Rock Steady Blog

By Michael Rock: The COVID-19 pandemic has brought a seemingly-endless array of unsetling news stories, especially regarding people with developmental disabilities. Fortunately there has been some light within the darkness. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for progress made in the rights of people with autism to not be undermined amid the coronavirus crisis on […]

By Michael Rock: As the COVID-19 coronavirus has spread globally, new developments in our general ability to understand its impact develop each day. For its relationship to those with disabilities, this rule has been no exception. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine called for all adult day services in the state to close. In New York City, […]

By Michael Rock: As the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic captures global headlines, the virus and the social climate it has created pose various challenges to people with disabilities. In fact, those most at risk from the virus itself have some form of disability under the broadest definition: including autoimmune disorders or other chronic illnesses. Those with […]

By Michael Rock: March marks Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. Nationwide, private, and public efforts to recognize it are occurring. Bethesda Lutheran Communities, a Watertown, Wisconsin-headquartered nonprofit, has promoted a call to action for better including people with disabilities in all areas of life. Meanwhile, Hawai’i Governor David Ige formally recognized the month of […]

By Michael Rock: One creative pursuit that some people with disabilities may use to express themselves is filmmaking. From March 31 to April 6, the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan will host the 12th Annual ReelAbilities Film Festival will showcase numerous films from around the world made by people with disabilities and/or that depict them in […]

By Michael Rock: It is no secret that many people with autism struggle with social communication. Still, it is becoming quite clear that there are ways to reduce or eliminate their challenges. A recent study on mice at Johns Hopkins University found that MDMA, the pure form of ecstasy or molly, improved their social learning […]

By Michael Rock: Several key developments in disability news have been reported in the past few days. The Massachusetts House of Representatives passed a bill that would create a registry of care providers who have ever hurt someone with an intellectual or developmental disability. This registry would prevent them from finding future work at programs […]

By Michael Rock: While much has been written about how to teach and educate people with disabilities, we often overlook how much we can learn from them. Too frequently, students with disabilities who struggle in the classroom are treated as if they are lazy or “broken.” This truly is not the case. Instead, their educators […]

By Michael Rock: While providing for the needs of people with disabilities is important, allowing those who can become fully independent to do so should be just as high a priority. Easterseals East Georgia in the city of Augusta, offers just one of many such workforce development programs nationwide that can be instrumental in helping […]

By Michael Rock: While much has been written on the benefits of early diagnosis and intervention of people with autism, few realize just how important it can be. Despite the good an early diagnosis can offer someone with autism, they can be difficult to obtain. In addition to needing to rely on behavioral markers rather […]