The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston — Collaborative Oral Health Care for Texans with DD

Project Goal
Provide people with developmental disabilities (DD) with access to credentialed oral health providers while also providing integrated and collaborative training for health professionals  

Project Summary
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston is developing an innovative interdisciplinary training program in collaborative care for people with DD at dental and medical schools across Texas. The project engages dentists to work with a collaborative care team of professionals from the health care, dental care, and behavioral health fields. Ultimately, the project seeks to expand the number of health care and dental care professionals in Texas who understand the impact of discrimination on health equity for people with DD.

TCDD supports health equity projects to increase knowledge of the lived experience of people with DD and their families and to improve self-direction, accessibility, and effectiveness of treatment and supports for people with DD. These efforts promote statewide capacity building and systems change in educating and training self-advocates, family members, doctors, and other professionals.