NEW HORIZONS IN INCLUSION

By Michael Rock: The latest news cycle highlighted a number of developments in including people with disabilities: negative and positive alike. On March 25th, Clifford Poetz of Minnesota died at the age of 71. Born with cerebral palsy, he became the first person with a developmental disability to testify before a congressional subcommittee in 1973. […]

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INCLUSION NEWS

By Michael Rock: The disability community has achieved several noteworthy developments regarding their inclusion recently. The small Eastern Spanish town of Onil, known for its doll manufacturers, has recently led the charge in producing dolls depicting children with Down Syndrome. Advocates hope that that children who play with such dolls will learn to have less […]

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COVID VACCINES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

By Michael Rock: As the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine commences, questions regarding when and how to immunize those with intellectual and developmental disabilities have emerged. The CDC plans to prioritize who gets the vaccine by risk. While seniors, essential workers, and those with immunocompromising conditions are at the top of the list, it is […]

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WHAT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES CAN DO

By Michael Rock: The latest news cycle has demonstrated how people with disabilities are more capable than many give them credit for. Though people with autism have a reputation for struggling with theory of mind, or understanding what other people are thinking, a newly-released study found that their ability to do so does not deteriorate […]

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EXAMPLES OF ALTRUISM

By Michael Rock: The current news cycle has highlighted several cases of altruism towards people with disabilities. Residents of North Attleboro, Massachusetts joined together to help town resident Ashlyn MacDonald, who has autism, get mass supplies of her favorite food that has become more scarce recently: Spaghetti-Os. At Lake Geneva, Wisconsin’s Badger High School, classmates […]

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COVID REOPENINGS

By Michael Rock: As the United States economy starts to reopening from the COVID-19 lockdown, providers of services for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities have often joined in, creating innovative new ways to prevent the spread of the coronavirus on their premises. One such provider, Gompers of Phoenix, Arizona, will begin a phased reopening […]

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LATEST DISABILITY NEWS

By Michael Rock: The following are just a few of the latest stories related to developmental and intellectual disabilities. In Colorado, many service providers are adapting their operational models to reflect the COVID-19 pandemic. One such provider began to create holistic plans for each of its consumers to better reflect their individual needs during this […]

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DISABILITY NEWS ROUNDUP

By Michael Rock: The past week has offered a number of new developments in disability affairs. In California, Apple of Macintosh computers and iPhone fame plans to create several hundred affordable housing units to help combat the state’s housing crisis. Some of these units will be reserved for people with developmental disabilities. Meanwhile, more evidence […]

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New Updates

By Michael Rock: Journalists don’t always consider interviewing people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Fortunately, ProPublica and the Arizona Daily Star have partnered to get such sources to better understand the limits of the state’s services. In New Jersey, group homes are beginning to allow regulated visits designed to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. […]

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NEW CHALLENGES

By Michael Rock: On July 15th, the United States will recognize Developmental Disability Professionals Day, honoring direct care workers and case managers who provide much needed support to this demographic. Despite this much-deserved day, there are still new challenges that Americans with disabilities continue to face. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, services for New Yorkers with […]

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