The University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry will train faculty and students to offer better oral care to underserved patients.
The school received a $50,000 grant from the WITH Foundation to offer training to better serve black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The WITH Foundation is a healthcare funding organization that promotes comprehensive care for adults with developmental disabilities.
The University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry. Image courtesy of the school.The funds will allow the school to offer two seminars featuring 25 BIPOC adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities as self-advocates. Also, they will serve on panels and in group discussions and participate in patient simulations.
The training is intended to increase knowledge of how to advance access and inclusion for disabled people, navigate diverse languages and communication styles, and remain self-reflective and self-aware of unintentional or intentional racism and classism.
