Marina Sarris Interactive Autism Network at Kennedy Krieger Institute Parents report that their child’s autistic behaviors, combined with social stigma and isolation, make their lives more challenging, according to a new study of the Simons Simplex Collection (SSC). In one of the largest studies of its kind, Ruth L. Fischbach PhD looked at how and why stigma affects families. Stigma occurs when people feel shamed, inferior and isolated because they are different from others.1 Her […]
Creating a calm homeschool environment focused on your special needs child is very different from the effort required to establish a basic homeschool classroom. Teaching students with learning, behavioral, mental health, medical, or intellectual disabilities requires attention to a level of detail far beyond anything that might be created for a basic K-12 homeschool experience. Important factors to consider might include: Does your classroom set-up provide the right kind of environment for your special needs […]
Self-esteem refers to an individual’s opinion of him or herself. People with healthy self-esteem trust their own instincts and abilities, believe that they are worthy of good things happening to them, and are confident that, with effort, they can accomplish any necessary or desired task. Unhealthy self-esteem can range from a dislike of oneself to an over-inflated self-opinion. Research has shown that an individual’s self-esteem strongly influences his or her interpersonal relationships, behavior, and learning. […]
by Lisa Blumberg On Friday March 23, 2018, when Janice, the pet therapy lady, came with a languid dog whose name evades me, I could still take some steps if I leaned my full weight on my walker. My internist had just told me that my MRI indicated that the progressive weakness in my extremities was being caused by upper spinal cord compression from cervical stenosis. This totally surprised me. I was having pain now […]
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women in the United States, and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Living with a disability does not make you immune. Women with disabilities are less likely to undergo breast cancer screening due to the inaccessibility of radiology and mammography equipment. Women using wheelchairs and other mobility equipment may be unable to position themselves […]
