Fetal Xrays Can Cause Memory Loss and Schizophrenia

Alarming as it sounds, I hardly doubt Fetal Xrays can cause Schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is often misdiagnosed by psychiatrists who look for a reasoning for someone's memory loss. In fact, less than 1% of the population actually has Schizophrenia, so I'm in question about these findings. 

Functional Behavior Assessments and Behavior Support Plans

From my Factoidz's page: Functional behavioral assessment (FBA) and behavior support plans (BSP) generated by the assessment are tools of practice within positive behavior support systems (PBS). Scott and Caron (2005) define PBS as a series of three level systems used in schools. The primary level focuses on the entire student body and the secondary level focuses on students who are not responding positively to the first level. The tertiary level finds the center of attention focused on a particular student and the sort of failures that typically result in school expulsion and or may persist over a lifetime (2005). Although FBA has been widely advocated for use at all school levels, to date FBA is more frequently used at the tertiary level. The components of a FBA and the BSP, and their importance will be discussed through a description of a situation in which a student would utilize both a FBA and a BSP.

FBA is a systematic method of gathering important information about a particular challenging behavior. For more information see: Functional Behavioral Assessment

You might also be interested in: The Man Born Blind on my Associated Contents Page

Autism and School Suspensions

Many students struggle with behavioral issues in school that sometimes end up in suspensions. Researchers have found that many of these suspensions are linked to undiagnosed autism.

According to Shaun Heasley “As many as one third of children suspended from British schools for displaying disruptive or aggressive behaviors could actually be exhibiting signs of undiagnosed autism, new research indicates.

In a study of 26 British elementary school students at risk for suspension or who were suspended from school, scientists found that one in three qualified for a diagnosis of autism.

The findings are surprising, researchers say, because none of the students — who attended 16 different schools — were previously suspected of having the developmental disorder. Instead school staff pegged the students as unruly and disruptive.”

With my background as a father with three teenagers that have autism and an advocate in my community, I have noticed that here in the United States suspensions are increasing in alarming rates. Some of the parents have chosen to have their children tested and found that their child has some form of autism. For more information see:
Undiagnosed Autism Could Be To Blame In Many School Suspensions at Disability Scoop

Disability and Stereotypes

Nelson (2003) claims that “journalists are often influenced by the stereotypes they see in popular media images. These stereotypes are then subconsciously reflected when journalists write about disability or do not think to include disability in a relevant story”.

Some people think that people with disability issues need pity and lacking ability. This is sometimes perpetuated by “fund raising telethon” designed to make people feel bad for people with disability issues. Nelson (2003) claim that people often think that people with disabilities need to be cared for and can be a drain on family, friends and the rest of society, therefore they are considered a burden. They are often lumped into a category of the “super-crip”. A super-crip is considered to be a person with a disability that “Through great courage, stamina, and determination, the person either triumphs or heroically succumbs. This leaves people who already have productive lives to feel inadequate”. Many of my friends know that I have three teenagers with autism. Many people who have a genuine interest in knowing about my kids’ disability have asked me if any of my kids where “like that guy in Rain Man”. This goes back to the “super-crip” mentality. Note that this is not my choice of words for people with disability that have overcome a tremendous amount, but a characterization that Nelson (2003) uses to hammer home the problems with stereo-typing. I kindly explained that in reality, people like the guy in Rain Man does not reflect the majority of the population of people with autism and that this is a generalization.

Nothing good comes from stereo-typing. People with disability have been created in the image of God just like the rest of us. We all have strengths, weakness and different personalities which makes us all unique.

Special Olympic Athlete Accepts Award

I have spent the last five years as a parent/coach for Special Olympics Events. I have met some wonderful people. Here in this video a young lady from Eugene, Oregon Amelia Abel accepts an award for Special Olympics Athelete of the Year. I don't claim to know her personally, but her story is inspiring.

Unforgotten: 25 Years After Willowbrook.

I realize that many people would rather watch an up beat video about the lives of people with disability issues. However, we cannot forget about those who suffered through years of isolation and abuse at the hands of institutions. Many of these people were institutionalized and abused because of their disability and they will spend the rest of their lives re-living horrific memories. One man recalls it being a prison sentence after spending 18 years of his life in an institution.

Willowbrook and Other State Institutions

This article is authored and owned entirely by my wife Jeanette Stonecipher.

Why were the Willowbrooks able to exist? I believe that the intentions of the medical professionals were to have a safe, comfortable and productive environment for places like Willowbrook, but instead "professionals" were hired to run these facilities. There lack of training and burn out was a contributing factor that social workers and caregivers experienced. Compounding this problem is that legislation was not in place to protect individuals who were placed in these institutions.

If Kennedy stated they were snake pits in the late 1960's and Geraldo went in with his hidden camera in 1972, why did it take till 1987 to close it down completely? History has shown us that when it comes to making changes within social and health situations our government is slow to react. In my state of Washington, non-profit agencies have advocated to our state legislators for several years to close our mental institutions. Western State Hospital is currently one of the largest mental institutions in the nation. According to Wikipedia (2009), "Western State Hospital is a mental hospital on the former Fort Steilacoom in Lakewood, Washington. The largest psychiatric hospital west of the Mississippi, it is administered by Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). It opened in 1871, predating statehood by almost twenty years, and is the second oldest state institution after the University of Washington. [1] For about three months in 1944 and much of 1945-1950 (except for a brief parole in 1946), actress Frances Farmer was committed there by her mother.

According to my co-worker who has an adult child that has disability issues, she used this institution for respite. My co-worker was extremely angry when she knew that Western State Hospital was in the process of closing its doors. I have heard from professionals as well as those who argue that Western State Hospital should remain. There argument is based from advocates that the sprawling grounds provide patients the opportunity to enjoy the plush greenery. If the patients were forced to live in community based housing, they would lose the beautiful Western Washington Grounds. In my opinion, this argument is a backwards way of thinking. This thinking continues to de-humanize the perception of people with intellectual disabilities. All people with disabilities should be afforded the right to choose to live in community based housing. They should have the right to choose where to live, who their friends are and have community access just as anyone else would.

What does this type of treatment of individuals tells me about what we thought of disabilities is that maybe society thought people were subhuman and didn’t have any rights. Parents felt they didn’t have any options and may not have wanted to know what was going on. Parents didn’t question authority because doctors and social workers are they experts.

For more on Disability issues see my friend Carol at Journey through the Cortex: Journey Through My GI System Continued: I get a Barium Swallow
Journey through the Cortex: Journey Through My GI System Continued: I get a Barium Swallow