42nd Annual Developmental Disabilities Conference

The Annual Developmental Disabilities Conference focuses on issues related to healthcare, social, community, and educational services which are of critical importance to the future of persons with developmental and/or intellectual disabilities. The program will provide an overview of issues related to the spectrum of services currently available as well as strategies for enhancing these services. This educational program is designed for physicians, nurses, psychologists, social workers, therapists, educators, nutritionists, home care providers, and other professionals interested in the delivery of care and services to persons with developmental disabilities. For more information, please contact Evelyn Oliveira at [email protected] or 269-337-4589.


Tuesday, April 14, 2026, 8:00 AM - Wednesday, April 15, 2026, 4:00 PM, Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center, East Lansing, MI

1. Organize and prioritize responsibilities to provide care that is safe, effective, and efficient
2. Develop and carry out patient management plans
3. Set learning and improvement goals
4. Demonstrate sensitivity, honesty, and compassion in difficult conversations, including those about death, end of life, adverse events, bad news, disclosure of errors, and other sensitive topics
5. Demonstrate compassion, integrity, and respect for others
6. Demonstrate sensitivity and responsiveness to a diverse patient population, including but not limited to diversity in gender, age, culture, race, religion, disabilities, and sexual orientation
7. Advocate for quality patient care and optimal patient care systems
8. Use the knowledge of one’s own role and the roles of other health professionals to appropriately assess and address the health care needs of the patients and populations served
9. Participate in different team roles to establish, develop, and continuously enhance interprofessional teams to provide patient- and population centered care that is safe, timely, efficient, effective, and equitable
10. Identify effective methods for the practical application of concepts related to improving the delivery of services for persons with developmental disabilities
11. Identify advances in clinical assessment and management of selected healthcare issues related to persons with developmental disabilities
12. Recognize the ethical issues related to persons with developmental disabilities
13. Identify and emphasize attitudes that enhance the opportunities for persons with developmental disabilities to achieve their optimal potential
14. Develop strategies to promote community inclusion in meeting the needs of persons with developmental disabilities
15. Identify and perform learning activities that address one's gaps in knowledge, skills, and/or attitudes

In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine and MDHHS. Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Credit amount subject to change.  

Interprofessional Continuing Education

This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive 10.00 Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credits for learning and change.

Physicians

Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 10.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™.  Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Nurses

Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine designates this activity for 10.00 contact hours for nurses.  Nurses should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Pharmacists & Pharmacy Technicians

Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine designates this activity for 10.00 contact hours for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.  Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Social Workers

As a Jointly Accredited Organization, Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. Social workers completing this course receive 10.00 general continuing education credits.

Psychologists

This program is co-sponsored by the American Psychological Association for continuing education credit. The American Psychological Association retains responsibility for the program.  This activity is designated for 10.00 APA CE Credits.

Dieticians

Completion of this RD/DTR profession-specific or IPCE activity awards CPEUs (One IPCE credit=One CPEU). 

If the activity is dietetics-related but not targeted to RDs or DTRs, CPEUs may be claimed which are commensurate with participation in contact hours (One 60 minute hour = 1 CPEU).

RDs and DTRs are to Select activity type 102 in their Activity Log. Sphere and Competency selection is at the learner's discretion. 

AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (10.00 hours), ACE CE Credits (10.00 hours), APA CE Credits (10.00 hours), Continuing Nursing Credit- ANCC (10.00 hours), Continuing Pharmacy Education ACPE (10.00 hours), Dietician CPEU Credit (10.00 hours), General Attendance (10.00 hours), IPCE Credit (10.00 hours), Other Learner Attendance (10.00 hours)

Mitigation of Relevant Financial Relationships

Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine adheres to the ACCME Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity, including faculty, planners, reviewers or others are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.