Building Bridges: Interacting with Adults Who
Have Developmental Disabilities
Carl Tyler MD, MSc and Sandy Snyder DO, Cleveland Clinic Family Medicine Residency Program faculty, received a Caregiver Catalyst Award to create infrastructure within the Cleveland Clinic to support comprehensive, cost-effective healthcare to people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities. Local community organizations and agencies that support and serve this population served as consultants to the project. These included Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities Behavioral and Health Supports Department (Cuyahoga DD), Milestones Autism Resources, The Arc of Greater Cleveland, Ohio Family 2 Family, United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Cleveland, Up Side of Downs, Developmental Disabilities - Practice-Based Research Network and Welcome House, Inc.
One of the products developed under this grant involved a collaboration between the Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Excellence in Healthcare Communication, Cuyahoga DD's Public Information and Communication Department, and the community partners above to produce a video to help people in healthcare better engage with people with disabilities. Two Cuyahoga DD Good Life Ambassadors and other Cleveland area self-advocates and their families shared stories about their interactions with healthcare professionals.
As a result of watching the video, viewers gain perspective and recognize behaviors that improve communication, heighten satisfaction, and build strong connections with patients. Dr. Katie Neuendorf, sister of a featured patient, shares her personal insight about how clinicians may enhance these encounters.
Launched in 2018, the Cleveland Clinic Foundation Caregiver Catalyst Grants were created to help caregivers implement their best and brightest ideas and positively impact patients and communities. 100% of gifts to the Caregiver Catalyst Grants advance projects that expand patient support services, lay the groundwork for medical breakthroughs, and support community health and wellness programs.