IntellectAbility’s Craig Escudé joins AADMD board as HELEN liaison

IntellectAbility president Dr. Craig Escudé has been appointed to the American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry board as liaison to HELEN: The Journal of Human Exceptionality. The move links a long-time IDD clinician and educator with a publication aimed at blending clinical expertise and lived experience in disability healthcare.

Why it matters: - The appointment connects two influential IDD healthcare platforms: AADMD’s interdisciplinary membership and HELEN’s audience of clinicians, self-advocates, families and educators. - Dr. Craig Escudé’s role could help move more practical IDD healthcare education into the hands of clinicians who support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. - The appointment reflects an effort to keep clinical expertise and lived experience working together in disability care.

What happened: - IntellectAbility president Craig Escudé, MD, was appointed to the board of directors of the American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry as its official liaison to HELEN: The Journal of Human Exceptionality. - The announcement was issued Nov. 9, 2026, from Clearwater, Florida. - Escudé said HELEN creates space for clinical knowledge and the experiences of people with disabilities to inform one another, and that he is honored to serve in the role.

The details: - Escudé has more than 30 years of experience in the IDD field. - He has more than 20 years of experience as a physician providing clinical care to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. - As president of IntellectAbility, Escudé develops education for clinicians and professional supporters. - His work includes the Curriculum in IDD Healthcare eLearn course and the Clinical Pearls in IDD Healthcare book. - Escudé also contributes to HELEN, including the journal’s “Unlocking Behaviors” article series. - AADMD is a nonprofit membership organization of interdisciplinary health professionals, including primary care physicians, medical specialists, dentists, nurses and other clinicians. - AADMD’s mission is to improve the quality of healthcare for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. - HELEN says the journal is named in honor of Helen Keller and publishes content from patients, parents, caregivers, clinicians and educators, with a strong focus on the self-advocate perspective. - IntellectAbility is the exclusive provider of the Health Risk Screening Tool, or HRST, a validated screening tool used to identify health risks early for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, complex medical needs and aging adults. - IntellectAbility says its training solutions and person-centered services are designed to strengthen workforce capability, reduce preventable risk and support better health outcomes.

Between the lines: - The appointment signals a growing emphasis on translating disability-focused medical knowledge into practical education for everyday care. - Escudé’s background in both clinical practice and training suggests AADMD and HELEN want the liaison role to bridge professional expertise and lived experience. - The collaboration also fits broader efforts in IDD healthcare to close gaps in clinician training.

What's next: - Escudé will help strengthen the connection between AADMD’s membership and HELEN’s community of clinicians, self-advocates, families and educators. - The liaison role is expected to support conversations aimed at improving healthcare for people with IDD. - AADMD directs readers to more information on its organization, while HELEN and IntellectAbility also provided website references in the release.