Prevalence of mental health and developmental disabilities Psychiatric disorders including major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, psychotic disorder, and anxiety disorders have been shown to be three to four times higher among individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), compared with the general population (Pinals et al., 2021). Research has found that 35.7% of people with… Read more Tips for Mental Health Providers Serving Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Category: Health and Mental Health
Evidence-Based Practices for Autistic Students (for Caregivers)
What is evidence-based practice (EBP)? An intervention is an evidence-based practice when there is scientific evidence to support its claims. Evidence-based practices must be selected for implementation based on sound professional judgment, coupled with the careful review of available data, input from individuals and family members, and an honest evaluation of the educators’ and service… Read more Evidence-Based Practices for Autistic Students (for Caregivers)
Evidence-Based Practices for Autistic Students (for Educators)
What is evidence-based practice (EBP)? An intervention is an evidence-based practice when there is scientific evidence to support its claims. Evidence-based practices must be selected for implementation based on sound professional judgment, coupled with the careful review of available data, input from individuals and family members, and an honest evaluation of the educators’ capacity to… Read more Evidence-Based Practices for Autistic Students (for Educators)
Williams Syndrome Video Tip Sheet
Williams Syndrome Video Tip Sheet from Vanderbilt Kennedy Center on Vimeo.
Trauma and Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
What is trauma? Trauma is understood as experiences or situations that are emotionally painful and distressing. Trauma can overwhelm an individual’s ability to cope, leaving him or her to feel powerless. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) describe traumatic experiences in a person’s life occurring before the age of 18. Examples of traumatic events that can have… Read more Trauma and Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Children and Stuttering (for parents)
What Is Stuttering? According to the Stuttering Foundation, stuttering occurs when the flow of speech is broken by repetitions (li-li-like this), prolongations (lllllike this), or abnormal stoppages (no sound) of sounds and syllables. Unusual facial and body movements amy also be associated with the effort to speak. What Causes Stuttering? While the exact causes of… Read more Children and Stuttering (for parents)
Supporting Students with Emotional or Behavioral Disorders (for teachers)
What are Emotional or Behavioral Disorders (E/BD)? The term emotional or behavioral disorders (E/BD) refers to a variety of conditions and symptoms that impair the learning, social functioning, safety, and behavioral health of children or adolescents. E/BD may occur in conjunction with a variety of other developmental disabilities, and when their presence leads to eligibility… Read more Supporting Students with Emotional or Behavioral Disorders (for teachers)
Rett Syndrome
Rett syndrome is a progressive neurodevelopmental disorder that is defined by: apparently typical development in the first 6 months of life, a period of developmental regression followed by stabilization, loss of spoken language, problems with walking, loss of purposeful hand use, and distinctive repetitive, hand movements (hand stereotypies). Rett syndrome primarily affects girls and women… Read more Rett Syndrome
Prader-Willi Syndrome
What causes Prader-Willi syndrome? Most individuals with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) have a deletion of several genes on chromosome 15. The deletion occurs in the chromosome 15 contributed by the father. If an individual does not have a deletion, he or she may have two chromosome 15s, both of which have been contributed by the mother.… Read more Prader-Willi Syndrome
Oral Health for Children With Disabilities
Taking good care of the teeth and gums is critical to a person’s overall health. Healthy teeth and gums allow people to chew food, speak properly, avoid pain and tooth loss, smile, and feel good about themselves. Children with disabilities are almost twice as likely to have unmet oral health care needs than their peers… Read more Oral Health for Children With Disabilities