Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
Please reach out to dshn@jmu.edu to share resources that would be helpful for folks in our network, or for more resources on any specific topic.
"We must promote - to the best of our ability and by all possible and appropriate means - the mental and physical health of all our citizens."
- President Kennedy, February 5, 1963
Each March, the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD), The Association for University Centers of Disabilities, and the National Disability Rights Network join together to celebrate Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. Before the 1960s, most people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) were sent to live in under-funded state institutions or kept away from ‘normal’ society.
Motivated by their family’s experience with their sister Rosemary, Eunice Kennedy Shriver and John F. Kennedy dedicated their time in spotlight to uplifting the needs of people with IDD. In 1962, President John F. Kennedy established the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. The institute, which still exists and functions today, was founded to conduct and support research on all aspects of intellectual disabilities as well as general maternal and child health. Additionally, President Kennedy established the President's Committee on People with Intellectual Disabilities as well as signing into law many important disability-adjacent laws.
Despite JFK’s short presidency, the John F. Kennedy Foundation reports that in the 20 years after his presidency Congress passed over 116 acts or amendments that provided support for people with intellectual disabilities and their families. In 1968, Eunice Kennedy Shriver founded Special Olympics (one of our wonderful partners!). Then 1989, her son Andrew Shriver founded Best Buddies (check out our local JMU chapter!).
This year, the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD) is using artwork created by artists with disabilities “to raise awareness about the inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in all facets of community life, as well as the awareness of the barriers that people with disabilities still face in connecting to the communities in which they live.” To join NACDD in their mission, visit their website or post your stories and experiences using #DDawareness2023, #DDAM2023, #BeyondtheConvo or #BeyondtheConversation.
While support and research surrounding people with IDD have improved dramatically since the 1960s, sexual health education still remains inaccessible for many students with IDD. For more information on including Family Life Education (FLE) in your child's Individualized Education Plan (IEP), check out these resources created by our staff:
For more information about the Kennedy family and their contribution to disability studies, visit the John F. Kennedy Foundation. For more resources and to stay up-to-date on recent disability research and advocacy movements, visit the websites below:
American Association of People with Disabilities | AAPD
American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities | AAIDD
Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund | DREDF
Disabled People’s International | DPO
National Alliance on Mental Health | NAMI
* It is important to note that in 1960s, intellectual and developmental disabilities were referred to as 'mental retardation.' Here, the term has been replaced with 'intellectual disabilities.'
|
|
|
Quick Facts: Endometriosis Edition
March is also Endometriosis Awareness Month. These quick facts will help you to increase your endometriosis knowledge just in time for Endometriosis Awareness Month.
- Endometriosis is a condition where endometrial tissue, tissue similar to the tissue that makes up the lining of the uterus, grows outside of the uterus.
- Endometriosis is a chronic disease that can cause severe, life-impacting pain.
- According to the World Health Organization (WHO), endometriosis affects 10% of the world’s population who have or have had* a uterus (around 190 million).
- Endometriosis can affect any person who has or has ever had a uterus at any age.
- There is currently no definite cause of endometriosis.
For more information about endometriosis, possible risk factors, and treatments, check out these resources:
Endometriosis - World Health Organization | WHO
Endometriosis | John Hopkins Medicine
Endometriosis FAQs | American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
Endometriosis Resources | Endometriosis Association
* 'have or have had' used because even after having a hysterectomy (surgical removal of the uterus) endometriosis can still occur if not all the tissue was removed during the surgery -- typically presents 2-5 years after procedure
|
|
|
Tip: Use YouTube's media player controls to make videos more accessible. Find out how at the links below:
|
|
|
Winter Wellness Check-in!
Winter is almost over, but the last couple weeks of cold can be difficult. Here are some tips for staying happy and feeling good when its cold outside!
|
|
|
Don't forget to go outside!
It is easy to stay cooped up during the cold winter months, but getting outside is so important for your physical and mental health. Pick a sunny day, bundle up, and spend a few minutes enjoying the sunshine and crisp winter air.
|
|
Moisturize, please!
This is your daily reminder to take care of your skin! The cool, dry winter air can easily remove all the moisture from your skin. That, combined with heat and scratchy fabrics, can be a recipe for skin disaster! Make sure you are applying lotion to your body each time you shower to keep your skin fresh and moisturized.
|
|
|
Establish a sleep schedule
Sleep is so important! Our bodies regulate sleep based on natural light, so when the days are shorter we tend to feel more tired and less rested. Selecting times for when you want to get up and go to sleep and maintaining those times can help combat excessive drowsiness in the cold and dark winter months!
|
|
Make some veggie soup!
According to dietitians, winter is the best time for root vegetables - potatoes, sweet potatoes, turnips, parsnips, carrots, and more! Roast your veggies, puree them, and make a warm and yummy soup with lots of vitamins and nutrients!
|
|
|
|
