At the invitation of  Down Syndrome International, Helen's Editor-in-chief Dr. Rick Rader was asked to speak on behalf of the move towards Health Equity.  Every year the UN hosts the March 21st event with representatives from around the world. Here is a transcript of the presentation.

March should signify spring and renewal, but for many in the autism community, the spring solstice rains down a flood of cortisol knowing the 30-day total eclipse from reality is near again. While some take early shots across the bow before April even arrives, others open the month trying to calm the exhaustive rifts with positive messages that aim to redirect to common goals, respect, and kindness. This April, the White House abandoned at least 27% of the autistic population, as well as the many others who fall just outside the criteria for profound autism, with its “Proclamation on World Autism Awareness (strike “Awareness”) Acceptance Day,” rich with carefully crafted language such as “autism spectrum” (strike “disorder”).

The American Association on Health and Disability (AAHD) has announced the appointment of Sara Struwe to their Board of Directors. Ms. Struwe is the President and CEO of the Spina Bifida Association (SBA), an organization that serves approximately 124,000 people[i] living with Spina Bifida across the United States. She is a vocal advocate for the disability community who has championed the need for community engagement in disability and health research. Under her leadership at SBA, their organization developed their first patient-led research agenda to shape the organization’s research program.

From blackboards to blacktops, substitute teachers connect with students and enjoy an exciting and fulfilling profession. They step in when a teacher is absent and follow teacher lesson plans to actively teach classrooms full of learners. Students rely upon their substitute teachers to inspire them and bring joy to their learning experiences, as well as keep them safe. As a guest teacher, substitutes find themselves bringing an amazing assortment of learning materials to life and engaging students through all kinds of education technology (EdTech). They lead proactive classroom activities in support of emotional well-being and oversee various post-Covid protocols. Substitutes put their organization and communication skills into action as they step in to supervise library schedules, host classroom special events, and connect with the school community through before-during-or-after school duties. Enjoying fun school-wide assemblies and school spirit days further their connection with students, families and staff.

A year and a half ago, I was asked to become the President of Project Accessible Oral Health (PAOH). PAOH is a global public-private partnership and the first to nationally assemble and connect a consortium of dental and medical professionals, corporations, organizations, policymakers, educators, people with disabilities, caregivers, and other stakeholders in a pursuit of equal access to culturally competent oral healthcare. The Project’s mission is to act as a collective catalyst for change that will not only improve access to oral health care, but also ultimately improve the overall health of the disability community.

In one year alone, 436,000 Americans die from cardiac arrest. Approximately 356,500 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur across all age groups. Almost 90 percent of these cases are fatal. Why do so many people die in this situation? Because only 46 percent of out-of-hospital arrests get cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) from a bystander. It’s well known that immediate CPR can double or triple the chances of survival after cardiac arrest.

HELEN is proud to showcase the addition of a newly trained “bystander” who can perform CPR to someone experiencing cardiac arrest.

It’s long been understood, described and accepted that autism is a spectrum disorder. In his 2002 article in The Psychiatric Clinics of North America, "Spectrum Concepts in Major Mental Disorders,” Jack Maser offers:

A spectrum disorder is a disorder that includes a range of linked conditions, sometimes also extending to include singular symptoms and traits. The different elements of a spectrum either have a similar appearance or are thought to be caused by the same underlying mechanism. In either case, a spectrum approach is taken because there appears to be "not a unitary disorder but rather a syndrome composed of subgroups". The spectrum may represent a range of severity, comprising relatively "severe" mental disorders through to relatively "mild and nonclinical deficits".

Maria seemingly disliked Jack, her new support staff, from the day he walked in the door. She would avoid him whenever she could. Once when he was assisting her to her room, she ran out of the front door of her home. As time went on, Maria, who didn’t use words to communicate, began to bite her arm when Jack was around. And later, as she learned Jack’s schedule, she began to curl up in a ball on the recliner or retreat to her room before he ever stepped foot in the door for his shift.

As other staff began noticing this pattern, they became concerned that Jack was doing something to Maria that she didn’t like. He was a nice enough guy, and no one else seemed to have a problem with him, but this pattern of behaviors couldn't be ignored. Jack denied any wrongdoing. But after a particularly violent outburst that was clearly sparked by Jack’s arrival for his shift, Jack was finally placed on administrative leave and was investigated for potential abuse.

The New England College of Optometry (NECO) Center for Eye Care has a new interactive experience featuring a tactile image of the visual system on display at 930 Commonwealth Ave. A tactile image allows touch and sound to stimulate a sensory experience for the brain to create a visual image that allows a person to ‘see’. The visual system is complex, but this learning tool helps individuals understand the inner-workings of the brain that create a visual understanding of the world.