Jannine Cody, PhD

After 35 years working with people with chromosome 18 conditions, Dr. Cody has never seen the harsh labels often used to describe them—only individuals who are cherished, engaged and unique.

Steve Perlman, DDS, PAOH President

HELEN enters the new year with clear resolutions: confronting indifference and discrimination, elevating lived experience, advancing equitable healthcare for people with disabilities, and keeping dignity, inclusion, and humanity at the center.

Rick Rader, MD, Editor-in-Chief

Names matter. This essay explores how labels shape identity and dignity for people with disabilities, tracing the evolution of language in the disability rights movement and urging care, respect, and humanity in the words we choose.

John Rafaele

Continuing education is essential for direct support professionals, strengthening skills, ethics, and professionalism while directly improving the quality of life, dignity, and independence of people with disabilities.

Dian Chin Kit Wells, DDS, MEd

In Reflection and Gratitude, honors the legacy of Dr. Paul Creighton, who was dedicated to providing preventative dental education and access to care for the underserved and developmentally and intellectually disabled individuals.

John Dickerson

How do we bridge the distance between people? Through story. See how MyQuillo was created as a trusted space for the I/DD community to learn, discover, and connect through lived experience.

BJ Stacio

This poem invites us to listen with intention and lead with humanity. To challenge performative advocacy and call for systems that honor lived experience, restore dignity, and create belonging.

CBS News (2015)

Frances Oldham Kelsey was a heroic Canadian doctor who raised serious concerns about the drug Thalidomide and kept it out of U.S., saving countless children from the lifelong consequences of its use.

National Institutes of Health

Mitochondria do more than power your cells. Discover how these tiny structures influence health and disease—and why they matter for future prevention and treatment.

Richard H Carmona and Jennifer McCabe

This piece connects HELEN’s roots to Surgeon General Richard Carmona’s Call to Action, framing disability as a shared national concern and outlining a roadmap for health equity, access, and respect for people with disabilities.

A Round-up of Journals Published Around the World

Med school enrollment is up, The Dignity Index from Timothy Shriver, a gamified approach to address health care disparity, plus reports from Neurology Daily, and more.

Alone we can do so little; Together we can do so much.

News from our partner organizations including NORD, the American College of Physicians, National Down Syndrome Society, and more.