Tracing the Historical Roots of Health Inequity Among People With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in the United States: Impact of Models, Advocacy, Legislation, and International Context.

This article provides a public health overview of the history and ongoing challenges related to intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in the United States, emphasizing evolving models of disability, advocacy efforts, legislation, and international influences. It traces the shift from early institutionalization and medical models toward family and self-advocacy, deinstitutionalization, and the social and human rights models of disability, highlighting key legislation such as the Americans with Disabilities Act and the role of organizations like Special Olympics and the Arc of USA. The article also discusses persistent health inequities faced by people with IDD, the inadequacy of current health data on this population, and recent federal efforts to improve research and inclusion, including recognition of people with disabilities as a health disparity population by the National Institutes of Health. International frameworks such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) inform a human rights approach, although the United States has not ratified the CRPD. The article concludes by underscoring the importance of inclusive public health policies, improved data collection, and emerging technologies to promote health equity and full societal participation for people with IDD.