When you imagine an “advocate,” who and what comes to mind?  Do you imagine a caregiver of a child with developmental concerns – fighting to get your child access to the healthcare and services they need?  Do you imagine a group of parents and caregivers – working tirelessly to advocate for their loved ones in systems that were not created with access, inclusivity and acceptance in mind?  Do you think about self-advocates – persistently fighting for equality of opportunity and fair pay? 

We all have our convictions about health and beliefs that for us stand unquestioned. The diversity of beliefs between individuals and groups of people is part of what makes life interesting and challenging at same the time. Chinese acupuncture has little in common with European aromatherapy and neither fully aligns with evidence-based western medicine. In fact, some therapies may even strike us as so counter to our own knowledge, we’d consider them barbarous. Through my dental outreach engagement in rural Uganda, I have come face to face with such practice dichotomies and have learned the importance of building relationships prior to suggesting change.

At each of the medical schools in Massachusetts, Operation House Call (OHC) is a small piece of the curriculum, but the unique focus on learning from the lived experience of individuals with autism or IDD and their families has an outsized impact on how these students will practice medicine in the future, regardless of what field of medicine they choose to pursue.

Studies show that if dental students are exposed in education, both didactic and clinical experiences with a population, they are more likely to treat patients with special healthcare needs (SHCNs) in the future.  It is without a doubt that the dental curriculum is impacted with many subjects that are vying for more time to keep up with the advances in technology.  Being an accredited institution is the goal of all dental education programs.   The Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) is empowered by the Department of Education to assure that standards are met for the dental institutions through a peer-reviewed process with calibrated site visitors. 

Dr. Steven Perlman, PAOH President “In August of 2024, Helen Journal found its new home in PAOH, People Advocating for Optimal Health. HELEN was originally launched in 2022 under the American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry (AADMD). It was the dream of three friends and colleagues, Dr. Rick Rader, Dr. Steve Perlman, and Helen’s Senior Managing Editor Vanessa Ira.”

Dr. Rick Rader, HELEN Journal Editor-in-chief: “Alzheimer’s disease is currently ranked as the seventh leading cause of death in the United States and is the most common cause of dementia among older adults. The prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease in the United States is growing, with an estimated 6.9 million Americans age 65 and older living with the disease in 2024.”

Jane is a 66-year-old woman with a moderate intellectual disability who has been living in a group home for the last 20 years. She has always been known as a friendly, outgoing person with a happy disposition. Over the past couple of years, her support staff has noted that Jane has become less interactive and less interested in socializing. She also seems to be less responsive to others, and sometimes she startles easily when approached. She used to enjoy watching television but has lost interest in this as well.

Los Angeles, CA, Nov. 12, 2024 - The Special Needs Network (SNN) has received an additional $11 million from the California Department of Developmental Disabilities (DDS) to expand its pioneering C.O.R.E. (Centering Opportunities, Resources, and Equity in Early Intervention) program. Administered by the Lanterman Regional Center, this funding will enhance SNN’s innovative workforce development initiative, aimed at training and placing BIPOC clinicians in behavioral and allied health roles to tackle systemic inequities in California’s healthcare workforce.

NYU College of Dentistry will host its third AHEAD Symposium — Achieving Health Equity through Access for All with Disabilities — on Wednesday, November 13, 2024. The virtual event will gather policymakers, experts, and advocates to discuss improving oral health care for people with disabilities.

Meet Annie Sullivan’s League’s Honoree, Natalie Caliste, who has been working in the direct support professional field for 40 years, began working with Aisha Jackson in Philadelphia 13 years ago. “At first, Aisha was very shy, but not anymore.” As Natalie gained Aisha’s trust, she began to feel safe and developed a relationship with her that extended well beyond a working one.

A CALL FOR APPLICATIONS …