Teaching Nursing Care for Those with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities: A Service-Learning Format

Individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD) constitute a vulnerable population worldwide.  Despite health care disparities and co-morbid conditions many with I/DD face, few nursing schools include formal course-work addressing the health care needs/issues and nursing care for this population.  When this content is taught using a service-learning format, students not only gain knowledge but practical experience interacting with these individuals.  This presentation addresses the rationale for including a course on I/DD in nursing school curricula and how to implement such a course using a service-learning format.