As many states consider the benefits of technology, it can be a bit scary to those in the technology adoption hot seats. I totally get it – it’s easy to become infatuated with emerging technologies, but can I make a confession? It’s exhausting to track and make sense of every sparkly, new technology even for...
DSPs and support staff members’ jobs are not just to keep their clients safe and healthy, but to also work with them on establishing goals for themselves and working to achieve them. Often times, people with IDDs also have a dual diagnosis; another behavioral challenge in addition to their intellectual developmental disability. Behavioral challenges can...
Social isolation has been defined as a lack of meaningful connections with other people. You may have noticed the use of this term more frequently when addressing Medicare and the health and wellbeing of seniors and addressing social isolation is being strongly considered now in the development of person-centric care plans. Here are some of...
I don’t know about you, but I never really liked wearing a mask on Halloween. By the time I trick-or-treated the seventh house, I was pretty much over it. Now, I carry my N95 with me everywhere. I wash my hands like I just fished my cell phone out of the toilet (again). I can...
I don’t know about you, but I am tired of hearing the phrase “the new normal”. Sure, I miss hugging my elderly parents, I miss my weekly “dine-out” night, and I’m a music junkie so the live music scene beckons me. Yet, I’ve noticed some changes in the world around me that, to be frank,...
Everyone deserves the right to control their own lives and to experience the intrinsic value of making their own decisions, including people with intellectual developmental disabilities (IDD). In fact, “independence” for people with IDD can mean anything from being able to pick out their own clothing – to needing less supervision – to being able...
One thing is certain in these times: being a soldier on the frontline of a war and being a care provider during a pandemic both manifest forms of stress that bear a strong resemblance to one another. It’s more important than ever to try to remain mindful of your mental and physical well-being during these...
On April 22nd, 2020, CreateAbility President, Steve Sutter, put pen to paper on his thoughts about the heroes of this pandemic, the additional challenges that people with intellectual disabilities face in this time, and why now is the best possible time to implement assistive technology for the individuals you serve. Please take a few minutes...
A physician provides his/her diabetic patients with home glucose monitors to measure blood sugar and weigh the efficacy of prescribed meds and diet. Cardiologists issue blood pressure devices to keep tabs on their patients’ heart function between appointments. But what do clinicians utilize to measure the progress, setbacks and successes of the mental health and...
Dr. Maulik Trivedi, an ER Surgeon in New York City, NY and owner of telemedicine platform, Station MD, recently addressed several providers who serve the intellectual disabilities population and enlightened us with front-line information that we all need to keep in perspective as this virus spreads. Dr. Trivedi granted CreateAbility permission to summarize his words...