Twenty-five years ago last June, a landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling ushered in an era of profound and positive change for people with disabilities in America—as well as the agencies that serve and support them, including the department. The case was Olmstead v. L.C., and the plaintiffs were two disabled women, Lois Curtis and Elaine Wilson.

HELEN Journal will very soon be the official publication of PAOH. But we will still have close ties with the AADMD, along with a host of other respected and influential national disability organizations.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common, and when left untreated, they can result in more serious conditions, including pyelonephritis (kidney infection) and sepsis. People with challenges in using words to communicate may exhibit different behaviors that can point to an underlying UTI.

The General Assembly decided to observe WDSD March 21 each year and invites all Member States, relevant organizations of the United Nations system and other international organizations, as well as civil society, including non-governmental organizations and the private sector, to observe World Down Syndrome Day in an appropriate manner, in order to raise public awareness of Down syndrome.

For the past year and a half, our lives have been consumed by an unimaginable reality: our 4-year-old son Julian has drug-resistant epilepsy. His seizures started off short at around 30 seconds but have now progressed to 10-12 minutes a few times a week due to his condition going uncontrolled for so long.

Given current educational standards for medical school, students can graduate, become practicing doctors, publish research, and teach or mentor future medical students without having met or treated an individual with IDD along the way. We are on a mission to change that reality.

While I was in school I realized that I loved to help others. Perhaps I had it in my genes because my great grandfather and grandfather from my paternal side were volunteer firemen in Peru. Also, my grandmother from my maternal side used to help young orphans, giving them jobs and a place to live in her home.

Before I knew it, I fell fast asleep. Once again, I was awakened by another seizure, followed by a deep state of rest. Amid my terrifying seizures, I was in survival mode. I did not know why I was experiencing loss of motor control, intense burning on one the left side of my body, and uncontrollable shaking. After experiencing the two seizures, I was completely stunned and confused as to what had just happened; however, my priority was to stay alive rather than to diagnose the problem.