AADMD – Project ECHO®: Epilepsy & IDD
6-Part Global Live + Virtual Event Series

The AADMD-led Epilepsy & Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Project ECHO® is a coordinated six-part national and international education series designed to improve epilepsy care for individuals with IDD through case-based learning, community engagement, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

In partnership with the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) and supported by unrestricted educational grants from UCB Pharma and Neurelis. AMA PRA Category 1 CME™ credits will be provided for eligible participants.

PROJECT ECHO SERIES EVENTS

  • 📅 October 11, 2025 (Completed)
    📍 Pan-Caribbean Developmental Medicine & Dentistry Conference – Negril, Jamaica
    🎥 Live + Virtual Hybrid

    • Inaugural session of the Epilepsy & IDD Project ECHO series

    • Established the global framework for all subsequent ECHO hubs

    • Regional Caribbean leadership with ILAE collaboration

  • 📅 July 11 | 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM
    📍 UNO Community Engagement Center – Omaha, NE
    🎥 Hybrid Live Community Event + ECHO Session

    • Hub Lead: Dr. Sookyong (Sooky) Koh, MD, PhD (UNMC)

    • Local Lead: Melonie Welsh (Munroe-Meyer Institute, UNMC)

    • Key Partners: UCEDD, Special Olympics Nebraska, DD Council Nebraska, The Arc of Omaha, The Arc of Nebraska, AADMD Student Chapter

  • 📅 August 6, 2026
    📍 TUFH 2026 Conference – Manila, Philippines
    🎥 Conference-Integrated Project ECHO Session

    • Hub Support: Philippine League Against Epilepsy (PLAE)

    • Hub Lead: Dr. Maria Angelica Geronimo, MD

    • Institutional Support: Woods System of Care (Executive Leadership & CMO Sailaja Musunuri, MD)

  • 📅 September 19 | 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
    📍 SMC Campus Center – University of Maryland, Baltimore
    🎥 Live Community Engagement Event + ECHO Hub Integration

    • Sponsor & Live Event Partner: Kennedy Krieger Institute

    • Clinical Lead: Dr. Danielle Gordon, MD (Tuberous Sclerosis Clinic)

    • Supports both live event and Johns Hopkins ECHO hub team

  • 📅 May 2026 (Exact date TBD)
    📍 Plymouth, United Kingdom (Venue TBD)
    🎥 Live Community Engagement Event + ECHO Hub Integration

    • Hub Lead: Dr. Rohit Shankar

    • Partners: University of Plymouth, Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

  • 📅 Date TBD (Early Planning Phase)
    📍 New York, NY – Possible venue: Positive Exposure
    🎥 Planned Live Community Engagement Event + ECHO Hub Integration

    • Hub Lead: Dr. Jennifer Bain, MD, PhD (Columbia University)

    • Creative Partner: Positive Exposure – Rick Guidotti

Future AADMD ECHO Programs

Future Neuro-IDD ECHO Programs

  • Cerebral Palsy (motor disorders, spasticity, pain, aging effects)

  • Autism Spectrum Disorder (behavioral health, seizures, communication, sensory needs)

  • Movement Disorders in IDD (dystonia, Parkinsonism, medication-induced motor dysfunction)

  • Genetic & Rare Syndromes (Down syndrome, Fragile X, Angelman, Rett, TSC, and others)

ECHO Programs Focused on Major IDD Health Concerns

  • Cardiovascular health

  • Nutrition, dysphagia, gastrointestinal motility disorders

  • Respiratory health and aspiration risk

  • Infection vulnerability and immune issues

  • Dementia in IDD populations

  • Dental/oral health

  • Behavioral & mental health conditions

  • Musculoskeletal and chronic pain concerns

Support from the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE)

The International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) plays a vital role in supporting the development, visibility, and global reach of the AADMD Epilepsy & IDD Project ECHO initiative. As the world’s leading organization dedicated to advancing epilepsy care, research, and education, ILAE has helped strengthen the scientific foundation and international connectivity of this work.

Through collaboration with regional ILAE chapters — including the Philippine League Against Epilepsy (PLAE), Caribbean advocates, and international academic partners — the ECHO program benefits from:

  • Global epilepsy expertise

  • Access to international educational resources

  • Connections with neurologists, epilepsy specialists, and researchers worldwide

  • Alignment with ILAE’s mission to improve the lives of people with epilepsy through education and innovation

  • Support for culturally relevant, low-resource, and community-centered approaches

The partnership enhances both the clinical and community-facing components of the ECHO series and helps ensure that IDD-focused epilepsy care receives recognition on the world stage.

Learn more about ILAE: https://www.ilae.org

Educational Grant Support

The AADMD Epilepsy & IDD Project ECHO series is supported by an unrestricted educational grant from UCB Pharma and Neurelis. This support enables the development of international training collaborations, multidisciplinary teaching, and expanded access to epilepsy-focused education for the IDD community.

UCB Pharma is a global biopharmaceutical leader specializing in neurology and immunology, advancing treatments that improve the lives of people living with epilepsy and other chronic conditions.

Learn more about UCB Pharma: https://www.ucb.com

Neurelis is a neuroscience-focused company committed to providing innovative treatments for epilepsy and acute seizure management, including rescue therapies designed for real-world use.

Learn more about Neurelis: https://www.neurelis.com