About this event

  • Date and time Thu 7 May 2026 from 9:00am to 4:45pm
  • Location Online
  • Organised by Intellectual Disability

Join leading experts to explore the most pressing clinical, legal and service challenges in intellectual disabilities and the latest research shaping policy and practice. This one-day webinar provides focused, up-to-date guidance on emerging evidence and legislative reform affecting people with intellectual disabilities and autistic people.

People with intellectual disability continue to experience significant health inequalities, while reforms to the Mental Health Act and implementation of the Down Syndrome Act are reshaping clinical and service responsibilities. This webinar brings together clinicians, researchers and policy experts to translate new evidence into practical strategies that improve outcomes across the lifespan.

Why attend?

  • Gain expert insight into current legislative reform, including the Mental Health Act and the Down Syndrome Act
  • Hear from leading experts, including Dr Indermeet Sawhney, Chair of the Faculty of Psychiatry of Intellectual Disability at the Royal College of Psychiatrists, and Julian Hallett from the Down’s Syndrome Association
  • Strengthen evidence-informed approaches to medication optimisation, clozapine use and STOMP implementation
  • Understand emerging research on avoidable mortality, ageing, trauma and women’s health, and translate evidence into practical improvements in care delivery

Aims of the event

  • To provide up-to-date evidence and best practice approaches for managing mental and physical health needs in people with intellectual disabilities
  • To explore the clinical and service implications of recent legislative and policy developments
  • To showcase innovative and effective models of care delivery

Learning outcomes
By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:

  • Critically appraise recent legislative, policy and research developments affecting people with intellectual disabilities and autistic people in England and Wales
  • Apply evidence-informed approaches to improve mental and physical health outcomes
  • Recognise how physical health, trauma, ageing and life-stage transitions shape healthcare experiences and outcomes

Who should attend?
This webinar is particularly relevant for:

  • Psychiatrists, psychologists and speciality doctors
  • Nurses and allied health professionals
  • General practitioners
  • Commissioners, service managers and social workers
  • Researchers and trainees
  • Family carers and supporters of people with intellectual disabilities
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Agenda

View the programme

Welcome and Introduction

Morning session

Chair: Dr Kamalika Mukherji

Update on the Mental Health Act (England and Wales) and implications for people with intellectual disability and autistic people

Dr Indermeet Sawhney, Consultant Psychiatrist and Chair, Faculty of Psychiatry of Intellectual Disability, Royal College of Psychiatrists

Deprescribing people with Intellectual Disabilities: What makes for a successful STOMP?

Dr Danielle Adams, Honorary Clinician Researcher, Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust 

Avoidable mortality: Findings from studies using national data

Dr Ewelina Rydzewska-Fazekas, Lecturer in Health Futures, The University of Edinburgh

Comfort break
Palliative care for people with intellectual disabilities: The DAPPLE Project

Dr Andrea Bruun, Research Fellow, Kingston University London

Women with intellectual disability in maternity services: Access to care and outcomes

Dr Rory Sheehan, Senior Clinical Lecturer, King’s College London  

Lunch
Intellectual Disability Forum Annual General meeting

Afternoon session

Chair: Verity Chester

The Down Syndrome Act  

Mr Julian Hallett, Service Development Manager, Downs Syndrome Association

Healthy brain ageing in intellectual disability: New research directions

Dr Sarah Pape, Consultant Psychiatrist, Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust 

Comfort break
Developing a trauma checklist for use with people with intellectual disability and implications for care delivery

Dr Sarah Wigham, Senior Research Associate, Newcastle University

Optimising clozapine prescribing for people with intellectual disability

Dr Kerry Wales, Resident Doctor, Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Close of meeting

Location

Online

 

Registration for this webinar will close 1 hour before the start time. You will receive the webinar link 1 hour before the meeting. Late registrations will not be accepted.

Webinar recordings will be available via Zoom for registered delegates up to 60 days after the live webinar. The link will be sent 24 hours after the webinar takes place.

The Royal Society of Medicine will record and store this webinar, which may be distributed in the future on various internet channels.

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