Developmental DisAbilities

1. Developmental DisAbilities Amanda SquiresNovember 20th 2012Core with John Korsmo

2. Definition: developmental disability n. A cognitive, emotional, or physical impairment. Especially one related to abnormal sensory or motor development, that occurs in infancy or childhood and includes a failure or delay in processing through the normal stages of human development.A mental or physical disability that is present during childhood, interferes with normal physical, intellectual, or emotional development, and usually lasts throughout a lifetime.

3. “According to the Developmental Disabilities Act, section 102(8), the term 'developmental disability' means a severe, chronic disability of an individual 5 years of age or older that:Is attributable to a mental or physical impairment or combination of mental and physical impairments; Is manifested before the individual attains age 22; Is likely to continue indefinitely;Resultsin substantial functional limitations in three or more of the following areas of major life activity; (i) Self-care;                        (ii) Receptive and expressive language;                        (iii) Learning;                        (iv) Mobility;                        (v) Self-direction;                        (vi) Capacity for independent living; and                        (vii) Economic self-sufficiency.Reflects the individual's need for a combination and sequence of special, interdisciplinary, or generic services, supports, or other assistance that is of lifelong or extended duration and is individually planned and coordinated, except that such term, when applied to infants and young children means individuals from birth to age 5, inclusive, who have substantial developmental delay or specific congenital or acquired conditions with a high probability of resulting in developmental disabilities if services are not provided."

4. Different Types of Developmental Disabilities: Nervous system disabilitiesThese are birth defects that affect the functioning of the brain, spinal cord, and nervous system, which can impact intelligence and learning. These conditions can also cause problems such as behavioral disorders, speech or language difficulties, convulsions, and movement disorders.  Some of the common nervous system disabilities include intellectual and developmental disabilities.

5. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: • Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDDs) - The term IDDs describes a certain range of scores on an IQ (intelligence quotient) test. IDDs can result from a number of different conditions, including (but not limited to): • Down syndrome - a set of mental and physical characteristics related to having an extra copy of Chromosome 21. • Fragile X syndrome- the most common inherited form of IDDs caused by a defect in a specific part of the Fragile X Mental Retardation-1 gene that causes the body to produce low amounts or none of a certain protein.  Without the protein, the brain doesn’t develop normally. • Autism Spectrum Disorders - a range of problems that can affect a person's communication skills, social skills, and intelligence. Because autism is diagnosed on a spectrum, people with this condition can have mild symptoms or severe symptoms; but they all have a type of autism.

6. Sensory Related Disabilities: Sensory-related disabilities Sensory-related problems are often a key part of complex birth defect patterns. For instance: Children with congenital rubella are likely to be deaf, and to develop cataracts of the eyes. Children with Williams syndrome have trouble seeing spatial relationships between objects around them. Those with Fragile X syndrome are often very sensitive to loud noises; they may overreact or have outbursts in reaction to such sounds.

7. Metabolic Disorders: Metabolic DisordersThis group of functional birth defects affects a person's metabolism, which is the way the body builds up, breaks down, and otherwise processes the materials it needs to function. For example, how your body breaks down sugar to create energy is a metabolic process. Two commonly known metabolic disorders include: Phenylketonuria (PKU) - a condition in which a problem with a specific enzyme, a protein that speeds up certain chemical reactions, causes IDDs. Hypothyroidism - a hormonal condition that, if left untreated in an infant, can cause IDDs.

8. Degenerative Disorders: Some infants born with degenerative disorders appear normal at birth, but then lose abilities or functions due to the in condition. In these cases, the defect is usually not detected until an older age, when the child or person starts to show signs of loss of function. Some degenerative disorders are the result of metabolic disorders. Degenerative disorders can cause physical, mental, and sensory problems, depending on the specific defect. Rett syndrome is an example of a degenerative birth defect. This disorder, which usually affects girls, is most often caused by a specific genetic abnormality.* It is important to remember that these conditions are not mutually exclusive and can often exists within the same individual.

9. Treatments for Developmental Disabilities: Many developmental disabilities have no cure, but there are often ways to treat the symptoms.  For example:Children with Down syndrome can often benefit from speech therapy, occupational therapy, and exercises for gross and fine motor skills. They might also be helped by special education and attention at school.  Surgery can also help correct heart defects. People with Fragile X syndrome can get help to reduce or eliminate some of the learning, physical, social and emotional, speech and language, and sensory problems common in Fragile X. The sooner those with Fragile X get help, the more they can learn and the better their outcomes.  There are a variety of treatment options to help with the symptoms of autism spectrum disorders.  This may include behavioral, occupational, physical, and speech-language therapy.  In addition, educational specialists can help guide the child’s school experiences. Girls with Rett syndrome can be treated for some of the problems associated with the condition. These treatments generally aim to slow the loss of abilities, improve or preserve movement, and encourage communication and social contact. Treatments may include help from physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech-language therapists.  Other options, such as medication or surgery are also effective for treating some of the symptoms of Rett syndrome. Treatment for hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid, includes daily oral hormone treatment.   The most effective treatment for PKU is a special diet that carefully limits the protein phenylalanine (Phe).  People with PKU who are on this diet from birth or shortly thereafter develop normally and usually have no symptoms of PKU.

10. I AM: A Max Higbee Center Video The Max Higbee Center is a local non-profit that operates out of downtown Bellingham. Our mission is to create a caring, inclusive, respectful, and thriving community where people are empowered to grow, develop, and enrich their lives through recreation activities and the relationships they create.We focus very primarily on decreasing isolation, increasing peer involvement and interaction and working on life skills to promote independence. Although our number one priority is to create a space that is incredibly fun and filled with laughter, a lot of what we do is very intentional. We ride the city buses, teach our clients how to navigate the city, how to use their money efficiently, how to communicate their needs within a community environment as well as teach cooking classes.

11. A letter from John Stevens to Political Author Ann Coulter: Her tweet: https://twitter.com/AnnCoulter/status/260581147493412865 His letter: http://specialolympicsblog.wordpress.com/2012/10/23/an-open-letter-to-ann-coulter/

12. My Opinion: On my first day at the Max Higbee Center four years ago I had absolutely no idea what I was getting myself into. I was 18, broke, and desperately in need of a job. I told myself I would take anything. Four years later the clients I work with everyday are by far some of the most incredible, capable, brilliant and beautiful people in my life. I love them more than I can express in words and cherish that time I’ve gotten to spend with them.They are filled constantly filled with laughter and jokes and nothing seems to get them down for long. These people face incredible setbacks that the “normal” population takes for granted everyday. I have clients who can hardly walk, who have trouble speaking or feeding themselves and yet they smile and basically bleed kindness, every. single. day.To me this population has everything to do with human services and they are the sole reason I chose this major.

13. Bibliography Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Retrieved from Developmental Disabilities: http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/developmentaldisabilities/index.html Coulter, A. (n.d.). Retrieved from Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnnCoulter/status/260581147493412865 Developmental Disabilities. (n.d.). Retrieved from Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development: http://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/developmental_disabilities.cfm Developmental Disabilities Definition. (n.d.). Retrieved from Dictionary.com: http://dictionary.reference.com/ Stephens, J. F. (n.d.). The World of Special Olympics. Retrieved from An open letter to Ann Coulter: http://specialolympicsblog.wordpress.com/2012/10/23/an-open-letter-to-ann-coulter/ The Max Higbee Center. (n.d.). Retrieved from About us: maxhigbee.org