Ep 121: Mary Kay Rizzolo Champions Strengths-Based Accreditation for People with IDD

In this episode of IDD Health Matters, Dr. Craig Escudé interviews Mary Kay Rizzolo, CEO of the Council on Quality and Leadership (CQL), an international accreditation body focused on improving services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Mary Kay discusses CQL's mission to enhance quality of life through person-centered practices, training, research, and accreditation. She emphasizes the importance of understanding individuals' preferred outcomes, using tools like Personal Outcome Measures, and adopting a strengths-based approach called Appreciative Inquiry. The conversation highlights how treating staff well and respecting the dignity and rights of individuals leads to better health outcomes and reduced emergency interventions. Mary Kay also shares insights from her career and the value of community-based services, concluding with three key recommendations: embrace strengths-based models, tailor supports to individual goals, and presume competence while encouraging risk-taking.