#Developmental Disabilities Support

#disability #specialneeds #specialeducation #inclusionsupport #differentnotless #speechtherapySydney #occupationaltherapySydney #disabilityawareness #physicaldisabilities #cognitivedisability

Intellectual and developmental disability support workers know… What it feels like to make a positive difference in someone’s life. - How rewarding it is to make close relationships with people, their families, and other professionals. - That no two days are the same. - The opportunities for career development, training, and personal progression. - How much damn fun it is to be a direct support worker! Thank you to @benjmcintosh and @zac.carley for sharing a glimpse into the above. Go follow Ben and Zac immediately. #downsyndrome #autism #intellectualdisability #developmentaldisability

Disability...in all its many forms, has a way of restricting ❌ people’s access to opportunities that are meaningful to them. Accommodations, like using sensory tools 🎧 or a support person🧍are sometimes THE ONLY WAY a person with a disability can ACCESS an opportunity... (like to receive medical treatment or work at a job.) Some of the accommodations that make it POSSIBLE for me to do things as an autistic person...would also enhance the experience of many people who DON’T have disabilities. 💞 Often, what’s NEEDED by people with disabilities can be beneficial for everyone! 👥 Like and share if this made you think of disability accommodations differently 🧠❤️ #autism #autismawareness #autismacceptance #autistic #neurodivergent #adhd #disability #teacher #therapist #actuallyautistic #mentalhealth #kindness #autismmom #advocate #inclusion #specialeducation

From chaos to calm — not by control, but by connection. 💫#school #specialeducation #autism #specialchildren #vlog #speech #specialeducator #ourchamp #specialneedsmom #teacher

Aside from when it was a medical term, the “R-word” has been used to belittle people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Now that is it no longer a valid diagnosis, it’s time for us to move forward. We can leave this word behind because it no longer serves us. As a slang word, I can find a more comical and descriptive adjective. And as a diagnosis, it is replaced with “intellectual disability.” For these reasons, I urge you to spread the word to end the word! Let’s move forward! 😁 . . #autistic #autism #autismawareness #autismacceptance #actuallyautistic #adhd #disability #autisticadults #neurodivergent #downsyndrome #intellectualdisabilities #cerebralpalsy #bekind #choosekindness #kindness #spreadthewordtoendtheword #specialeducation #therapist

Acknowledgement, encouragement, support, and no rushing her with transitions makes a world of difference. #weefam #autism #sensoryprocessingdisorder #autismparenting #autismtransition #autismawareness #autismacceptance

Learning Difficulty (aka Specific Learning Disorder, SLD) and Learning Disability (aka Intellectual Developmental Disorder, IDD) are distinct conditions that differ significantly in their characteristics and impact on individuals. Learning difficulty refers to difficulties in specific academic areas such as reading (dyslexia), writing (dysgraphia), or maths (dyscalculia). Individuals with learning difficulties typically have average or above-average intelligence but struggle with particular academic skills, performing significantly below what is expected for their age. The disorder is identified when academic performance in reading, writing, or maths is substantially below the level expected based on the individual’s age, intelligence, and educational background. It primarily affects academic performance, leading to frustration and lower self-esteem, but it does not impact overall cognitive functioning. In contrast, Learning Disability, also known as intellectual disability, involves significant limitations in both intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior. Individuals with Learning Disability have an IQ significantly below average, typically below 70-75, and face difficulties in adaptive behaviors, which affect their ability to live independently and function socially. Learning Disability is diagnosed based on both intellectual assessment and observation of adaptive functioning, typically evident before the age of 18. The disorder affects all areas of cognitive and adaptive functioning, sometimes requiring extensive and lifelong support in various aspects of life, including education, employment, and daily living skills. #learningdifficulties #learningdisability #intellectualdisability #neurodivergent #mentalhealth #psychiatry #psychiatrist

"I can do stuff by myself now." 😭 Go follow @alittlegramming and this incredible boy that is teaching the world about #musculardystrophy and bringing about critical awareness ✨ #musculardystrophyawareness #instagood #heartwarming #wholesome #powerofkindness #powerwheels #duchenemusculardystrophy

3 tips to respectfully offer assistance to someone with a disability. People are often worried about doing or saying the wrong thing, so I hope these tips help to simplify things.🙋‍♀️ #DisabilityAwareness #Inclusion #Accessibility #Learn #Blind

Do you know what it takes to care for a disabled child? #disabilityawareness #disabledlife #trachbabies #medicallycomplex #caregiversupport #healthcarehumor #healthcare #specialneeds

N = Neurodivergence Neurodivergent kids don’t need to be fixed. They need support that honors their differences, not suppresses them. They deserve to be understood, not molded into something more convenient or typical. As a pediatric occupational therapist, my goal isn’t to change who they are. It’s to help them feel confident, capable, and connected in a world that wasn’t always designed with them in mind. To create spaces where they feel safe to be fully themselves. Let’s choose to celebrate the kids in front of us, just as they are. *Neurodivergent is a term used to describe individuals whose brains process information, learn, and behave differently from what is considered “typical.” This includes people with ADHD, autism, OCD, dyspraxia, learning disabilities, sensory processing differences, and more. Their brains aren’t broken, they’re just wired differently. 🫶🏼 Follow along as I share the ABCs of OT for OT Month: simple tips and core values that support kids in meaningful, child-centered ways. #neurodivergent #otmonth #abcsofot #adhd

From listening directly to disability advocates, I have learned that disability is not inherently bad or negative, but rather a different way of being ❤️♾️ This means that a person’s disability isn’t their superpower 🦹🏽‍♀️ nor is it a tragedy warranting pity😔… it’s just a natural variation of the human experience. It is very ‼️important to note‼️ that people with disabilities/ disabled people (some prefer the first way or saying it and some the second, which is why I’ve included both!) experience challenges. Disability can impact a person’s health, physical access to certain places, participation in certain activities, and independence. There is also the added societal inequities they face due to ableism, such as: discrimination due prejudice and social barriers denying opportunities. From my perspective as a school psychologist who advocates for my students: We cannot even begin to address these challenges if we don’t talk about them openly! 🗣️ So to me, disability is not a “bad word” or taboo as some may think it is. We need to talk about it so we can build awareness, make necessary shifts in the way we think, adapt, and lift up/ listen to the voices of disability advocates. ⬇️ Share some of your favorite disability advocates accounts below so we can all learn more from them! ⬇️ #schoolpsychologist #specialeducation #disability #disabilityawareness #disabilityrights #inclusion #specialeducationteacher #hardofhearing #intellectualdisability #learningdisabilities #mentalhealthawareness #iep