Developmental disability

Showing love on Valentine’s Day by embracing disability

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 13, 2024

Valentine’s Day is a time when love and intimacy are celebrated with fervor.

Key Points: 
  • Valentine’s Day is a time when love and intimacy are celebrated with fervor.
  • In particular, people with disabilities face discrimination and obstacles when seeking love, affection and sexual fulfillment.
  • Our team has undertaken a comprehensive series of interviews with individuals living with disabilities, delving into their personal journeys with love, romance and sexuality.

Stereotypes about disability and sexuality

  • Individuals with disabilities frequently confront a multitude of stereotypes that limit their opportunities to form intimate relationships and have sex.
  • These perceptions can deeply affect their experiences and how society treats the topic of disability and sexuality.
  • This view unfairly categorizes people with disability as a “danger” to the community, fostering unnecessary fear and discrimination.

Being told to wait

  • Infantilization often means people with disabilities are told to wait and delay their engagement in any romantic or sexual experiences.
  • For instance, Randy, a 39-year-old man with a mental disability, told us he was advised not to pursue intimate relationships.
  • Often, people with disabilities, especially those with intellectual disabilities, are told to wait.

Sex education inaccessible and inadequate

  • In ensuring individuals are informed about their options in terms of sex, sexuality and gender, sex education is often where these conversations begin.
  • Unfortunately sex education is often delivered in inaccessible and ineffective ways to people with disabilities, particularly those who are 2SLGBTQ+.
  • Sex education is often delivered in ways that focus on heterosexual and cisgender experiences.

2SLGBTQ+ disabled people being left behind

  • Individuals with disabilities who are also 2SLGBTQ+ often find themselves facing multiple forms of discrimination, including ableism, homophobia and transphobia.
  • Yet, our interviews with 2SLGBTQ+ adults with developmental and/or intellectual disabilities reveal not just the barriers these individuals face but also their profound resilience and desire for love.
  • For instance Tracey, a 19-year-old gender fluid person, said:
    “I just wish there were more like spaces where disabled people could also enter because you know, when you also think of like, people who are physically disabled, they can’t go out clubbing.

Disabled activists push back

  • It’s a fitting moment to reflect on how everyone desires to love and be loved.
  • The work of disabled activists like Andrew Gurza, host of the podcast Disability after Dark, and Eva Sweeney, creator of Cripping up Sex with Eva, is particularly illuminating.
  • Their efforts highlight a critical message: The more we talk about it, the less of a taboo topic it becomes.


Alan Santinele Martino receives funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF MASSACHUSETTS ANNOUNCES ENHANCED DENTAL BENEFITS FOR MEMBERS WITH MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, December 13, 2023

BOSTON, Dec. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (Blue Cross) today announced a market-leading expansion of its Dental Blue benefits to ensure members of all ages with mental health conditions have access to enhanced services to support their oral health.

Key Points: 
  • BOSTON, Dec. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (Blue Cross) today announced a market-leading expansion of its Dental Blue benefits to ensure members of all ages with mental health conditions have access to enhanced services to support their oral health.
  • Blue Cross currently offers expanded dental benefits to members with diabetes, heart disease, stroke, oral cancer, Sjogren's Syndrome and women who are pregnant.
  • These conditions can put patients at higher risk for developing oral health conditions, and these benefits can help members manage oral health complications related to their medical condition.
  • Blue Cross' dental plan reached a new milestone of more than 1 million members in early 2023.

Golisano Institute for Developmental Disability Nursing Receives $5M Gift from Tom Golisano and the Golisano Foundation

Retrieved on: 
Monday, December 4, 2023

PITTSFORD, N.Y., Dec. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A $5 million gift from B. Thomas Golisano and the Golisano Foundation will support the continued growth and expansion of the Golisano Institute for Developmental Disability Nursing at the St. John Fisher University Wegmans School of Nursing. The gift, $4 million from Golisano and $1 million from the Foundation, will bolster its efforts to positively impact more than 1 million health encounters for patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) over the next 10 years.

Key Points: 
  • New Gift Supports Expanded Reach, Impact of Institute
    PITTSFORD, N.Y., Dec. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A $5 million gift from B. Thomas Golisano and the Golisano Foundation will support the continued growth and expansion of the Golisano Institute for Developmental Disability Nursing at the St. John Fisher University Wegmans School of Nursing.
  • This new gift builds on a $5.8 million investment from Golisano and the Golisano Foundation in 2018 to fund the creation of the Institute, which is celebrating its five-year anniversary milestone.
  • "The Golisano Institute for Developmental Disability Nursing exemplifies preparedness meeting opportunity.
  • For more information about the Golisano Institute for Developmental Disability Nursing, visit go.sjf.edu/golisanoinstitute .

Thought Leadership & Innovation Foundation (TLI) Sponsors TACA Autism Conference, Showcases Autism Knowledge Gateway

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, November 1, 2023

“This remarkable event served as a lifeline for families touched by autism, providing them with direct access to renowned experts, The Autism Community in Action (TACA) mentors, sponsors, vendors and like-minded families from across the nation,” says Shawn Murphy, vice president, TLI.

Key Points: 
  • “This remarkable event served as a lifeline for families touched by autism, providing them with direct access to renowned experts, The Autism Community in Action (TACA) mentors, sponsors, vendors and like-minded families from across the nation,” says Shawn Murphy, vice president, TLI.
  • Additionally, TLI sponsored a think tank session which served as a hub of innovation where emerging research on seizures, intracellular ferroptosis, GABA and purine signaling networks, thiamine deficiency, chronic pain relief and the groundbreaking Autism Knowledge Gateway were showcased.
  • The Autism Knowledge Gateway is a dynamic resource in development.
  • A collaborative chat room within the Gateway facilitates in-depth discussions of case studies and current research among clinicians.

Viewpoint Collaborates with Pioneer Center for Human Services to Showcase Community Service and Impact in New Episode

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, September 28, 2023

MIAMI, Sept. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Viewpoint, the acclaimed educational program hosted by the screen and stage actor Dennis Quaid, is excited to announce a collaboration with the Pioneer Center for Human Services, a 65-year-old non-profit organization, located in McHenry, Illinois. Together, they are creating a compelling new episode that will shine a spotlight on the remarkable community service and impact aimed at improving the lives of individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and addressing the challenges and needs faced by this vulnerable population.

Key Points: 
  • Scheduled to commence in October 2023, this episode of Viewpoint will offer an intimate look into the work of the Pioneer Center team.
  • Pioneer Center for Human Services is a beacon of hope in their region offering support programs for individuals with Developmental Disabilities, Behavioral Health, and Homeless Service needs.
  • The Viewpoint episode will feature interviews with Pioneer Center's dedicated staff as well as a client, who will share their experiences, challenges, and success stories.
  • By spotlighting their work, the episode will undoubtedly inspire viewers to engage in meaningful community efforts and support organizations like Pioneer Center.

20% of children have developmental delay. What does this mean for them, their families and the NDIS?

Retrieved on: 
Monday, August 28, 2023

Among the key issues identified was that 20% of Australian children experience learning difficulties, developmental concerns, developmental delay or are found to have disability.

Key Points: 
  • Among the key issues identified was that 20% of Australian children experience learning difficulties, developmental concerns, developmental delay or are found to have disability.
  • This presents another challenge: which government systems outside the NDIS will embrace the large number of children who need developmental support?

What is a developmental delay?

    • Many things can cause developmental delay.
    • Developmental delay is a term commonly used in clinical practice, but not included in official diagnostic manuals like the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual.
    • Developmental disabilities are included in official diagnostic manuals and include autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), intellectual disability, specific learning disorders, communication disorders and developmental coordination disorder.

Developmental delay and the NDIS


    The NDIS has a specific definition of developmental delay which encompasses three areas. Children are considered to have a developmental delay if their delay is:
    • Around 11% of all NDIS participants are classified as having a developmental delay.
    • There are also a significant number of children with developmental delay who are not within the NDIS.
    • While there is a general community view that developmental delay is an increasing issue in Australia, there is a lack of data tracking over time to understand if this view is accurate.

Supporting children with developmental delay

    • There has always been a large number of children experiencing developmental delay.
    • But the fragmentation across state/territory and Commonwealth health and disability systems has meant the true scale of children struggling with development has not been clear.
    • This figure is estimated to be a small proportion of the 20% of children who meet criteria for developmental delay.

Meeting children and families where they are

    • Its future thriving is highly dependent on how our community supports children with developmental delay.
    • Children with developmental delays receive supports within clinics, rather than in the natural settings in which they live and function every day.
    • Building capacity to support children with developmental delay in their everyday contexts – at home, in childcare, kindergartens or preschools, in the local community – will be crucial to ensuring children with developmental delay and their families thrive into later childhood.

UMass Chan Medical School announces enrollment in study to examine impact of cytomegalovirus (CMV) transmission in early education settings

Retrieved on: 
Monday, August 14, 2023

WORCESTER, Mass., Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- UMass Chan Medical School today announced it will begin enrolling participants at group child care and early childhood education settings in Worcester and Cambridge to examine the impact of cytomegalovirus (CMV) transmission. The study is a collaboration with Moderna (Nasdaq: MRNA), a biotechnology company pioneering messenger RNA (mRNA)-based therapeutics and vaccines, which is currently researching a vaccine for CMV.

Key Points: 
  • WORCESTER, Mass., Aug. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- UMass Chan Medical School today announced it will begin enrolling participants at group child care and early childhood education settings in Worcester and Cambridge to examine the impact of cytomegalovirus (CMV) transmission.
  • The study, called CMV Transmission and Immune Tracking (CMVTransmIT), will examine how CMV spreads among children and between household members, with an aim to characterize immune responses to CMV infection over time.
  • Findings from the study will inform the design of CMV prevention strategies, including awareness campaigns for CMV, to potentially reduce its spread in similar group settings.
  • "Dr. Gibson's CMV Transmit study is an important effort to provide a better understanding of CMV transmission dynamics and immune response to infection."

Frog Street Forms Advisory Council of Early Childhood Leaders

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, July 12, 2023

DALLAS, July 12, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Frog Street, an early-childhood education company whose curriculum products for learners from birth-5 are used in classrooms across the country, announces the formation of its first-ever, expert Advisory Council. The council includes top early-childhood education leaders who have had impact in public schools, Head Start, childcare and universities. Together, they will play a vital role in guiding Frog Street in product development, and in providing critical insights in service of Frog Street's mission - to empower connected learning communities that inspire confidence and kindness in each child.

Key Points: 
  • The council includes top early-childhood education leaders who have had impact in public schools, Head Start, childcare and universities.
  • "Frog Street is firmly committed to delivering curriculum and supports that meet the highest educational standards and are continually improved based on input from early childhood educators and experts," said Lee Ramsayer, Chief Executive Officer of Frog Street.
  • Frog Street's Advisory Council consists of 10 early childhood leaders with decades of experience in the industry, including:
    Bob Bialas, Executive VP of Children and Head Start Services, Lutheran Services, Tampa FL
    Bialas joined Lutheran Services Florida in 2019 after retiring as a United States Public Health Service (USPHS) Captain.
  • The Advisory Council will attend Frog Street's upcoming Splash 2023 Conference at the Gaylord Texan Resort from July 20-22, 2023.

Golisano Institute for Developmental Disability Nursing Fellowship Program Welcomes Newest Fellows

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, June 8, 2023

, June 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Golisano Institute for Developmental Disability Nursing at St. John Fisher University is proud to announce the participants for the 2023-2024 Golisano Fellowship in Developmental Disability Nursing.

Key Points: 
  • , June 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Golisano Institute for Developmental Disability Nursing at St. John Fisher University is proud to announce the participants for the 2023-2024 Golisano Fellowship in Developmental Disability Nursing.
  • The Institute has selected 27 Fellows with diverse backgrounds in health care leadership, clinical settings, nursing, and higher education.
  • The Golisano Fellowship in Developmental Disability Nursing is a 12-month program designed by the faculty of the Golisano Institute for Developmental Disability Nursing to develop the future of IDD nursing leadership.
  • The Golisano Institute for Developmental Disability Nursing focuses on transforming the quality of care for individuals with IDD through the integration of specialized IDD curriculum into nursing education.

DeafBlind Ontario Services joins global initiative to raise awareness for deafblindness

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, May 25, 2023

Each June, DeafBlind Ontario Services joins service providers and individuals who are deafblind across Canada to recognize and celebrate the contributions of people who are deafblind.

Key Points: 
  • Each June, DeafBlind Ontario Services joins service providers and individuals who are deafblind across Canada to recognize and celebrate the contributions of people who are deafblind.
  • “This initiative gives us an opportunity to collectively build a deeper understanding about people who are deafblind and the need for essential services, such as Intervenor Services, to help them live their best lives,” says Roxanna Spruyt, CEO of DeafBlind Ontario Services.
  • As a person who is deafblind, Peter has been receiving support from DeafBlind Ontario Services for 34 years.
  • DeafBlind Ontario Services supports people who are deafblind, as well as people who are Deaf, hard of hearing and non-verbal with a developmental disability.