developmental disabilities

Applying a Trauma-Informed and Bio-Psycho-Social approach to care, participants will be introduced to the topic of developmental disabilities and mental health with a focus on Prevention, Assessment and Support. Caregivers and supports will gain a deeper understanding of the effects of mental health concerns as well as how to develop resilience and mental wellness. Participants will be introduced to a variety of assessment and screening tools to assist in understanding challenging situations or behaviours. 

Understanding the impact of trauma on development, identity and behaviours is imperative when providing support.  This training, Trauma Informed Care: Supporting Individuals with Developmental Disabilities will explore the neurobiology of trauma and its impact on those with a developmental disability and/or mental health problems.  It will offer a reframing of behaviours through a trauma-informed lens.  Participants will walk away with a toolbox filled with strategies to best suited for supporting individuals using evidenced-based strategies.

The unique complexities of FASD presents itself in everyone’s professional practice. This highly interactive training will address how FASD is not limited to any racial, ethnic, cultural, or geographic group. It is a complex and multifaceted disability and affects people differently. (RFCY, 2022). Remembering that FASD is a socially rooted disability with intergenerational impacts and multiple layers of stigma allows us to better support those with FASD and their families. (CanFASD, 2022).

Support Not Stigma is hosting conference designed to respond to an identified need to support harm reduction workers in the KFL&A community. Please review the attached copy of the SNS conference agenda which includes details about speakers along with learning objectives. Included as well is the list of conference session registration options (you must register for each session you wish to attend).

People with developmental disabilities experience mental health issues as a result of physical, emotional

Lack of data on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on people with developmental disabilities (DDs) results in the inability of health surveillance systems to accurately determine the impact of the pandemic on marginalized populations and support needed. More specifically, there is a need to generate more data on the pandemic experiences of racialized people with DDs.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many health care services moved to virtual delivery. Given this unprecedented increase in virtual care, it is important to consider the potential impact on quality and access to care for different patient groups, including adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Researchers in Ontario conducted a study to find out what is already known about virtual health care for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and, in particular, the impact of virtual delivery on access to care for this population.

Dual Diagnosis and the Role of Social Work

February 25, 2022 @ 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. ET

Presented by: Alex Chiefari, BA, MSW, RSW

This webinar will provide an overview key information required to provide support to those with a dual diagnosis in addition to raising how misconceptions and stigma related to disability impact access to services. The unique role social workers can play with this population and practice considerations will also be discussed.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been especially hard on marginalized groups, such as people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) like Down syndrome or autism.

For people with IDDs, stressors include the abrupt stop to daily routines and regular contact with friends and family, restricted availability of health services and paid support, and financial difficulties. These stressors are compounded by the challenges people with IDDs face in understanding infection risks and public health restrictions.

The onset of dementia can have a devastating impact on an individual’s identity. See how culturally based and linguistically accessible programming and interventions help to reclaim and preserve one’s identity and dignity.

Date: Friday December 3, 2021

Time: 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Best practices when providing language support in services for older adults requires special considerations and strategies.  Language access in this context can be made more complex by multiple factors such as mental health, age-related speech and/or hearing loss, family involvement and intervention, and cognitive impairment.  A deeper understanding of these dynamics can optimize the outcomes in interpreter-assisted appointments.

Learning objectives:

April 21 2021

12-1pm

BUILDING INNOVATIVE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS TO MEET THE DISTINCTIVE NEEDS OF THE DUAL DIAGNOSIS POPULATION

FREE 2-hour Virtual CPD Sessions designed for physicians and medical teams who service young people with developmental disabilities. These Continuing Professional Development Rounds are a self-approved group learning activity as defined by the Maintenance of Certification program of The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. (12.0 Credits).

Full course description and details at: Notice of DD Assessment Treatment Online Series CPRI 2021 Final.pdf - Google Drive

Are you a caregiver providing support to someone living with schizophrenia or a psychosis related illness? Join us for our 4-session family education group.

The H-CARDD program was developed to address disparities in health status and health care access faced by individuals with developmental disabilities in Ontario, Canada. Individuals with developmental disabilities often have complex health care needs, experience difficulty in accessing appropriate services, and tend to encounter health care providers with little knowledge of how to support them.