Changing How Healthcare Is Taught
Download the IEC Dental Toolkit
Resources to improve dental care for people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities are listed below.
The Toolkit
This toolkit was made to help people with IDD, their support teams, and dental providers have more successful dental visits. Each tool is free to download and use.
Download all resources as a .zip folder.
For Dental Professionals
These tools are designed to help dental providers communicate effectively and deliver person-centered care for patients with disabilities. Don’t forget to share these tools with your whole office staff, patients, and their support teams!
Download all professional resources as a .zip folder.
How to Avoid Misunderstandings in Healthcare Conversations
A guide for dental providers with tips and tools to communicate clearly and respectfully with patients with IDD and their care teams.
Understanding Support Roles: Who Has a Say in Healthcare Decisions?
A tool to help dental providers figure out who can legally make health decisions for a patient, with example questions and real-life situations.
Supporting Patients with High Support Needs: A Dental Care Toolkit
A guide for dental teams and caregivers on how to provide respectful, comfortable care for patients with complex disabilities or who communicate differently.
What to Expect at Your Dental Visit
Use this example template to fill out the tool that reflects your office practices. Share with your patients to tell them what to bring, what will happen at their appointment, and how to ask for extra support so they feel ready and comfortable.
For Patients and Their Support Teams
These tools are here to help you get ready for your dental visit, understand what is happening, and reflect afterward.
Download all patient and support team resources as a .zip folder.
What to Expect at Your Dental Visit
A simple guide for your dental team to fill out that tells you what to bring, what will happen at your appointment, and how to ask for extra support so you feel ready and comfortable. Have your dental office fill out the “fillable” document before your appointment.
Patient Accessibility Needs Form
A form to fill out before your visit so your dental team knows what you need to feel safe and comfortable at your appointment.
How to Ask Your Dentist About Accessibility Features
A list of simple questions you can ask a dental office to find out if they can support your needs before you book an appointment.
Dental Visit Story Guide
Short, simple stories with pictures that show you what happens at a dental visit, to help you feel less nervous and know what to expect.
Understanding Dental Procedures: A Plain Language Guide
Easy-to-read descriptions of common dental procedures, including what you might see, hear, and feel, to help you prepare for your visit.
Dental Terms Glossary
A word list that explains what common dental words mean, so you can understand what your dental team is talking about.
My Dental Appointment Reflection Tool
A recap sheet to fill out after your dental visit to remember what happened, what helped, and what you might want to do differently next time.
Your Organization Can Use Always Uniquely Me!
Contact us to learn more about the Always Uniquely Me app and how your organization can access it.
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.