DON’T BE A BULLY!

Kavitha P. Das, BDS, MPH, MS, Parshad Mehta BDS, MPH, Jamie D. Zelig BS, MPH : “An estimated 61.4 million people in the United States, reported having a disability. Students with disabilities in university settings, had a higher rate of tobacco (chewing and smokeless tobacco, cigarettes, cigars, and pipes) use compared to those without disabilities. These students were also almost twice as likely to meet the criteria for nicotine dependence in the past month.”

Craig Escudé, MD, FAAFP, FAADM: “With a heart for service and a passion for helping others find their path, Tina Gower exemplifies the spirit of the Annie Sullivan League. From a young age, Tina was drawn to people with disabilities, forming friendships in high school that would shape her life’s direction.”

Kristine Santayana: “He was just a year and a half when I first felt it—the sudden distance in his eyes. It was like a curtain had quietly fallen between us. His babbling slowed, then stopped. The words he had begun to say disappeared, and in their place came long hours of spinning, flicking, and silence. I didn’t know what to call it then, only that I was losing the boy I thought I knew…”

Seth M. Keller, MD, FAAN: “The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) recently published a landmark position paper affirming its commitment to advancing health equity for individuals with neurologic conditions and disabilities. This statement reinforces the AAN’s longstanding role as an advocate—not only for its members with disabilities but, critically, for patients who experience lifelong disability, whether from birth or acquired over time.”

David Cox, PhD, MBA: “Decades after landmark disability rights legislation, many universities in the United States continue to lag in providing equitable access - often at the expense of disabled students, faculty, and staff. While educational access has expanded, it has done so only through sustained advocacy, resistance, legislation, and reform. The narrative below is the first in a series on disability access and support in higher education.”

Johnny Payne MS BCBA : “The work of supporting individuals with co-occurring intellectual/developmental disabilities and mental health challenges (IDD/MH) is, at its core, deeply human work. In this pursuit, the truth of vulnerability as a shared connection across humanity is undeniably and beautifully revealed. Yet, the dedicated caregivers in this field face a landscape of overwhelming stress and systemic challenges that can lead to burnout.”

EDITOR’S NOTE:  There are literally thousands of journals published around the world that relate to the disability community.  It is virtually impossible to capture even a fraction of them. HELEN receives "stacks" of journals and selectively earmarks what we feel are "must read" articles of interest for our readers. It's a HELEN perk!

This edition: “Samandar, affectionately called Sammy, has cerebral palsy and does not use words to communicate. When he first started school, walking even a short distance seemed impossible. But through years of persistence, therapy, and encouragement at the International Academy of Hope (iHOPE), a YAI affiliate school, Samandar not only took that step…”

Steven Perlman, DDS, MScD, DHL (hon): “Thinking about this month’s theme of ‘Don’t be a bully’, we are all aware of the current crisis and alarming rise of bullying children and adults with disabilities. Bullying has also been a problem within our healthcare system for decades, but only in the past few years has this phenomenon been acknowledged as a very serious problem. “

Rick Rader, MD, FAAIDD, FAADM, Editor-in-chief, Helen Journal: “Growing up in the 60’s, every guy wanted to be ‘cool.’ We had several role models to emulate.  First there was ‘Kookie’ played by Ed Byrnes. Byrnes was best known as Kookie in the private detective series ‘77 Sunset Strip,’ which ran from 1958 to 1964. Byrnes played a hip parking attendant at a Hollywood nightclub who helped out with cases. He was known for his hipster lingo, including the catchphrase ‘Baby, you’re the ginchiest!’ He was the personification of cool.”

David A. Ervin, BSc, MA, FAAIDD and Douglas Golub, BA, MS, SHRM-CP, DrPH(C): “This is the fourth of a five-part series on artificial intelligence (AI) and its emerging role in healthcare and community-based services for people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD). In this installment, we explore what people with disabilities think about AI, their hopes, fears, and renewed demands for inclusion.”

James T. Brett: “When thinking about the ADA, accessibility is often top of mind. The law requires that public spaces, including buildings, transportation, schools, sidewalks and streets, parks and recreational areas, be made accessible for people with disabilities. Today, in many places in the country, it’s difficult to imagine a time when the community routinely faced obstacles to board a train, go to work, cross the street, or sit by the shore. While much work remains, the law has been transformative.”

Matthew P. Janicki, PhD. ‘As people with intellectual disability live longer, they are increasingly affected by age-related conditions once uncommon in this population—including all-cause dementias. This shift has created an urgent need for care models that go beyond default older-age skilled nursing institutional admissions, which often lack the familiarity, continuity, and specialized support necessary for individuals with lifelong cognitive disabilities.’

Eric Horowitz, MD, MHA, RD, FAAP:”There is no ‘right’ answer, just the path taken – some musing of a neonatologist. When people talk about medicine, one often thinks of the science that informs the art of navigating the complexities that is human health within the gray of no absolutes. From this idea I often reflect on the notion that there is no such thing as a bad thing, just too much of a good thing. And I will ask you to ponder what this means to you as I share my following musings.”

StopBullying.org: “Children with disabilities—such as physical, developmental, intellectual, emotional, and sensory disabilities—are at an increased risk of being bullied. Any number of factors— physical vulnerability, social skill challenges, or intolerant environments—may increase the risk. Research suggests that some children with disabilities may bully others as well.”