Adolescents and transition-aged youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) experience mobility limitations and injurious falls at higher rates than their neurotypical peers. In this symposium, we will present global self-reported and observational data that place the issue in the context of lived experience of people with IDD, and national claims data that place the issue in the context of morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. Discussion will center on implications for policy and practice to improve individual mobility and health outcomes, reduce the risk of injurious falls, and address systemic barriers to accessing support for motor problems across the lifespan.
Chair: Haylie Miller, University of MIchigan,
Discussant: Lauren Bishop, University of Wisconsin – Madison
First Presentation: Postural control differences and falls among adolescent and adult Special Olympics athletes and unified partners
Nicholas Fears, Louisiana State University, Haylie L. Miller, University of Michigan
Second Presentation: Autism, ADHD, AuDHD adults’ falls & walking experiences in challenging environments
Julianna Hickey, University of Michigan, Isabel Munoz Orozco, University of Michigan
Dominique Kinnett-Hopkins, University of Michigan
Haylie L. Miller, University of Michigan
Third Presentation: Adults with intellectual disability and cerebral palsy present to the emergency department for falls at higher rates than adults without either diagnosis
Natalia Cantet, Augusta University,