Dr Helen Beange AM has been awarded the inaugural Honorary Life Membership AADDM in 2016 as a retired member who continues to actively support the goals and aims of AADDM.

Helen was a pioneer in the healthcare of people with intellectual and developmental disability (ID) and continues to highlight significant health disparities. She demonstrated that the health of people with ID was poorer than the general community by undertaking population surveys that showed high rates of undiagnosed health conditions. Helen cofounded AADDM and Health SIRG, IASSID, 2 organisations dedicated to improving the health of people with ID.