CECE Event [POSTPONED] – Talk to Me, Look at Me, Know Me: Improving Communication between Providers and Persons with Disabilities

Join us for an interprofessional seminar aimed at engaging UNE students in a conversation about overcoming barriers to communication that exist between individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their health providers.

Bio

Doris Babbidge, BSN RN LNHA has been a Registered Nurse since 1961 with 42 years of experience in this specialty. She received her Diploma in Nursing from Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in 1971 and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of New England in 1989. In addition, in 1988 she completed an Administrator–in- Training Program and earned a Licensed for practicing as a Nursing Home Administrator. Ms. Babbidge was a lead person on the development and production of two healthcare video created for training medical students in meeting and maximizing outcomes of healthcare needs for individuals with Intellectual Developmental Disabilities. She also developed a Preceptorship Program for University of New England medical students in IDD. In addition, she has worked in helping individuals with IDD in self advocacy around their healthcare needs, especially in being better prepared for healthcare visits. She is currently the Director of Adult Nursing Services for Spurwink. In 1997, she was the recipient of the Neighborhood Crime Watch Award. In 2019, she was the reciepent of John Rosser Award.

Nancy Cronin, MA has been the Director of the Maine Developmental Disabilities Council (MDDC) since 2014.  In her role with MDDC, she shares responsibility for operations, quality assurance and compliance, serves as the Council’s resource for children issues and focusses on efforts to improve access to and coordination of systems that affect individuals with DD.  Nancy is also the “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” Ambassador to Maine and has had the honor to serve in that capacity for three terms .  Prior to becoming the Director of MDDC, Nancy was the Coordinator for the Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) Systems Change Initiative and the State Autism Implementation Grant Manager in Maine.  In that role, she facilitated an interagency effort to achieve an efficient and cost-effective comprehensive system of care for persons with ASD.  Nancy joined the staff of the Maine Developmental Disabilities Council in January 2008, having previously served for over four years as the Executive Director of the Autism Society of Maine.  While at the Autism Society, Nancy's work at the local, state, and national levels focused on the development of effective services and supports for persons with ASD of all ages and their families.