Understanding how ableism affects mothers with intellectual and developmental disabilities

Identifying the impact of ableism on maternal health outcomes among Medicaid-enrolled women with IDD

NIH-funded research Drexel University · NIH-11146531

This project looks at how discrimination against people with disabilities impacts the health of mothers with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their babies.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionDrexel University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Philadelphia, United States)
Project IDNIH-11146531 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This project aims to understand the challenges women with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) face during pregnancy and after birth. We are looking at how ableism, or discrimination against people with disabilities, affects their healthcare experiences and health outcomes. By comparing these experiences to those of mothers without IDD, we hope to identify areas where care can be improved. This work uses existing Medicaid claims data to understand the experiences of a large group of mothers across the country.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: This project focuses on women aged 14-50 with intellectual and developmental disabilities who have given birth and are enrolled in Medicaid.

Not a fit: Patients not enrolled in Medicaid or those without intellectual and developmental disabilities would not directly benefit from this specific data analysis.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to better healthcare policies and practices, improving maternal and infant health for women with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

How similar studies have performed: While the specific impact of ableism on maternal health for women with IDD is not well-understood, this project builds on existing knowledge of health disparities in vulnerable populations.

Where this research is happening

Philadelphia, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Autistic Disorder
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.