À propos du GNT
New live online workshop
Introduction to IDD & Dementia: A Practical Starting Point for Families, Direct Support Professionals (DSPs), and the Aging & Disability Community
Have you ever wished there was a simple, practical introduction to dementia in adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD)?
The NTG is pleased to introduce our NEW online workshop.
The workshop will be presented in 2 live online sessions, with each session building on the concepts introduced in the previous session.*
Tuesday & Thursday, August 25 & 27, 2026
12:00 pm - 3:00 pm ET
11:00 am - 2:00 pm CT
10:00 am - 1:00 pm MT
9:00 am - 12:00 pm PT
*Can't attend live? No problem! All sessions will be recorded and made available to registered participants following each session. No CEUs are available for this workshop, however participants who complete the workshop will receive a Certificate of Attendance.
Registration Fee:
Early Bird Registration (through August 15, 2026): $95
After August 15, 2026: $115
Organizations that register five staff members receive one complimentary registration. To take advantage of this offer, please contact education@the-ntg.org to receive your organization-specific discount code before registering.
As adults with IDD are living longer than ever before, more families and professionals are encountering dementia - often without the specialized knowledge needed to recognize early changes or respond with confidence.
This workshop is specially designed for family caregivers, direct support professionals, frontline supervisors, case managers, healthcare providers, and others who are new to supporting adults with IDD and dementia.
This workshop provides practical, evidence-informed knowledge to help participants recognize changes, understand dementia, and respond with confidence and compassion.
Attendees will learn how to:
-
Recognize common signs and symptoms of dementia in adults with IDD
-
Understand how dementia differs in people with lifelong disabilities
-
Respond to behavioral challenges using practical, person-centered approaches
-
Access helpful NTG tools and resources
-
Build confidence in supporting individuals and families
NTG Faculty
Kathryn Pears, MPPM. Ms. Pears is Chief Operating Officer of the National Task Group on Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia Practices (NTG) and brings more than 40 years of personal and professional experience in Alzheimer's disease and dementia, including as a family caregiver for her father, who lived with early-onset Alzheimer's disease. She co-chaired the committee that developed the NTG's nationally recognized curriculum on intellectual disabilities and dementia, has presented at national conferences, and has led more than 85 workshops in 35 states. Kathryn is also the former principal of Dementia Care Strategies, a dementia training and consulting practice, and previously served as Director of Programs and Policy for the Alzheimer's Association, Maine Chapter, where she led statewide policy initiatives and caregiver education programs.