By Sam Roberts Aug. 14, 2018 In 1979, just a few months before Amber Tatro turned 4, her family notified the Irving, Tex., school district that she would be ready for classes that fall. Born with spina bifida, a congenital defect that causes partial paralysis and impaired speech, she was unable to urinate on her own. She required catheterization every few hours to prevent kidney damage, a process that took only several minutes but […]
by Lisa Cohn When I asked my son, Michael, age 10, to explain what it feels like to have “sensory processing disorder, (SPD)” he said that the sound of a food blender sends him sprinting into a different room; the feel of a wool sweater against his skin “is like a bomb to me.” For Moira, age 10, loud noises are difficult. And it’s hard for her to sit still for more than an hour […]
The Healthcare Extension and Accessibility for Developmentally disabled and Under served Population Act of 2018, or HEADs UP Act, would designate people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) as a Medically Underserved Population (MUP) under the Health Services and Resources Administration (HRSA). People with I/DD experience poorer health, shortened life expectancies, and lack access to even the most basic forms of care when compared to the non-disabled population. A designation as a MUP would help […]
“Special Olympics at 50” Celebrates Diversity and Inclusion in Sports The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History will open “Special Olympics at 50” July 10, a new display showcasing 50 years of Special Olympics. Founded at a time when people with intellectual disabilities (ID) were often institutionalized or hidden away, Special Olympics changes attitudes about the abilities and talents of children and adults with ID—giving them the chance to train their bodies, build confidence, meet […]
BY: Tony Attwood, Ph.D. The immediate answer is yes. Clinical experience indicates that it is extremely important that the diagnosis is explained as soon as possible and preferably before inappropriate compensatory mechanisms are developed. The child is then more likely to achieve self-acceptance, without unfair comparisons with other children, and be less likely to develop signs of an anxiety disorder, depression or conduct disorder. When and How do you Explain the Diagnosis? At what age […]
