Webinars

When: Tuesday, July 28, 2026
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM (EDT)

Description:

Suicide affects many people in many communities across the world. People with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities have a distinct relationship to how they experience thoughts of suicide, as well as how they interact with support. Join this Webinar to learn more about how our world influences thoughts of suicide in people with IDD, how to protect autonomy in crisis, and build supportive communities of suicide care for people with IDD.

Learning Objectives:

• Understanding social, environmental, and other influences on thoughts of suicide in people with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities
• Trauma Informed approaches to thoughts of suicide in people with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities

About the Presenters:

Beck Whipple serves as the State Suicide Prevention Coordinator for the Kentucky Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental & Intellectual Disabilities (DBHDID). As someone with suicide-centered lived experience, Beck brings both personal insight and professional expertise to advancing suicide prevention across the Commonwealth. Beck leads Kentucky’s statewide suicide prevention strategy, overseeing federal grant initiatives, cross-sector partnerships, workforce development, and implementation of evidence-based prevention, intervention, treatment, and postvention efforts. With expertise in public health systems, strategic planning, and community collaboration, Beck works to strengthen suicide prevention infrastructure, improve access to care, and advance data-informed approaches that reduce suicide and promote recovery and hope across Kentucky.

Caleb Rader is an autistic self-advocate who works to help bring a neuro affirming perspective across different settings in order to bridge gaps in knowledge in order to best help neurodivergent people.

Bailey Patterson is a Self-Advocate with lived experience of suicidality and a member of the Merge team.

Registration Link:

Webinar Registration – Zoom