 |
The Silent Disabilities: Brain Development and Injury
Powerful Patient, 2008 Week 38
Joyce Graff, host, on webtalkradio.net
Beginning September 15, 2008
With autism increasing, and with veterans returning from Iraq with invisible but very real brain injuries, we need more understanding and constructive action toward people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. With early intervention and appropriate treatment, there is hope that people can live valued, respected, independent lives.
About Our Guest
Leo Sarkissian has served at The Arc of Massachusetts as its executive director since November 1991. The Arc is a grassroots organization of parents, professionals, people with specific developmental disabilities, and concerned individuals. There are 22 affiliates, often called Arcs in Massachusetts, each with its own board of directors and mix of services. They participate in advocacy and educational goals on behalf of 120,000 individuals with specific developmental disabilities in the state. See http://arcmass.org
Leo responds to the comments made by Michael Savage on his radio show disparaging people with autism.
About Autism
For additional information about autism, see
A link between vaccinations and autism was proposed in 2001, but has not been proved. The most suspicious ingredient was thimerosol, a derivative of mercury, which was used as a preservative in some vaccines. At this point, thimerisol has been removed from nearly all vaccines. See http://www.fda.gov/cber/vaccine/thimerosal.htm#tox
The Environmental Working Group conducted a study in 2005 to assess the “body burden” of newborns. They tested umbilical cord blood from 10 randomly selected infants and found that an average of 200 industrial chemicals and pollutants had crossed the placenta. The list includes substances such as mercury, pesticides and perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs), which are the active ingredients or breakdown products of Teflon, Scotchgard and other fabric and carpet protectors, and food wrap coatings. All of these are linked to birth defects and developmental issues, as well as to cancer. See
About Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) can be caused by hitting the head – sports injuries, automobile injuries, falls, or even surgeries. Impact or disturbance of brain tissue can have lasting effect that may take months or years to improve. The injured person may not even have a visible bruise – the bruise is to the brain tissue.
“As of April 2007, about 1,800 U.S. troops, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs, were suffering from traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) caused by penetrating wounds. But neurologists worry that hundreds of thousands more -- at least 30 percent of the troops who've engaged in active combat for four months or longer in Iraq and Afghanistan -- are at risk of potentially disabling neurological disorders from the blast waves of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and mortars, all without suffering a scratch. … For the first time, the U.S. military is treating more head injuries than chest or abdominal wounds. …
“Here's why IEDS carry such hidden danger. The detonation of any powerful explosive generates a blast wave of high pressure that spreads out at 1,600 feet per second from the point of explosion and travels hundreds of yards. The lethal blast wave is a two-part assault that rattles the brain against the skull. The initial shock wave of very high pressure is followed closely by the "secondary wind": a huge volume of displaced air flooding back into the area, again under high pressure. No helmet or armor can defend against such a massive wave front. …
“What's baffling is the Pentagon's failure to work with Congress to provide a steady stream of funding for research on TBIs. … Soldiers face a struggle to get the long-term rehabilitation necessary for a TBI. At Walter Reed, Macedo said, doctors have chosen to medicate most TBI patients, even though cognitive rehabilitation, including brain teasers and memory exercises, seems to hold the most promise for dealing with the disorder.”
About Special Needs
About a year ago we spoke with two mothers of special needs children. One of the things they said was that in addition to the day to day challenges of working with their children, they had to deal with the prejudices and misconceptions of the parents of the other children. They ask all parents to understand them better, and help to include all children in school activities and play dates. http://www.powerfulpatient.org/archive/2007/07d_special_needs.php
About the national ARC
The Arc U.S. is the world’s largest community based organization of and for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It provides an array of services and support for families and individuals and includes over 140,000 members affiliated through more than 850 state and local chapters across the nation. The Arc is devoted to promoting and improving supports and services for all people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
For more information and a guide to resources, see http://www.thearc.org
Unmet Needs Survey
The ARC of Massachusetts has a survey open to collect information from both children and adults with disabilities. Please feel free to complete this survey.
Introduction from the Arc: “The survey aims to identify your most important and desired support needs. We have set up categories across a variety of life activities such as health, transportation, social needs and employment. We request some background information so that we can group results by different age groups and geographic regions.
“We trust that this survey will help us understand the kinds of assistance or supports that the individual needs to live well in his or her community. After collecting this information, we will develop a summary which will be published on-line and used to advocate with policy makers. Your participation in this survey will not only help you or your family member but others who have needs but who are unable to participate. Results will make a difference in our ability to obtain new services. All answers will remain confidential”
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=wfMywXu402wOVjvnrMuGkw_3d_3d |
Listen 