This brochure encourages women to think twice before drinking alcohol while pregnant. It is useful in public health clinics, doctor’s offices, schools, and anywhere more education is needed about the dangers of drinking alcohol while pregnant.
People with IDD and mental health needs and their families often struggle to get the help they need. Our first project wanted to learn what could be done to help young adults with IDD and mental health needs to get better mental health care. This project brought together young adults with IDD and their families, service providers, and researchers to develop priorities for practice and research. This project was funded by the Patient Centered Outcome Research Institute (PCORI). The second project hosted focus groups to learn more about the challenges that people with IDD and mental health needs and their families have and what we can be doing to better help families. This project was funded by the Family Support Research and Training Center (FSRTC). Presenters from The Arc, Boston University, and The Intellectual Developmental Disability Mental Health (IDD-MH) Research Partnership discuss their projects, results, and next steps.
Sexuality is a natural part life for all people. However, people with developmental disabilities, family members, and professionals often feel unprepared to discuss this subject with each other. Presenters discuss common misperceptions and myths people have about people with IDD and sexuality; what a healthy, relationship looks like and how you can help support people to have healthy relationships; and how to prevent abusive relationships or leave bad relationships. Our presenters also discuss ways you can start discussing this subject with people with disabilities in your life.
As we grow older, we should continue to grow and develop our skills and interests, and we can continue to live well, happily, and healthfully. But, getting older also creates challenges that we should plan for. These challenges may include staying active and engaged, paying our expenses when we stop working, and addressing changes in body and mind. In addition, people should plan for how decisions will be made in this part of life and make sure that they have the skills and support they need to age successfully.
Dr. Kathie Bishop addresses planning and skill-building to support people with complex medical needs and adults with IDD who experience cognitive or functioning loss, possibly related to dementia. Dr. Bishop also describes how people with IDD and their families can work together to advocate to and with health care professionals to make sure that they receive needed medical care and that their wishes are carried out.
$10 fee to view. This webinar dives into the behavioral aspects of dementia in persons with IDD. Dr. Kathie Bishop and Ms. Kathleen Pears will team up and go into detail regarding symptoms and behaviors associated with dementia in this population, and how sensory challenges can often be misinterpreted and associated with dementia. Environmental factors that can contribute to certain behaviors are introduced as well as changes that you can make in an individual’s environment that will help to reduce specific attributes as well.
$10 fee to view. Dr. Ronald Lucchino, Ph.D. President of the Board for the Southwest Florida Area Agency on Aging, gives a comprehensive overview of dementia. In this webinar he describes behaviors and symptoms of dementia, the different types and risk factors to miss-diagnosing an adult with an intellectual disability with dementia. Examples will be given to show the difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia in adults with IDD as opposed to the general population.
$10 fee to view. In this webinar you will learn ways to set everyone up for success in maintaining a healthy diet in a person-centered way. Healthy eating and informed choices start with the people we support. At the end of this webinar participants will be able to demonstrate the “choose 3” method of balancing a meal, creating a planning system for meals, and infusing person-centered practices into the menu planning process.
$10 to view. Families that are raising children with effects from prenatal alcohol exposure, known as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) oftentimes find themselves having to become experts on the topic. They often have to educate their health care providers, educators, counselors, and others that provide treatment and support for their loved ones. It is easy for these families to burn out and fall into a feeling of helplessness or despair. Kathy Mitchell, Vice President and National Spokesperson for the National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (NOFAS) reviews some of the behavioral characteristics of individuals with FASD through the lifespan and discusses how families are also affected through the lifespan. She reviews the stages of denial and grief often experienced by family members, focusing on the importance of self-care for parents and caretakers. She also provides suggestions on how to deal with stress and develop a positive mindset that can allow families to move from grief and frustration to a place of acceptance. Current resources and supports are provided that are available for individuals and family members with FASD.
$10 fee to view. Adults with IDD are aging and living longer than ever. Decline in their daily function with the possibility of developing dementia increases with age, especially in adults with Down syndrome. Seth Keller, MD Immediate Past President of the AADMD and Co-Chair of the National Task Group on Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia Practices reviews how changes in function can be assessed so that an accurate and early diagnosis of dementia can be determined. Health care advocacy and practices are all essential in ensuring that appropriate therapies and planning for eventual decline and associated complications are anticipated and cared for. The guidelines of the National Task Group is also be reviewed.
It is very easy to get caught up in modern day diet fads, juice cleanses, etc. and not know what or who to believe anymore. Judith Dodd, MS, RD, LDN is a registered dietician and an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Clinical Dietetics and Nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh. She provides an update on current nutrition/diet guidelines to help put nutrition back on your radar. Judith takes an in-depth look at the facts versus fallacies to divulge what’s true and expose what’s not. Choosing the healthier option in the grocery store can often times be difficult and mislead. Judith also provides us with tips on food selection and guidelines to help make grocery shopping healthier and easier. Resources to healthy eating and nutrition for the future are also supplied. Learn the facts of how to have a healthy diet without all the hassle!
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