As healthcare landscapes shift and government-assisted programs face unprecedented scrutiny, advocates, researchers, and families are bracing for a challenging future. A stark reality underlines this pressing concern: less than half of the 2.25 million adults living with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) across the United States currently benefit from government assistance programs like Medicaid and Medicare. To help caregivers and families bridge this critical gap, connect with vital services, and navigate complex administrative systems, UT Health San Antonio is preparing to host a comprehensive national webinar.
The virtual event, titled “How to Support Caregivers and Families of Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD),” is scheduled for 6 p.m. Central Time on Thursday, November 5, 2026. The convening aims to offer a lifeline to the families, loved ones, and professional caregivers who shoulder the daily responsibilities of supporting individuals with I/DD, ensuring they are not left to navigate a turbulent healthcare environment alone.
Leading the conversation is Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez, an internationally recognized researcher in health promotion and behavioral change who directs Salud America! and the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio. She will be joined by prominent experts from the National Hispanic Health Foundation (NHHF), representatives from Genentech, and delegates from leading organizations dedicated to improving the quality of life for individuals with I/DD and their support networks.
Together, the panel of experts will dive deep into the changing climate of government-assisted healthcare. Participants can expect comprehensive discussions on how to build health literacy and competency around Medicaid and Medicare systems specifically for I/DD populations. Furthermore, the panel will examine broader systemic and policy changes necessary to improve long-term access to care for vulnerable communities.
Logistics and Accessibility for the Caregiver Webinar
Organizers have placed a strong emphasis on accessibility to ensure that as many family members, caregivers, advocates, and healthcare professionals as possible can participate in the live event. The webinar will be presented in English, with built-in options to activate closed captioning in multiple languages, including both English and Spanish. Detailed instructions on how to enable these accessibility features will be provided both vocally at the start of the session and directly within the meeting chat. For attendees who encounter technical difficulties or require specialized assistance, a designated co-host will be on standby to help.
Individuals with specific accessibility accommodation requests are encouraged to reach out in advance by emailing the organizing team. Additionally, in an effort to gauge community needs and measure the effectiveness of the event’s outreach, organizers are inviting all registered attendees to complete a brief pre-webinar survey prior to the live broadcast. Feedback gathered from these responses will help shape future educational initiatives and inform how health communications are delivered to communities most in need.
For those unable to attend the live evening broadcast on November 5, 2026, accommodations have been made to ensure the information remains accessible. A complete recording of the webinar will be archived and distributed via follow-up email to all registered participants shortly after the event concludes.
Meet the Panelists Driving the Conversation
The expert presentations and interactive panel discussions will be moderated by Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez. Dr. Ramirez brings more than three decades of distinguished experience directing research focused on human and organizational communication aimed at reducing chronic disease and cancer risks among diverse populations. In addition to her leadership roles with Salud America! and the Institute for Health Promotion Research in the Department of Population Health Sciences at UT Health San Antonio, she serves as the associate director of cancer outreach and engagement at the NCI-designated Mays Cancer Center, where her work spans clinical trial recruitment, tobacco prevention, obesity mitigation, and health equity.
Joining Dr. Ramirez on the virtual stage is Dr. Elena Rios, MD, MSPH, MACP, a distinguished physician and healthcare leader who serves as the founder and president of the National Hispanic Health Foundation. Dr. Rios brings extensive national policy experience to the table, holding leadership and advisory positions with prominent organizations including the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda, the Better Medicare Alliance, and the Natural Resources Defense Council, among others. Additional panelists representing advocacy groups, policy experts, and community stakeholders will be announced by the organizing committee in the weeks leading up to the event.
Behind the Two-Part Webinar Series on I/DD
The upcoming November event represents the second installment in a specialized two-part webinar series dedicated to exploring the intersection of intellectual and developmental disabilities and access to Medicaid and Medicare. Both events are sponsored by the National Hispanic Health Foundation and Genentech, and were developed as a direct and urgent response to a rapidly escalating healthcare insurance crisis.
This crisis has been fueled by recent legislative and administrative shifts surrounding government-assisted healthcare access. Across the nation, experts warn that policy changes—including significant funding cuts, heightened administrative hurdles for program participation and renewal, and new deterrents blocking the expansion of eligibility—threaten to strip healthcare coverage away from an estimated 14 million Americans.
Statistical analyses indicate that these sweeping coverage losses will disproportionately impact marginalized communities, particularly Latinos and adults living with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The severe nature of these projected losses has alarmed healthcare advocates, prompting urgent calls for public education and systemic policy reform to protect society’s most vulnerable populations.
The initiative builds upon the foundational discussions established during the first webinar in the series, titled “From Healthcare to Policy—Exploring Medicaid and Medicare Access for Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD),” which took place on Tuesday, September 22, 2026. That initial gathering convened a diverse panel of experts from the National Hispanic Health Foundation, the University of New Mexico, the Coalition of Texans with Disabilities, and Disability Rights California. Those discussions centered on equipping frontline healthcare workers, social workers, and civil rights advocates with the practical knowledge needed to address impending Medicaid and Medicare policy shifts and advocate effectively for the individuals and families they serve.
As the date for the second webinar approaches, organizers emphasize that community participation is vital for building a unified front against the looming healthcare cuts. Caregivers, family members, healthcare workers, and advocates interested in attending the live session on November 5, 2026, can secure their spot and complete the required pre-event survey by visiting the registration portal online.
