Developmental Disability Awareness Ribbons

Posted on July 15, 2024 by specialneedsresourcetrainingblog

Awareness ribbons in recent history began when Penney Laingen used the ribbon as a symbol of vigilance (from the song, Tie a Ribbon Around the Ole Oak Tree) when she tied a yellow ribbon around the oak tree in her front yard when her husband, Bruce Laingen. a top-ranking U.S. diplomat was a hostage during the Iran hostage crisis in 1979. This was followed by the red ribbon during the AIDS epidemic and the pink ribbon bringing awareness to breast cancer.

Ribbons have long been used as a way to bring awareness and raise consciousness for a cause. Ribbons and disability awareness have evolved from bringing awareness to various disability topics such as sensitivity, inclusion and advocacy to including various formats. People are using social media as a means to promote awareness including using hashtags and setting up Facebook pages specifically for disability awareness.

Disability awareness and acceptance is being done through the use of awareness ribbons.

The Ribbons below focus on ribbons that bring awareness to developmental disability and special needs issues. including individuals with neurodevelopmental and intellectual disabilities. Awareness is only a part of educating and training people on disability awareness. Training activities should also include acceptance and understanding.

Awareness Ribbons

Autism Spectrum Disorder- The Autism ribbon continues to evolve overtime. The puzzle piece was first used in 1963 by a parent and board member of the National Autistic Society in London indicating the puzzling, confusing nature of autism. In 1999, the puzzle piece ribbon was adopted as the universal sign of autism awareness by the Autism Society reflecting the complexity of the autism spectrum. Overtime, the both the puzzle and ribbon have become a symbol for seeing autism as something that is puzzling an needs to be fixed rather than acceptance. A more positive symbol includes the infinity loop used as a symbol for acceptance rather than awareness.

Angelman Syndrome- Blue

Apraxia- Light Blue

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity (ADHD)- Orange

Cerebral Palsy- Green

Cri Du Chat- Blue

Developmental Disabilities- Silver or light blue

Di George Syndrome- Teal

Down Syndrome- Blue and Yellow

Dravet Syndrome- Purple

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy- Light Green

Epilepsy- Purple

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder- Silver and Blue

Fragile X Syndrome- Teal

Hydrocephalus- Light Blue

Prader Willi- Orange

Rare Disease- Zebra Stripe

Rett Syndrome- Purple

Sensory Processing Disorder- Blue or Orange

Sickle Cell Anemia- Burgundy

Spina Bifida- Yellow

Spinal Cord Injuries- Green

Tourette Syndrome- Teal

Trisomy 18- Light Blue

Turner Syndrome Purple Butterfly

Williams Syndrome- Burgundy

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Burgundy Awareness Ribbon

Sickle Cell Anemia
Williams Syndrome

Blue Awareness Ribbon

Angelman Syndrome
Cri Du Chat

Green Awareness Ribbon

Cerebral Palsy
Spinal Cord Injuries

Light Blue Awareness Ribbon

Apraxia
Developmental Disabilities
Hydrocephalus
Intellectual Disabilities
Trisomy 18

Orange Awareness Ribbon

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Prader Willi Syndrome
Sensory Processing Disorder

Teal Awareness Ribbon

Fragile X Syndrome
DiGeorge Syndrome
Tourettte Syndrome

Purple Awareness Ribbon

Dravet Syndrome
Epilepsy
Rett Syndrome
Turner Syndrome

Blue and Yellow Awareness Ribbon

Down Syndrome

Light Green Awareness Ribbon

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Silver and Blue Awareness Ribbon

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder

Yellow Awareness Ribbon

Spina Bifida

Observance and Awareness Month

February

Turner Syndrome Awareness

March

Trisomy18

Kidney Awareness

Multiple Sclerosis

Cerebral Palsy

Developmental Disabilities

April

Autism

Auditory Processing Disorder

May

Apraxia

Cri Du Chat

Cystic Fibrosis

Global Developmental Delay

Williams Syndrome

June

Aphasia

CDKL5

Dravet Syndrome Day

Helen Keller- Deaf- Blind

July

Fragile X Syndrome

National Craniofacial Awareness and Prevention Month

September

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Fetal Alcohol

Hydrocephalus

Sickle Cell Anemia

Spinal Cord Injuries

October

ADD/ADHD

Down Syndrome

Dyslexia

Rett Syndrome

Sensory Processing Disorder

November

22Q

Epilepsy

Lennox-Gastaut

December

West Syndrome (Infantile Spasm)

Updated on 7/15/24

Cerebral Palsy and Secondary Issues

Posted on July 4, 2024 by specialneedsresourcetrainingblog

Cerebral palsy affects people differently including; learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, behavioral challenges, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and Executive Function Disorder. People with cerebral palsy often have medical issues as well including, epilepsy, hydrocephalus, swallowing difficulties, vision problems, aspiration and constipation.

Seizures

a seizure is a sudden, out of control event that can cause involuntary movement.
It occurs when there are bursts of abnormal electrical activity in the brain which interferes with normal brain functioning.
The brain constantly sends unusual electrical messages very close together.
Inform the participants that seizures are the most common of associated problems.
Experts believe that seizures are the result of scarred tissue in the brain.
About 50% of people with cerebral palsy suffer from seizures.
Epilepsy is more common in the child with spastic quadriplegic
Complex partial seizures are the most common in people with cerebral palsy
in most cases, it is unknown the cause of seizures.

Cases which the cause is known include

Serious brain injury
Lack of oxygen
Bleeding in the brain
Infection in the brain including meningitis and encephalitis
Inflammation of the brain
Co-occurring conditions that involve an intellectual or developmental disabilities

Treating Seizures

Try to keep calm and make sure the person having the seizure is comfortable and safe from harm.
A seizure can last from a second or several minutes

Do Not:

Do not hold the person down or try to stop his or her movements.
Do not put anything in the person’s mouth. This can injure teeth or the jaw. A person having a seizure cannot swallow his or her tongue.
Do not try to give mouth-to-mouth breaths (CPR). People usually start breathing again on their own after a seizure.
Do not offer the person water or food until he or she is fully alert.

After the seizure:

After the seizure ends, the person will probably be groggy and tired. He or she also may have a headache and be confused or embarrassed. Try to help the person find a place to rest.

Vision Issues

The term blindness refers to complete impairment of vision
Visual impairment refers to diminished vison or low vision but not total blindness.
A person’s right side may include problems with muscles that control the right eye making it difficult for the affected eye to move from side to side.
People may appear to be crossed eyes.
Explain that people with cerebral palsy may have a condition called strabismus, where eyes do not line up and focus properly because of differences between the left and right eye muscles
May only impact one eye which happens to those whose cerebral palsy affect one side of the body.

Learning Disability

People with cerebral palsy may have a short attention span, motor difficulties, perceptual difficulties and language difficulties
This can impact literacy, numeracy and other important skills.
Learning disabilities may also affect fine and gross motor coordination
They may tire easily since they have to put more effort into concentrating on their movements and sequence of actions.

ADHD

A disorder of the executive function of the brain that allows a person to focus and organize
It is a developmental disability that occurs in approximately 3 to 5% of children
19% of children with cerebral palsy will be diagnosed with ADHD

Hydrocephalus

Enlargement of the fluid filled spaces in and around the brain known as ventricles
To correct the damaging effects, the fluid build-up is performed involving a shunt

Behavior Challenges

Children and adults with cerebral palsy may be more prone to having problems controlling their impulses as well as having difficulty with focus and attention

Hearing Loss

Birth injuries can cause partial or complete loss of vision and or hearing in many individuals
Possible result of physical damage to the ear due to inflammation of built-up
Senorineural hearing loss- nerves that transmit sound information from the outside world to the brain are damaged

Tube Feeding

Gastrostomy is used with children with significant eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties to ensure they received enough food and drink.
It is surgically placed through the abdominal wall to feed formula, liquids and medication directly to the stomach.

Intellectual Disability

Approximately 2/3 of people with cerebral palsy have an intellectual disability
1/3 have Mild
1/3- Moderate
1/3- Normal IQ
Children with spastic quadriplegia are more likely to have an intellectual disability

Updated on 7/4/24

What to Know About Dyslexia and ADHD

Posted on October 31, 2022 by specialneedsresourcetrainingblog

Published by: Psych Central
Written by: Gia Miller

They have some shared symptoms, but dyslexia and ADHD are separate conditions. Here’s how to to tell them apart and tips for managing these conditions.

Dyslexia and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are two neurological conditions that can make learning more difficult.

The former affects 11%, and the latter affects between 5 to 20%, but it’s difficult to estimate precisely.

Sometimes, the symptoms of ADHD and dyslexia can be hard to tell apart — as both can cause trouble with reading and writing. But even though the symptoms can appear similar, the underlying reasons for the symptoms are very different.

What is dyslexia?

Dyslexia is a condition that impacts your ability to use language. You may have trouble matching letters to sounds or recognizing the sounds in words. This can make it hard to read and understand what you’re reading.

Dyslexia can also make spelling, writing, or math more difficult. Click here to read the story

How ADHD May Affect Reading

Posted on July 18, 2022 by specialneedsresourcetrainingblog

Published by: Psych Central
Written by: Morgan Mandriota

Many people enjoy cuddling up on the couch with a book as a way to wind down. But people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), especially children, might find reading much more frustrating than relaxing.

This is because those with ADHD tend to experience reading problems.

ADHD is a common neurodevelopmental disorder that impacts children and adults differently, but many people report reading difficulties with ADHD.

So how does ADHD affect reading comprehension? It can be challenging for many reasons, including difficulty with:

focusing
memory and retention
processing information
sitting still
managing time
managing distractions (e.g., distracting thoughts or stimuli in the environment)

“Given difficulties with sustained attention, reading can be particularly difficult as kids often report rereading passages over and over again given lack of focus and being easily distracted,” says Angelique Snyder, Psy.D., a pediatric psychologist at the Children’s Hospital of San Antonio.

“Their inability to focus and concentrate may make it harder for them to visually track information and retain what they just read, so both their reading speed and comprehension can suffer,” adds Dr. Judy Ho, board certified clinical neuropsychologist and a psychology professor at Pepperdine University.

A 2019 study suggests that reading disabilities and ADHD typically co-occur. Snyder notes that kids with ADHD also tend to have comorbid learning disorders, which can affect reading. Click here for the rest of the story.

Invisible Disabilities You Should Know

Posted on September 15, 2020 by specialneedsresourcetrainingblog

What is an Invisible Disability?

According to the Invisible Disabilities Association, the term invisible disability refers to symptoms such as debilitating pain, fatigue, dizziness, cognitive dysfunction, brain injuries, learning differences, mental health disorders, as well as hearing and visual impairments. They are not always obvious to the onlooker, but can sometimes or always limit daily activities range from mild challenges to severe limitations and vary from person to person

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurological disorder characterized by a pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that disrupts functioning in both children and adults typically, a person with ADHD, the difficulties lies in the part of the brain that allows people to perform higher level task known as the executive function. 90% of people with ADHD also have an executive function disorder. This is the part of the brain that engages in goal-direction and self-regulations.

Two Types of ADHD:

Types of ADHD

Type 1: Inattention Without Hyperactivity

Trouble paying attention
Trouble following direction
Trouble following through with task
Easily distracted
Seems disorganized or careless
Slow to process information

Type 2: Hyperactivity Without Inattention

Trouble paying attention
Restlessness
Impulsive speech and action
Excessive talking
Difficulty waiting turns
May have a quick temper
Overactive

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder that impacts social, speech, behavioral and motor skills. It is a spectrum disorder meaning it varies from person to person. No two people have the same symptoms. It is estimated that 1% of the population is diagnosed with autism.

Dyslexia

Dyslexia is also known as a language-based disability. It is defined as difficulties with accurate and word recognition and by poor spelling which can affect reading fluency, reading comprehension, recall, decoding, writing, spelling, and sometime speech. Signs of dyslexia in adults include:

Poor spelling
Avoids writing task
Gifted and creative
Difficulty in following oral and written instructions
Difficulty staying on task
High level of frustration
Difficulty in retaining information
Test-taking anxiety.
Highly curious
Insightful
Curiosity
Good communication of stories read to them

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) according to the National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome describes the range of effects that can occur in an individual whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy. These affects may include physical, mental, behavioral, and/or learning disabilities with lifelong implications.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders is not a diagnosed rather, it is a term that is used to describe a wide-range of effects on a person whose mother drank alcohol during her pregnancy. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, show in three areas: abnormal facial characteristics, slowed growth and the central nervous system.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders affects each person differently. Signs and symptoms include the following:

Abnormal facial features including a smooth ridge between the nose and upper lip
Small head size
Shorter than average height
Poor coordination
Hyperactive behavior
Difficulty with attention
Poor memory
Difficulty in school
Learning disabilities
Speech and language delays
Intellectual disability or low IQ
Poor reasoning and judgement skills
Sleep and sucking problem
vision and hearing problems
Seizures
Processing information
Problems with the heart and kidneys
Poor concept of time
Trouble getting along with others
Staying on task

Sensory Processing Disorder

Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD, formally known as sensory integration dysfunction) is a condition in which the brain has difficulty in receiving information from the senses.

Signs and symptoms may include:

· Oversensitive

· Common sounds may be overwhelming

· Uncoordinated

· Hard to engage in conversation or play

Ten common signs and symptoms of ADHD in adults

Posted on December 9, 2019 by specialneedsresourcetrainingblog

Many adult responsibilities require focus, organisation and composure, as a person is expected to juggle different tasks to effectively manage their career, family and home.

An adult with undiagnosed attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can struggle with some of these responsibilities. For example, they may underperform academically and professionally or have trouble maintaining relationships. These issues can then leave a person battling with low self-esteem as they question why they encounter such difficulties when other people don’t seem to.

If you think that someone you’re close to has undiagnosed ADHD, or if you are looking to get information for yourself, we have listed the common symptoms of ADHD in adults, and outlined the steps a person needs to take to receive a diagnosis and any necessary support. Click here to read the rest of the story.

Decoding The Overlap Between Autism and ADHD

Posted on March 19, 2018 by specialneedsresourcetrainingblog

Written by: Ricki Rusting

Published By: Spectrum

Every morning, Avigael Wodinsky sets a timer to keep her 12-year-old son, Naftali, on track while he gets dressed for school. “Otherwise,” she says, “he’ll find 57 other things to do on the way to the bathroom.”
Wodinsky says she knew something was different about Naftali from the time he was born, long before his autism diagnosis at 15 months. He lagged behind his twin sister in hitting developmental milestones, and he seemed distant. “When he was an infant and he was feeding, he wouldn’t cry if you took the bottle away from him,” she says. He often sat facing the corner, turning the pages of a picture book over and over again. Although he has above-average intelligence, he did not speak much until he was 4, and even then his speech was often ‘scripted:’ He would repeat phrases and sentences he had heard on television. Read the rest of the story here

The Challenges of Being a Hyperactive Grown-Up

Posted on December 12, 2016 by specialneedsresourcetrainingblog

adhd

Source: (Hong Kong Free Press)

Under the dim yellowish light, a woman is preparing the bar to welcome its customers later today. She checks there are sufficient bottles of wine, then walks over to another side of the bar to check the roster. From time to time, she takes out her phone and speaks into it, making voice notes. Grace Ma Lai -wah, who owns Club 71 in Central, was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) just over a decade ago. It means the 63-year-old tends to forget things and relies on her smartphone for reminders. Click here to read the rest of the story.

Asperger’s Syndrome Resources and Information

Posted on May 19, 2016 by specialneedsresourcetrainingblog

What is Asperger’s Syndrome?

According to NINDS, Asperger syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is characterized be an impairment in language and communication skills and repetitive behavior with typically an IQ of 70 and above.

Other Known Names

High Functioning Autism
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Aspies
Autistic
Neurodiverse

Comorbid Attributes

Characteristics

Difficulty in forming friendships
A preference for playing alone or with older children or adults
May be socially awkward
May not understand conventional social rules
Limited eye contact
May not understand the use of gestures or sarcasm
Obsessive preoccupation with objects
Normal physical growth and development
Need for sameness.

Statistics

1.5:1 to 16:1 per 1,000
Males more likely to have Asperger’s syndrome than females
Females with Autism Spectrum Disorder (high functioning may be underdiagnosed
All racial, ethnic and socioeconomic groups are impacted.

History

Leo Kanner, an Austrian-American psychiatrist in 1943 published a paper entitled, Autistic Disturbances of Affective Contact, which described 11 children who were highly intelligent but displayed an ‘obsessive insistence on persistent sameness.’ He later named the condition- “early infantile autism.”
Hans Asperger’s, a Viennese child psychologist published the first definition of Asperger’s syndrome in 1944. He noted in four boys, a pattern f behavior and abilities including a lack of empathy, little ability to form friendships and clumsy movement.

Online Community Support

Wrong Planet– A web community designed for individuals (and parents/professionals) with autism, Asperger’s syndrome, ADHD, PDD and other neurological differences. The website provides a discussion forum, articles, how-to-guides and therapy services.

Teaching Strategies – The following articles are for teachers and service providers on techniques and strategies when teaching or providing services to a child with Asperger’s Syndrome.

6 steps to success for Asperger’s syndrome

AS teaching strategies

Classroom tip for students with Asperger’s Syndrome

Teaching Asperger’s students: 32 tips for educators

Teaching strategies for Asperger students

Organizations

Asperger/Autism Network (AANE). Founded in 1996 by a small group of concerned parents and professionals. AANE works with individuals, families and professionals and provides information, education, community support and advocacy.

Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism Association (AHA). AHA helps families and individuals become more informed self-advocates.