Ep 163: Supporting Choice, Independence, and Dignity in IDD

This episode features Tammy Armstrong, a longtime professional in the intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) field with nearly 50 years of experience. She discusses her career journey from direct support work and special education to case management, adult day services leadership, and her current role as Deputy Director of Client Experience at IntellectAbility. Tammy reflects on the evolution from a "care" model to a person-centered "support" model that emphasizes choice, independence, and self-determination for people with disabilities. She highlights the importance of communication access, staff training, technology, and health equity, sharing examples of how assistive communication tools can transform lives. Looking ahead, she hopes to volunteer in hospice care for people with IDD. Her key messages are to presume competence in people who do not communicate verbally, recognize that people with disabilities have the same interests, goals, and preferences as everyone else, and provide compassionate, trauma-informed support, especially during grief and end-of-life experiences.