Best Buddies California Ability Awareness Presentation

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Best Buddies California Ability Awareness
Presentation
By Syam Lakkaraju, Carolin Girgis Reproduced By
Joy Strickland and Rebecca Dixon
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What are Intellectual Disabilities?

• An umbrella for many different disabilities, but
  always affects the intellectual development of
  the person with the disability.
• One out of every ten American families is
  directly affected by intellectual disabilities.

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What are the causes of Intellectual Disabilities?

• Genetic Conditions errors when genes combine,
  gene disorders during pregnancy, inheriting
  abnormal genes from parents
• Pregnancy Problems drugs, alcohol (FAS),
  smoking, malnutrition, environmental
  contaminants, illnesses of mother

• Birth Problems any stress to the babys brain
  during birth
• Problems at Birth childhood diseases affecting
  the brain, head trauma, and toxins
• Poverty and Cultural Deprivation malnutrition,
  inadequate medical care, environmental health
  hazards, under-stimulation for the brain.

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Three Main Intellectual Disabilities our Buddies
Have
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Mental Retardation

• Stigma of the words mental retardation
• It is a clinical diagnosis
• A person with mental retardation is
• A person with an IQ of 75 or below
• Whose disability does not fall under any of the
  other disabilities
• Has had the disability since before they were 18
• Variant levels of ability
• No defining physical characteristics

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People With Mental Retardation are Similar To Us

• They can generally function in society on their
  own if taught appropriately
• They have feelings and needs similar to any of us
• May have any amount of strengths in different
  areas
• Have similar temperaments as any other person
• Generally kind
• Majorly Temperamental etc.

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Down Syndrome

• Genetic condition that causes delays in physical
  and intellectual development
• Occurs approximately once in every 800 live
  births
• Is caused by an error in cell division which
  results in an extra chromosome 21

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Down Syndrome Traits

• Initial diagnosis based on physical
  characteristics such as low muscle tone, a
  single crease across the palm of the hand, a
  slightly flattened facial profile and an upward
  slant to the eyes
• People with Down syndrome have a higher incidence
  of infection, respiratory, vision and hearing
  problems as well as thyroid and other medical
  conditions
• Approximately 40 of people with Down Syndrome
  have congenital heart defects

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Autism

• Characterized by severe impairment in several
  areas of development
• This especially includes social interaction and
  communications skills
• As many as 1.5 million Americans have autism.
• It is growing at a rate of 10-17 a year

• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Meaning that two people both diagnosed with
  Autism, can have varying degrees of severity or
  qualities
• Aspergers Disorder
• 10 of people with autism have Aspergers

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Characteristics of Autism

• Laughing, crying, showing distress for reasons
  not apparent to others
• Little or no eye contact
• Prefers to be alone
• Repeating words or phrases in place of responsive
  language
• Adverse affects to touch
• Repetitive motion behaviors

• Difficulty in expressing needs
• Resistance to change
• Attachment to objects
• Noticeable physical over activity or extreme
  under activity
• Little or no response to verbal communication and
  dialogue
• No proximity awareness

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Other Intellectual Disabilities

• Prader-Willi Syndrome
• Williams Syndrome
• Fragile X Syndrome
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

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Prader-Willi Syndrome
Abnormality of chromosome 15 Underdevelopment of
the brain Probably not inherited but genetic
birth defects at conception

• Characteristics
• Short
• May cause an involuntary need to eat constantly
• Generally the 1 genetic cause of obesity

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Williams Syndrome

• Occurs once in every 20,000 births
• Causes borderline or mild learning disabilities
• Usually causes small upturned noses, curly hair,
  full lips, full cheeks, small teeth and large
  smile!
• Short attention span, heightened sensitivity to
  sound, lack of fine motor skills, inability to
  let go of certain topics of conversation

• Retain personal nuances of people even
  acquaintances.
• Have Strengths in their expressive language
  skills
• Are prone to have musical talents and most have
  an affinity towards music

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Fragile X

• Caused by a mutation on the X chromosome
• Largest inherited intellectual disability
• Incidence rate is about 1 in 4,000 births
• Tendency towards heart murmurs and ear infections
• Males typically have large ears and long faces
• Larger heads than would be normally seen
• Repeat words/ phrases

• ADHD, Anxiety, Seizure Disorders, speech,
  language, and motor weaknesses
• May exhibit lack of eye contact
• Repetition of behavior and speech
• Pay significantly more attention to sensory
  stimuli than others would
• No proximity awareness

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Traumatic Brain Injury

• Is not a pre-existing condition.
• Is caused by a severe injury to a persons brain.
  
• Is not the same as mental retardation.

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Take Home Messages

• Be cognizant of a persons special needs but also
  their special gifts
• Dont let anyones condition define your
  friendship
• A friendship with your Buddy offers a unique
  opportunity to experience lifes diversity, so
  take advantage of it!
• Everyone has different abilities and
  disabilities, including you! Be aware of the
  unique wonderfulness of everyone.
• And always remember

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References and WEB Links
The next friend you make, could be your Best Buddy

• www.williams-syndrome.org
• www.thearc.org
• www.wisconsinmedicalsociety.org
• www.autism.org
• www.autism-pdd.net
• www.autism-society.org