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Dr. Liz Perkins Honored by the National Historic Recognition Project: 2000-2020

Congratulations to Liz Perkins, PhD for being a National Honoree of the National Historic Recognition Project for her significant contributions to the field of intellectual and development disabilities (IDD) in the United States between 2000 and 2020.

The National Historic Recognition Project: 2000-2020 is an effort by a dozen national and regional organizations to recognize the key individuals who have contributed to the transformation of the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities within the U.S. over the past 20 years. This project follows the 20th Century Historic Recognition Project, which recognized notable thought leaders in the field from the preceding 100 years. Recipients are individuals or groups engaged in nationally significant research, practice, public policy, and advocacy initiatives that enhanced quality of life for people with IDD. 

Dr. Perkins is nationally known for her expertise in promoting health and wellness for people with IDD as they age through the enhancement of training, practices, and public policies that affect health care professionals and family caregivers. She has authored numerous peer-reviewed articles, books and book chapters, policy briefs, fact sheets, and position statements, on topics related to aging and IDD, supporting family caregivers, and training health care professionals. In 2012 she co-edited (with Sandra Friedman, MD) a special issue of the American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities on aging and end of life. She has developed a range of popular health advocacy resources for people with IDD and their healthcare providers, including My Health Passport. She currently directs the Florida DD Waitlist Campaign, an advocacy initiative to highlight Florida’s extensive waitlist for Home and Community Based Services for Floridians with Developmental Disabilities.

At USF, is a regular guest lecturer in the Morsani College of Medicine and the College of Nursing, teaching students about the health needs of adults and aging adults with IDD. On an ad hoc basis, she has delivered many guest lectures in the USF College of Public Health; the Schools of Social Work, Aging Studies, Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Sciences, and Advertising & Mass Communications; and the Department of Sociology. She provides formal and informal mentoring for graduate students in medicine, public health, and social work disciplines, and teaches the graduate level class Issues and Trends in Developmental Disabilities.

Due to the extraordinary situation of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is not clear when selectees could be recognized at an in-person gathering; however, a commemorative booklet, 2020 National Honors Recognizing Significant Contributions in the Field of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in the U.S. Between 2000 and 2020 is now online that describes the honorees’ contributions.