Power in Partnerships: Collaborating to Expand Dental Care Access for People with Disabilities

Session Description: Built on the philosophy that the complex barriers preventing people with disabilities being granted equal opportunity to oral health does not have a singular solution, this session highlights ‘Pathways to Oral Health,’ a multifaceted, stakeholder-driven project to improve oral healthcare access for people with disabilities.

‘Pathways to Oral Health’ is purposefully multisectoral. By bringing together a group of traditional and non-traditional stakeholders including individuals with disabilities, caregivers, providers, Medicaid MCOs, IDD service providers and more, Pathways to Oral Health has grown in reach and recognition, spearheading sustained change in Kansas and beyond. Presenting the viewpoints of different project stakeholders, the session will showcase the power of leveraging multiple perspectives, including how collaboration gave rise to project elements such as ‘My Dental Care Passport’ and the Project ECHO education series.

This session will inspire participants to consider who is at their table and embrace multiple perspectives to achieve shared goals.