From Overlooked to Advocate
Neil Romano’s Fight for Disability Rights and Respect
By Craig Escudé, MD, FAAFP, FAADM, FAAIDD
Neil Romano, a disability advocate and government official, shares how his personal experiences with dyslexia and growing up alongside family members with disabilities shaped his lifelong commitment to advancing opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
Despite early discouragement and low expectations from educators, he overcame barriers to achieve academic and professional success, eventually serving in prominent roles in U.S. government and public health. Romano emphasizes shifting society’s mindset from focusing on what people with disabilities cannot do to recognizing their abilities and potential, particularly in employment and healthcare.
He highlights systemic challenges such as healthcare inequities, lack of provider training, and employment discrimination, while advocating for person-centered approaches, better education for professionals, and inclusive policies. Throughout, he underscores the importance of dignity and equal rights, concluding that respect—recognizing people with disabilities as individuals with the same desires and rights as others—is the most critical step toward improving their lives.
About the Author
Craig Escudé, MD, FAAFP, FAADM
President, IntellectAbility
Host, IDD Health Matters Podcast
Craig is a board-certified Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American Academy of Developmental Medicine. He has more than 20 years of clinical experience providing medical care for people with IDD and complex medical and mental health conditions.
He is the author of “Clinical Pearls in IDD Healthcare” and developer of the “Curriculum in IDD Healthcare,” an eLearning course used to train clinicians on the fundamentals of healthcare for people with IDD.