Sisirak, J. & Marks, B. (2015). Health and Wellness Strand: Recommendations From National Goals Conference 2015. Inclusion, 3(4), 242-249, http://aaiddjournals.org/doi/abs/10.1352/2326-6988-3.4.242.
Although a variety of health and wellness initiatives have emerged in the past decade, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), their caregivers, and advocates still are facing remarkable challenges in staying healthy and receiving appropriate health services. The National Goals 2015 Conference provided a unique platform and an opportunity to summarize the current state of knowledge, identify national goals in research, practice, and policy, and set the stage for the future directions in health and wellness in IDD field. This article presents an outline to improve the health of people with IDD. The goals identify major health and wellness issues and solutions proposed by a group of disability researchers, policy specialists, advocates, health care providers, and service providers with the aim to set forth an agenda for national, state, and local action to improve the health of people with IDD and include them fully in appropriate health systems.