A Victory for One

In 1886, the physician Jonathan Hutchinson examined a six-year-old patient who lacked hair and had the withered skin of an old man. Later, in 1897, the physician Hastings Gilford followed up on this same patient and examined a second one with a similar appearance and documented in photographs the progression of the condition that rapidly ages people who have it. Today, this condition is known as Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome, HGPS, or simply progeria. It is […]

Caregiver Initiative For Individuals With Down Syndrome

NDSS has partnered with the Alzheimer’s Association and National Task Group on Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia Practices to author a guidebook specifically for those caring for an individual with Down syndrome diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. BY SARA HART WEIR For members of the Down syndrome and disability communities, caregivers play an important role in helping members of the community lead a healthy, productive and happy lives. It is not uncommon for caregivers to put the […]

Knowing What He’ll Miss

PUZZLES & CAMO BY SHELLY HUHTANEN The dream I had the other night was not for me. I think the dream was what I felt inside for Broden. He will miss it. He will miss the feeling of excitement of asking a girl to the dance and hearing her say yes. I had a strange dream the other night. I walked into an empty locker room to change my clothes. I grew frustrated because I […]

How Inflammation And Gut Bacteria Influence Autism

By Tim Newman A new study investigates the relationship between autism, the immune system, gastrointestinal issues, and gut bacteria. The story is a complex one with many questions still remaining unanswered, but this latest project adds insight. Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) affect 1 in 68 children in the United States. Characterized by difficulties with socializing, and often accompanied by repetitive behaviors, this neurodevelopmental disorder harbors many mysteries. Despite its prevalence and a glut of research, […]

Neurodiversity In The Workplace

EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES ON THE HORIZON BY ANGELA NELSON, MS, BCBA The question that pops into nearly all parents’ minds at some point – what will my child’s future look like – yields a wide array of aspirations… and even more questions. Some, clear as day, while others, foggy. And what if you have a child with an intellectual or developmental disability (I/DD)? What will his or her future hold? The good news is, today, it’s […]