Development And Disabilities

Brain disordersâ€"neurological, psychiatric, and developmentalâ€"now affect at least 250 million people in the developing world, and this number is expected to rise as life expectancy increases. Yet public and private health systems in developing countries have paid relatively little attention to brain disorders. The negative attitudes, prejudice, and stigma that often surround many of these disorders have contributed to this neglect. Lacking proper diagnosis and treatment, millions of individual lives are lost to disability and death. Such conditions exact both personal and economic costs on families, communities, and nations. The report describes the causes and risk factors associated with brain disorders. It focuses on six representative brain disorders that are prevalent in developing countries: developmental disabilities, epilepsy, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, and stroke. The report makes detailed recommendations of ways to reduce the toll exacted by these six disorders. In broader strokes, the report also proposes six major strategies toward reducing the overall burden of brain disorders in the developing world.

This authoritative handbook reviews the breadth of current knowledge about developmental disabilities: neuroscientific and genetic foundations; the impact on health, learning, and behavior; and effective educational and clinical practices. Leading authorities analyze what works in intervening with diverse children and families, from infancy through the school years and the transition to adulthood. Chapters present established and emerging approaches to promoting communication and language abilities, academic skills, positive social relationships, and vocational and independent living skills. Current practices in positive behavior support are discussed, as are strategies for supporting family adaptation and resilience.

"This comprehensive, interdisciplinary handbook presents the latest research in the study, assessment, treatment, and understanding of intellectual and developmental disabilities. The past five decades have resulted in dramatic breakthroughs in the understanding of intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Editor-in-Chief Laraine Masters Glidden and her editorial team provide an overview of the historical foundations of the field of IDD as well as up-to-date material on clinical diagnosis, assessment, interventions, and treatments for such conditions. It goes on to address legal, ethical, and educational issues; and other social issues that affect the lives of people with IDD, including family impact and adjustment, relationships and parenting, spirituality, residential and caretaking services, maltreatment and criminal justice issues, stigma and ableism, health, and aging. Chapters address the etiology and treatment of specific conditions (including Down syndrome, fragile X syndrome, other genetic and chromosomal conditions, autism spectrum disorder, acquired brain injury, cerebral palsy, and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders) as well as functioning in multiple domains and throughout the lifespan. Contributing causes to IDD are explored within various contexts such as culture, race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status."-- Provided by publisher.

This book introduces current theories and research on disability, and builds on the premise that disability has to be understood from the dialectical dynamics of biology, psychology, and culture over time. Based on the newest empirical research on children with disabilities, the book overcomes the limitations of the medical and social models of disability by arguing for a dialectical biopsychosocial model. The proposed model builds on Vygotsky’s cultural-historical ideas of developmental incongruence, implying that the disability emerges from the misfit between individual abilities and the cultural-historical activity settings in which the child with impairments participates. The book is a theoretical contribution to an updated understanding of disability from a psychological and educational perspective. It focuses on the first years of the life of the child with impairment, and travels through infancy, toddler, preschool and early school age, to track the developmental trajectories of disability through the dialectical processes of cultural, social, individual, and biological processes. It discusses a number of themes that are relevant for the early development and support for children with various types and degrees of disability through the lens of Vygotsky’s cultural-historical developmental theories. Some of the themes discussed are inclusion, mental health, communication, aids and family life.

Parents of children with disabilities confront a number of challenges and may be at risk for depressive or trauma-related symptoms. Changes in family roles and routines can cause stress for parents, siblings, and extended family alike as they confront multiple issues, including behavioural problems and frequent healthcare needs. Despite such challenges, many families derive a sense of meaning from facing their difficulties in a positive way. This book surveys the most recent empirical research on families of children with disabilities and provides guidelines and strategies for the developmental and family psychologists who support these clients. The book follows a developmental progression, first examining the immediate effects that a child's disability can have on his or her family and looking at the changes that occur as the child grows and faces new challenges. In doing so, the author examines studies employing a variety of methodologies, including quantitative research, meta-analyses, and qualitative methods such as narrative analysis. The book also describes cognitive behavioural interventions and programs that train parents to more effectively manage child behavioural problems and thereby improve family well-being.

This book examines belonging as a key protective factor for enhancing resilience for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. It focuses on understanding intellectual and developmental disabilities and resilience from systemic and social-ecological perspectives, emphasizing the roles of professionals, families, and communities in combating long-standing segregation and health disparities experienced by individuals and families. The volume explores the dimensions of belonging across diverse professional fields using a person-centered approach that acknowledges the significant lifelong role of family members and emphasizes reflective practice for professionals. Chapters present research and innovative strategies to facilitate belonging when working alongside individuals and families. Key areas of coverage include: Family-professional partnerships in working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across lifespan and community contexts. Spirituality, mental health, and identity in persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Research ethics and design in working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The diverse needs, desires, and preferences of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The importance of individualized planning and approaches in fostering belonging for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Belonging and Resilience in Individuals with Developmental Disabilities is a valuable resource for researchers, professors, and graduate students as well as clinicians, therapists, and related professionals in developmental psychology, family studies, public health, and social work as well as related disciplines, including education policy and politics, behavioral health, and psychiatry.

Frequently, people with developmental disabilities are excluded from bereavement ceremonies when a loved one or friend dies, therefore not receiving the special care needed for comprehending their own feelings of loss. Focusing on creating mourning rituals for special needs people, this guide offers specific rituals and techniques for caregivers to use while helping explain death and dying. With more than 20 examples such as the use of pictures and storytelling or drawing and music, these practical tools can substantially lend to the understanding of grief and sadness for intellectually and developmentally disabled adults and adolescents.

Children living in poverty are more likely to have mental health problems, and their conditions are more likely to be severe. Of the approximately 1.3 million children who were recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability benefits in 2013, about 50% were disabled primarily due to a mental disorder. An increase in the number of children who are recipients of SSI benefits due to mental disorders has been observed through several decades of the program beginning in 1985 and continuing through 2010. Nevertheless, less than 1% of children in the United States are recipients of SSI disability benefits for a mental disorder. At the request of the Social Security Administration, Mental Disorders and Disability Among Low-Income Children compares national trends in the number of children with mental disorders with the trends in the number of children receiving benefits from the SSI program, and describes the possible factors that may contribute to any differences between the two groups. This report provides an overview of the current status of the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders, and the levels of impairment in the U.S. population under age 18. The report focuses on 6 mental disorders, chosen due to their prevalence and the severity of disability attributed to those disorders within the SSI disability program: attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant disorder/conduct disorder, autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, learning disabilities, and mood disorders. While this report is not a comprehensive discussion of these disorders, Mental Disorders and Disability Among Low-Income Children provides the best currently available information regarding demographics, diagnosis, treatment, and expectations for the disorder time course - both the natural course and under treatment.

This book provides a broad introduction to an overview of developmental disabilities for future practitioners, educators, healthcare personnel, parents, and other lay people. KEY TOPICS: Written in a manner accessible to all, this book presents a coherent picture of developmental disabilities by focusing on etiology (causes and risk factors), clinical phenomena, social factors, service delivery models, historical factors, and prevention. It stresses the revolution in services for persons with disabilities over the past few decades and emphasizes the importance of using a lifespan developmental model in service and research. MARKET: For psychologists, educators, and special educators.