How I got here: Career influences on healthcare professionals who work with persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities

Abstract

Although increasing the healthcare workforce serving those with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) remains critical, we know little about how current healthcare workers began serving this population. Surveying 153 U.S.-based healthcare professionals who work with persons with IDD, this study examined the presence, influence, and nature of their disability-related experiences. The most common and influential experiences involved pre- and post-professional disability training. Less frequent, albeit influential, experiences included being a sibling or having other family members with disabilities and working at disability-related camps. First encounters with persons with IDD occurred during the child and adolescent (i.e., preprofessional) years for 38% of respondents, with slightly lower percentages occurring earlier (34%, involving family) or later (28%, during pre- or post-professional training). Those with family or child–adolescent first encounters more often also reported disability experiences in subsequent periods. Respondents spoke of the formative effects of hands-on disability training as well as of family and child–adolescent experiences, although some disability-related careers also featured an element of chance. Practical and policy implications are discussed.