DEAR FRIENDS OF SOUND,

As we head into autumn, I’d like to take a moment to share some exciting updates on the meaningful work SOUND does to support individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD). For those less familiar, IDD is the term for lifelong conditions that affect an individual’s physical, intellectual, emotional development, and adaptive functioning, often present from birth. Intellectual disabilities have many causes - from brain injury, genetic and chromosomal differences, and many unknown etiologies - making daily life more complex. Behavioral health needs have historically been overshadowed due to this diagnosis, but we know there is a higher incidence of behavioral health needs that SOUND has committed to supporting through our robust outpatient behavioral health programs encompassing South Snohomish, King and Pierce Counties.

First, I’m excited to highlight our Intensive Residential Treatment (IRT) program, which began in November. The IRT program is tailored specifically to individuals with IDD, including those with conditions like autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and other developmental challenges, who also have complex mental health needs. This initiative was created to address the gap in behavioral health supports for those transitioning from hospitals or long-term care facilities into adult family homes or with their family carers, or for those who need intensive services to remain stable in their current residential settings.

In partnership with King County and the Washington State Health Care Authority, our IRTprogram provides staff and family training, intensive mental health supports, collaboration with medical and social supports, and in home support. Enabling our clients and their carers to return to stability. Our team—comprised of nurses, psychiatrists, supervisors, stabilizing clinicians, and peer support specialists—works together to ensure that IDD clients can maintain stability without having to return to higher levels of care. By combining evidence-based practices with a strengths-based model, we focus on enhancing adaptive behaviors that promote stability, safety, and community integration.

In addition to our direct care services, we are also involved in expanding access to specialized expertise across the state through our partnership with the University of Washington’s Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes.) This innovative learning model uses tele-mentoring to connect community providers with specialists through regular case-based learning sessions. By leveraging video technology and adult learning principles, Project ECHO allows us to bring expert knowledge directly to where clients are located. SOUND’s own Director of IDD Services, David O’Neal, and IDD Program Manager, Letha Fernandez, are ECHO team members. Through this pilot they are able to offer guidance and review cases to improve the delivery of care across Washington State.

Mental health and physical health are deeply intertwined, and for our IDD clients, expressing physical symptoms can be particularly challenging, making accurate diagnoses more difficult. David O’Neal recently shared a poignant example of why it’s essential to remain both curious and thorough when working with this population. A few weeks ago, a client who seemed to be experiencing worsening psychosis was actually suffering from a severe medical issue: a large constipation blockage. Thanks to our clinician’s extra effort to accompany the client to the ER, the true issue was identified and treated. This case highlights the importance of our whole-person approach, where both medical and behavioral health needs are addressed together. It takes knowledge and time to create these partnerships with the systems and supports to enhance the physical, psychological and social wellbeing of those we support.

Lastly, I am thrilled to share that SOUND was recently featured in a documentary that premiered at the Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) titled Grandpa Guru. The film centers on Gino Yevdjevich, a renowned musician from Sarajevo and the supervisor of our IRT team, as it explores his life’s journey from his upbringing in Sarajevo, his musical career, and the path to working with individuals with IDD at SOUND. The documentary captures the unique connection between Gino’s professional life and his personal passion for supporting people with disabilities. The screening was a special event for our clients, who attended and saw themselves reflected on the big screen. One particularly moving segment of the film shows the drama group Gino formed, where clients performed a play based on The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. The story of a young boy navigating different planets, mirrors that of our clients, who often experience the world in unique ways. Gino’s dedication to this work is truly inspiring, and it was heartening to see how his creative approach has made such a positive impact on our community. The drama group and work with the arts is very healing and an incredible way to create identity and emotional intelligence which is so important to all, especially those with IDD.

If the work we’re doing for those with IDD resonates with you, I invite you to make a gift to SOUND today. Your generosity directly helps us provide critical services for this vulnerable community.

Katrina Egner
SOUND President & CEO