Developmental Disabilities
Developmental Disabilities
Amy Giles
Axia College of University of Phoenix
HHS 325- Health and Human Service in the U.S.
David Sainio
December 10, 2006
Developmental Disabilities Living with disabilities on a daily basis can be more difficult then some realize. Many people who are born with developmental disabilities start their education and therapy at a very young age and there are also those people who have been diagnosed with a disability sometime during their lifetime. But what is there for them to do once they have graduated from high school or are told they are too old to continue in a regular school or they are simply told they aren’t accepted in the “normal” community? In all reality there really isn’t much for people with developmental disabilities to do with their time and life after they finish school. The issue of people with developmental disabilities not having a productive future once they are done with the required schooling is forever growing in today’s society. After conducting some research I came across an act known as the “Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act”. What caught my attention about this act was that in its “findings” it states that a substantial portion of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families do not have access to appropriate support and services, including access to assistive technology, from generic and specialized service systems, and remain un-served or underserved. It also says that in almost every state, individuals with developmental disabilities are waiting for appropriate services in their communities. Additionally, this act is used to assure that individuals with developmental disabilities and their families participate in the design of and have access to needed community services, individualized supports and other forms of assistance that promote self-determination, independence, productivity and integration and inclusion in all
Amy Giles
Axia College of University of Phoenix
HHS 325- Health and Human Service in the U.S.
David Sainio
December 10, 2006
Developmental Disabilities Living with disabilities on a daily basis can be more difficult then some realize. Many people who are born with developmental disabilities start their education and therapy at a very young age and there are also those people who have been diagnosed with a disability sometime during their lifetime. But what is there for them to do once they have graduated from high school or are told they are too old to continue in a regular school or they are simply told they aren’t accepted in the “normal” community? In all reality there really isn’t much for people with developmental disabilities to do with their time and life after they finish school. The issue of people with developmental disabilities not having a productive future once they are done with the required schooling is forever growing in today’s society. After conducting some research I came across an act known as the “Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act”. What caught my attention about this act was that in its “findings” it states that a substantial portion of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families do not have access to appropriate support and services, including access to assistive technology, from generic and specialized service systems, and remain un-served or underserved. It also says that in almost every state, individuals with developmental disabilities are waiting for appropriate services in their communities. Additionally, this act is used to assure that individuals with developmental disabilities and their families participate in the design of and have access to needed community services, individualized supports and other forms of assistance that promote self-determination, independence, productivity and integration and inclusion in all
References: Burger, W.R., & Youkeles, M. (2004). Human services in contemporary America (6th ed.).Belmont: Brooks/Cole-Thomson Learning. United States department of health and human services. Retrieved December 9, 2006, from HHS Web site: http://www.hhs.gov