Premier HealthCare, a member of the YAI Network, specializes in outpatient healthcare services (such as primary care, dentistry, psychiatry, rehabilitation, psychotherapy, psychological testing, and nutrition) for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in New York City. This is one of the most in need, yet underserved, groups of medical and dental patients. Many people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have difficulty understanding the significance of healthcare procedures and become overwhelmed by the unfamiliar environment and sensory input of medical and dental practices. They may also have difficulty with communication and socialization, which can exacerbate anxiety and challenging behaviors such as self-stimulation, self-injury, aggression, and tantrums. Additionally, this heightened level of stress can potentially translate into disruptive behaviors or physical reactions to avoid treatment. These challenges combined with a lack of healthcare professionals trained and experienced in working with people with ASD can result in ineffective preventative care and high-cost procedures.    At Premier HealthCare, a desensitization program was initiated to increase functional participation in medical and dental exams and decrease use of physical restraints or general anesthesia for people with ASD. An interdisciplinary team of occupational therapists, behavior analysts, doctors, nurses, and dentists collaborate to address how to make medical and dental procedures more tolerable for patients with special needs using a protocol comprising of four main stages: evaluation, treatment, generalization, and maintenance. They work with caregivers to provide person-centered individualized care, ultimately leading to decreased anxiety, fear, and aggressive behaviors; increased participation; and better health outcomes for people with autism.

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In Armenia children with disabilities are often stigmatized and separated from the community. Some are sent to institutions or orphanages, some are hidden in the home, and others are hastily placed into schools and ignored in classrooms. However, Armenia is moving towards a more inclusive society. Victoria Armineh Babikian volunteered with Children of Armenia Charitable Fund (COAF) in 2017; she was their first ever Occupational Therapist. She introduced a different perspective- providing holistic care by addressing self-care needs and enhancing physical, cognitive, and sensory skills for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Upon completion of her volunteer experience, Babikian needed a sustainable approach to continue increasing knowledge on the care of children with disabilities. Therefore, she compiled the Occupational Therapy Guidebook to Inclusion, an 80-page manual that provides clear information about common diagnoses, simple exercises, and functional activities using homemade tools to enhance strength, coordination, cognitive processing, sensory regulation, and behavior among children with disabilities. This guidebook will be published and distributed throughout Armenia. The purpose of the Occupational Therapy Guidebook to Inclusion is to enhance disability resources for every region of Armenia, especially within rural communities.