2025 Glenwood Endowed Lecture Highlights Aging and Intellectual Disabilities

Glenwood was proud to partner with the UAB School of Public Health to host the 2025 Glenwood Endowed Lecture Series on Monday, April 14, at the UAB Alumni House. This year’s event focused on the growing and critical topic of aging in individuals with autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), drawing professionals, advocates, and community members together for a morning of insight and collaboration.

Dr. Jonathan Baker, a leading voice in the field, led an engaging discussion on behavior analytic services for older adults with IDD. His expertise provided valuable perspective on the evolving needs of this population and the strategies that can support aging in place with dignity. Rita Gardner and the Melmark Team, followed with an inspiring presentation titled “Planning for Aging in Place: One Organization’s Journey,” offering a practical and heartfelt look at how service providers can adapt to meet the needs of aging individuals.

We are incredibly grateful to Dr. Baker, Ms. Gardner, and the Melmark team for sharing their time, knowledge, and experience. Their contributions helped spark important conversations and inspired meaningful ideas for the future of care. We also extend our heartfelt thanks to the UAB School of Public Health for hosting and partnering with us to make this event possible.