Through perseverance and resilience, Paige Baylis has defied expectations for nearly five decades. Born with cerebral palsy, the equestrian and motivational speaker once was told she might never walk, talk, or develop cognitive abilities. Instead, she used a lifelong passion for horseback riding as both sport and a source of strength to help build her mobility and confidence.

“Hope sees the road with a vision of possibility,” she said. “Creativity searches for what can be done. Courage is the strength to ask: ‘What can we do next?’”

Paige Baylis

Sharing her story at UT Southwestern’s recent celebration honoring the Americans with Disabilities Act’s 36th anniversary, Mrs. Baylis encouraged attendees to look beyond limitations and embrace their dreams.

“Potential often exists before anyone can ever see it. When you look into your patient’s eyes, look closely and dig deep for any possibility of what a patient can do,” she said. “We cannot let our minds become a boundary to our imagination. Whether you have a visible or invisible disability, live your dreams.”

Mrs. Baylis’ message underscored the importance of ensuring individuals with disabilities have the support and resources necessary throughout every stage of life. For many young adults living with disabilities, turning 18 marks the move from pediatric to adult care. At the event, UT Southwestern community members explored how collaboration, commitment, and change can help bridge systemic gaps in healthcare and cultivate a better future for patients with disabilities.

Keynote speaker Heakyung Kim, M.D., Chair of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R), aims to treat individuals with physical, cognitive, and communication disabilities while focusing on restoring function, preventing disabilities, and managing diseases to improve their quality of life.

Panelists who discussed caring for patients with disabilities gather for a group photo at the event. From left: Ryan Bond, Senior Operations Manager for Lanier Parking; Gillian Smith, M.S.N., RN, Unit Based Educator in Inpatient Rehabilitation; moderator Dr. Kim; Nathan McClintock, M.S.W., LCSW, Social Worker in PM&R; Sabrina Sipes, D.P.T., PT, Clinic Manager in PM&R; and Theresa Bedford, NRCMA, Medical Assistant in PM&R.

During her presentation, Dr. Kim highlighted the challenges that many people with childhood-onset disabilities face as they transition from pediatric to adult healthcare. These challenges often include losing access to familiar services, navigating changes in insurance coverage and legal responsibilities, and finding adult healthcare providers with expertise to address their needs.

“Many patients enter the adult healthcare system unprepared for the significant changes they experience,” Dr. Kim said. “I want us to better understand the care transition journey and not only recognize barriers but identify practical changes that can improve health outcomes.”

Dr. Kim shared the growing need for transitional care, noting that nearly 1 million individuals in North Texas identify as living with a disability, including more than 400,000 with childhood-onset disabilities. Addressing healthcare gaps requires a collective commitment, which in turn fosters an environment where all receive the support needed.

An event attendee listens intently to Dr. Kim’s presentation.

“Adults with childhood-onset disabilities deserve lifelong, accessible, and coordinated care,” she said. “Achieving this requires structured transition programs, specialized workforce training, multidisciplinary adult disability centers, disability-friendly healthcare environments, and care coordination.”

Following her presentation, Dr. Kim moderated a discussion on caring for patients with disabilities featuring panelists Theresa Bedford, NRCMA, Medical Assistant in PM&R; Sabrina Sipes, D.P.T., PT, Clinic Manager in PM&R; Gillian Smith, M.S.N., RN, Unit Based Educator in Inpatient Rehabilitation; Nathan McClintock, M.S.W., LCSW, Social Worker in PM&R; and Ryan Bond, Senior Operations Manager for Lanier Parking.

Mr. McClintock discussed the significance of support, preparation, and awareness – all of which can empower patients and their families during the switch from pediatric to adult care.

“It’s important to not only think about healthcare, but also the social, emotional, and home care aspects,” he said. “A big part of my job is making sure our patients have the resources they need, understand their rights, and making sure they’re comfortable, feel good, and are well taken care of.”

Workers with Bitty and Beau’s Coffee get ready to serve desserts for the lunch reception.

Dr. Sipes said creating a lasting impact on healthcare systems starts with uniting to address challenges and develop solutions.

“Sometimes it’s hard to make changes happen in a big system, but it’s not impossible,” she said. “It’s important to look at how our teams work together in a multidisciplinary approach to create a caring, safe environment for the patient population.”

Hosted by the Office for Institutional Opportunity, the event included a lunch reception and desserts catered by Bitty and Beau’s Coffee, an organization dedicated to employing and empowering individuals with disabilities.