship Program can make that possible, but only with your support.
Donate today and help us fund the next generation of changemakers.
Why it Matters
People with IDD are too often seen only as patients. The Fellowship flips that script. When adults with IDD are trained and supported as professionals, they bring lived experience and expertise that makes healthcare better for everyone.
The Fellowship creates measurable impact at two levels: for the individual Fellow, it means financial stability, professional growth, and greater independence. For the healthcare system, it means better tools, more informed providers, and care that actually works for people with IDD.
Our Fellows
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Governance Committee
Founding Advisory Group members who provide formal governance and guide membership initiatives.
Policy Committee
Develops and amplifies the IDD Advocate Corps policy platform. Provides guidance to improve healthcare for people with IDD by ensuring policies and advocacy efforts are well-informed, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of the disability community.
Research & Learning Committee
Supports ongoing training, provides resources, and assists with developing accessible materials for members to enhance their knowledge and skills. Helps members feel prepared to act within their respective communities, organizations, and groups.
Communications & Planning Committee
Provides cross-functional communication support to members, collects health stories, manages social media and messaging campaigns.
Health Systems Workgroup
Advocating for high quality care within the health system through hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities and building capacity to understand the needs of people with IDD and their families.
Self Advocate Commons
A designated space for self-advocate members to connect privately, share experiences, and discuss learnings. Empowers members through peer support, shared learning, and open communication as they grow advocacy skills and take collective action in advocating for improving healthcare.
Become a Corporate Partner
Is your company looking to hire people with lived experience, healthcare training, and advocacy skills? Our Fellows are available for paid internships and contracted roles. Contact our Chief Advancement Officer, Kacy Takamoto to learn more.
Making Healthcare Better and Safer for People with IDD
IEC partners with people with lived experience of IDD and healthcare professionals to change the way care is taught, delivered, and paid for by creating new programs that center patients.