Ep 138: Josh Muñoz on Supporting Independent Living for People with IDD
From IDD Health Matters by IntellectAbility
March 9, 2026 · 19 min
About this episode
Josh Muñoz discusses supporting independent living for people with IDD and the importance of community integration and tailored supports.
Associate Director of Public Policy at First Place AZ, Josh Muñoz discusses his work supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) through independent living, tailored supports, and intentional community integration. He shares his journey from studying psychology to working in applied behavior analysis (ABA), supporting individuals with high support needs, and eventually moving into systems-level policy work focused on improving outcomes for people with IDD. Josh emphasizes the importance of consumer‑controlled housing, employment support, community life, early inclusion of neurotypical and neurodiverse children, and addressing social determinants of health—such as housing, transportation, and community connection—to reduce health disparities. He highlights concerns about future Medicaid cuts, the need for accessible voting, and the critical role of friendship and community in reducing isolation and improving quality of life for people with IDD.
People in this episode
Guest: Josh Muñoz
Topics covered
- independent living
- intellectual and developmental disabilities
- community integration
- health disparities
- consumer-controlled housing
- employment support
Keywords
- IDD
- independent living
- community support
- health disparities
- Medicaid
- employment
- social determinants of health
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: First Place AZ, IntellectAbility
Places: Arizona
More episodes of IDD Health Matters
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- Ep 150: Empowering Learning: Building Inclusive Skills for Adults with Disabilities · June 1, 2026 · 21 min
- Ep 149: Why 'Not Acting Right' Signals Hidden Health and Life Issues in IDD · May 25, 2026 · 57 min
- Ep 148: Putting People First: The Power of Person-Centered Care · May 18, 2026 · 19 min
- Ep 147: Leading with Compassion: Building Inclusive, Person‑Centered Supports for People with IDD · May 11, 2026 · 23 min
- Ep 146: Dental Care Without Borders: Reaching Refugees and People with Disabilities · May 4, 2026 · 23 min
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