What causes Williams syndrome? Individuals with Williams syndrome usually are missing a small piece of chromosome 7. This rare genetic disorder occurs spontaneously in 1 out of every 7, 500 births. It is not a result of an inherited characteristic from the parents. First recognized in 1961, Williams syndrome affects males and females at equal… Read more Williams Syndrome
Category: Families/Caregivers
CHARGE Syndrome
CHARGE syndrome is thought to be caused by a mutation in the gene CHD7on chromosome #8. It occurs in 1 out of every 10,000 births and is not thought to be inherited. CHARGE syndrome affects males and females at equal rates and has been diagnosed in all ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds. What are the effects… Read more CHARGE Syndrome
Supporting a Healthy Brain
The human brain is the command center for the human nervous system. It weighs about 3 pounds and comprises 60 percent of fat, making it one of the fattiest organs in the body. A brain’s gray matter is made up of about 100 billion neurons that gather and transmit signals, while white matter is made… Read more Supporting a Healthy Brain
Adult Siblings of Individuals with Disabilities
Sibling relationships are often the longest-lasting relationships that children form. Like all siblings, they may or may not develop close emotional relationships depending on individual differences and circumstances. Regardless, a child’s reaction to a sibling with a disability will have a lasting effect on siblings’ self-esteem and emotional development. General Well-Being of Siblings According to… Read more Adult Siblings of Individuals with Disabilities
Adolescent & Young Adult Siblings of Individuals with Disabilities
Growing up with a sibling with a disability Sibling relationships often are the longest-lasting relationships that children form. Relationships vary greatly, based on the ages, gender and age span of the children, their shared interests and their family’s lifestyle. Variations in closeness, time spent together, and warmth in sibling relationships are expected in families where… Read more Adolescent & Young Adult Siblings of Individuals with Disabilities
Connecting Individuals With Disabilities With Meaningful Employment
The overall unemployment rate for individuals with disabilities is 12.7% (U.S. Dept. of Labor, Nov. 2012), and according to a report from the President’s Committee for People With Intellectual Disabilities (2004), individuals with severe disabilities, such as an intellectual disability or autism, the unemployment rate fluctuates between 80-90%. It is clear that individuals with disabilities… Read more Connecting Individuals With Disabilities With Meaningful Employment
Accompanying an Individual to the Doctor
What is the reason for today’s visit? Adults with intellectual or other developmental disabilities may have difficulties explaining their symptoms or expressing pain, so the health care provider may have trouble determining the presence of an illness or injury. Having a direct support professional who knows the patient, knows how the patient communicates, and knows… Read more Accompanying an Individual to the Doctor
Using a Schedule Effectively for Distance Learning [Caregivers]
Schedules are an evidence based practice that can help children be more available for learning. They are helpful to all children by clarifying what is going to happen, increasing predictability, and making abstract concepts such as time concrete, and they help children be more independent. Here are a few ideas on how you can utilize… Read more Using a Schedule Effectively for Distance Learning [Caregivers]
Principles of Explicit Instruction for Distance Learning [Caregivers]
The text Explicit Instruction by Anita L. Archer and Charles A. Hughes outlines a systematic and engaging instructional delivery method called explicit instruction which is appropriate for all children, including those who may be struggling or who may have a disability. Explicit instruction is useful across many of subjects and grade levels. To read the… Read more Principles of Explicit Instruction for Distance Learning [Caregivers]
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Autism and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are general terms for a group of complex neurodevelopmental disorders. The new diagnostic classification system (DSM-5, May 2013) combines the previous subcategories of autistic disorder, Asperger’s disorder, childhood disintegrative disorder, and pervasive developmental disorder–not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) into the one category of ASD. Autism spectrum disorder is present early in… Read more Autism Spectrum Disorder