IDD Curriculum Initiative

Join the largest inclusive curriculum initiative that centers people with intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD). Through this initiative, NICHE-MED offers grants and resources to medical educators and medical school students to expand access to curriculum in the field of IDD.

The Challenge

Adults with IDD are served by a largely untrained medical workforce. The result of this has been high levels of unmet health needs, misdiagnosis, medical mismanagement and polypharmacy.

The Goal

NICHE-MED provides training to medical students in the field of developmental medicine and inspires a medical career inclusive of individuals with IDD across the lifespan.

History of NICHE-MED

Founded in 2009, bringing NICHE-MED to its current state has involved more than $2M of monetary investment from Special Olympics, the Walmart Foundation, the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, the North Carolina Mountain Area Health Education Center, the WITH Foundation and the Society for Teachers of Family Medicine.  It has involved the collaboration of organizations from around the United States and around the world including: the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, the Association of University Centers on Disabilities, the International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, and the Australian Academy of Developmental Disabilities Medicine.  It has also involved the input of hundreds of clinical experts in the field, academicians, and thousands of learners.  

Today, NICHE-MED is supported by a multi-year partnership between the AADMD and Elevance Health.

Medical School Partner Program

Since 2017, NICHE-MED has partnered with over 25 medical schools. NICHE-MED offers $15K grants to medical schools to implement curriculum enhancements that address gaps in medical education regarding patients with IDD. Through an RFP application process, NICHE-MED selects a new cohort of medical schools each year.

Note: The RFP for academic year 2024-2025 project activities is currently closed. Next cycle will open Fall 2024.

Scholars Program

Starting in 2024, NICHE-MED awards scholarships of $2,500 or $5,000 to support away rotations focused on training opportunities in the care of patients with IDD across the lifespan. To assist medical students in finding an away rotation in this field, NICHE-MED is assembling a library of medical schools which offer relevant rotations.

Note: NICHE-MED Scholars are awarded on a rolling basis.

NICHE-MED Team

Meet the team leading NICHE-MED. Support provided by AADMD staff.


  • Project Co-Director


  • Project Co-Director

NICHE-MED made possible by