Other Titles
Advancing the Future of Nursing Education in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD)
Other Titles
Symposium Presentation
Abstract
Using existing literature the audience will be oriented to the current state of pre-licensure nursing education about People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), review priorities identified by People with IDD and nurses, and finally suggest a course for the future nursing education about the care of People with IDD.
The findings of a recent scoping review of international pre-licensure nursing education [1] demonstrated that most education related to people with IDD was episodic at best. More recently a Canadian Delphi study was conducted in which People with IDD and nurses identified priorities for nursing education [2]. Using the current context as a mechanism to establish shared understanding - presenters will discuss the current limitations within pre-licensure nursing experiential learning (e.g. limitations on practicum spaces, limited content in pre-licensure programs).
To support the integration of competencies for People with IDD the presenters will focus on current collaborations between nursing programs and community organizations (including Special Olympics Canada and Special Olympics Ontario), as well the use of technological innovations to assist with this – including the possibility of Virtual Reality and virtual simulation.
A nursing audience will gain perspective of people centred care priorities for pre-licensure nursing curriculum and be exposed to potential mechanisms to achieve these. This awareness is an important step to promoting subsequent equitable nursing care for People with IDD. The international nursing audience provides the opportunity for momentum building within the nursing profession to collectively recognize this equity deserving group and take responsibility for preparing future nurses to care for them.
Notes
Presenter notes available in slide deck.
References:
1. Don, A., Rogal-Black, L., Murray, M. A., Merriam, H., McCabe, J., Chowdhury, S., Gessese, S., Mclean, J., Zappavigna, K., Cajmer, O., & Peters, A. (2025). Pre-licensure nursing education about care of persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities: A scoping review.[Manuscript submitted for publication].
2. Don, A., Chowdhury, S., Gessese, S., Mclean, J., Zappavigna, K., Kennedy, D., Rathwell, A. (2025). Identifying Priorities for Pre-licensure Nursing Curriculum to Care for People With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: A Delphi Study. Quality Advancement in Nursing Education - Avancées En Formation infirmière, 11(3), Article 6. https://doi.org/10.17483/8z1n8904
Sigma Membership
Non-member
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Other
Keywords:
Curriculum Development, Teaching and Learning Strategies, Health Equity or Social Determinants of Health
Recommended Citation
Don, Anna and McCabe, Janet, "Current & Future Priorities in Canadian Pre-Licensure Nursing Education on Care for People with IDD" (2026). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 13.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2026/presentations_2026/13
Conference Name
37th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Conference Year
2026
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2026-07-19
Current & Future Priorities in Canadian Pre-Licensure Nursing Education on Care for People with IDD
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Using existing literature the audience will be oriented to the current state of pre-licensure nursing education about People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), review priorities identified by People with IDD and nurses, and finally suggest a course for the future nursing education about the care of People with IDD.
The findings of a recent scoping review of international pre-licensure nursing education [1] demonstrated that most education related to people with IDD was episodic at best. More recently a Canadian Delphi study was conducted in which People with IDD and nurses identified priorities for nursing education [2]. Using the current context as a mechanism to establish shared understanding - presenters will discuss the current limitations within pre-licensure nursing experiential learning (e.g. limitations on practicum spaces, limited content in pre-licensure programs).
To support the integration of competencies for People with IDD the presenters will focus on current collaborations between nursing programs and community organizations (including Special Olympics Canada and Special Olympics Ontario), as well the use of technological innovations to assist with this – including the possibility of Virtual Reality and virtual simulation.
A nursing audience will gain perspective of people centred care priorities for pre-licensure nursing curriculum and be exposed to potential mechanisms to achieve these. This awareness is an important step to promoting subsequent equitable nursing care for People with IDD. The international nursing audience provides the opportunity for momentum building within the nursing profession to collectively recognize this equity deserving group and take responsibility for preparing future nurses to care for them.
Description
Overall Symposium Summary: Improving nursing education is key to advancing equitable care for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). In this symposium, international experts will reimagine the future of nursing education to support this group. Attendees will learn about student competencies and training needs, the global state of IDD education, and ways to move discovery into action through partnerships, technological/pedagogical innovations, and integration of IDD standards into nursing curricula.
Note: The attached slide deck is a combined symposium presentation containing the slides of all featured symposium speakers.
To locate the other presentations in this symposium, search the repository by the Symposium Title shown in the Other Title field of this item record.