Graphic Medicine Resource Lab

WITH Foundation: Graphic Medicine Resource Lab (2025) Abstract The University of Kentucky Human Development Institute (HDI) is Kentucky’s University Center for Excellence on Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD). Since our founding in 1969, HDI has served people with developmental disabilities in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and beyond. We are firmly committed to honoring the intersectionality of disability with other human characteristics that make each person unique. HDI initiatives address the needs and concerns of people with disabilities of various ages, gender identities, racial and ethnic backgrounds, religions, sexual orientations, economic circumstances, educational levels, and residential circumstances. There is often a disconnect between adults with developmental disabilities (DD) and healthcare professionals when it comes to “best practices.” Practitioners have barriers in understanding needs and wishes of patients with developmental disabilities, due to communication differences or uncertainty about whether the clinician has the knowledge to successfully provide services (Jayne et al., 2020). People may opt out of treatment because of not knowing what to expect, anxiety from past experiences, or feelings of being dismissed or unheard. For better outcomes, it is important to foster collaborative & accessible conversations. The proposed project seeks to bring together interested parties and end-users to create effective, understandable, and usable materials using the format of Graphic Medicine. The process will center the perspective and experience of adults with DD, who will serve as consultants and project leaders. The project will be an expansion of the Graphic Medicine Resource Lab and our supported decision-making project, My Choice Kentucky. We will establish a committee of interested parties to provide feedback on created materials and identify gaps in the library of Graphic Medicine materials. Additionally, teams made up of lead consultants with DD, artists, and healthcare professionals will create unique Graphic Medicine materials directed by the lead consultants. The project team will engage with community-based healthcare partners to consult on project-developed materials and who will assist with dissemination activities. All project team members and partners will provide dissemination outlets through their own networks as well as through identified conferences and other events. Our goal is to share this information with people in disability, healthcare, and arts spaces. This intersectional approach will expand the reach of the project beyond traditionally disabled-centered activities. Project Principal Investigator and Co-Investigator will conduct follow-up interviews with project participants to determine if the project activities changed their perception or concept of medical or healthcare interactions between professionals and adults with DD. In addition, adults with DD involved in the project will be asked to assess any increase in their advocacy skills as a result of this experience. We anticipate seeing positive shifts in each area. Goals and Objectives The overall goal of the proposed project is to use Graphic Medicine to facilitate enhanced collaboration between health care professionals and people with developmental disabilities. • Establish an advisory committee of interested parties to provide feedback on created materials and identify gaps in the library of materials • Identify and develop three to five “explainer” graphic medicine tools • Establish teams to create eight to ten lead consultant-directed graphic medicine pieces • Plan and execute final dissemination plan with input from the project team, committee, and other partners • Present information about the project and final products during at least four relevant conferences and events across the country.