Latest news with #IDD
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Yahoo
Vernon Police Department seeks community's help for missing woman
VERNON (KFDX/KJTL) — The Vernon Police Department is searching for a missing woman and is seeking the community's help. According to a Facebook post made by the Vernon PD, the woman is Lotwanna Hardeman and has been reported missing by her family. Hardeman does suffer from IDD (Intellectual Disability Disorder) and can be aggressive at times. Name: Lotwanna Hardeman Last Seen: 6-6-2025 Age: 50 years old Height: 5'10 Weight: 120 lbs Last seen wearing a black shirt and white capri pants. If you think you have seen Hardeman or you have any questions, contact the Vernon Police Department at (940) 553-3311. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
A Donor Heart Saved Her Life. Why Are Others With Down Syndrome Denied Transplants? (Exclusive)
Charlotte Woodward was born with a heart defect, as nearly half of all people with Down syndrome, and 13 years ago, received a donor heart that saved her life Research has shown people with Down syndrome and other disabilities face discrimination when being evaluated for organ transplants Woodward has been fighting for justice for others with disabilities in need of transplants, and now a bill that could help is awaiting a floor vote in CongressCharlotte Woodward's doctors tell her she's a boring patient — even though she lives with a transplanted heart. 'It's because I'm so healthy,' she explains. 'I take very good care of my heart.' Woodward, 35, knows she's lucky. Born with a heart defect — like nearly half of all people with Down syndrome — she received her donor heart in 2012. But research has shown that more than 40% of pediatric transplant centers often consider intellectual disabilities a cause for concern when evaluating for organ transplants, because of assumptions that patients with disabilities may not be able to care for themselves and because of 'preconceived notions about their quality of life,' says Michelle Sagan, communications director for the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS). 'Their life is seen as not as important.' Another study found that adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities are less than half as likely to receive a kidney transplant as adults without IDD. Woodward has been working to change that. In 2020, she led a successful campaign to pass a bill in her home state of Virginia protecting those who are disabled from transplant discrimination. And now a similar federal bill named in her honor has been passed by a House committee and is headed for a floor vote in the House. It aims to provide protections, in part by mandating an expedited judicial review if someone is denied a transplant and believes their civil rights have been violated. 'People with Down syndrome and other disabilities should not be denied a lifesaving opportunity,' says Woodward, a program associate at the NDSS who went viral on the group's TikTok in 2020 for her video on "Things About Having Down Syndrome That Don't Make Sense". 'We need a legal solution to make it clear that blatant discrimination is wrong and is not permissible. I don't think people are doing it maliciously. They're just uneducated. It's rooted in fear and ignorance." From the day she was born, Woodward was underestimated, says her mom, Darcy. 'I was told she most likely never would read or write. It bewildered me. I didn't understand how someone could predict a baby's future.' Darcy ignored the warnings and read to her daughter, who learned to read by the time she was 4: 'I've been in awe of her every day of her life.' Her health was more concerning. She had four open-heart surgeries by age 10, and by the time she was 22, her heart began to fail. Her cardiologist told her mom he would have to 'go to bat' and work to convince hospital officials to get her name on the transplant list. 'He knew there might be opposition from the transplant team,' Woodward says. Fortunately she was matched with a donor heart in less than two weeks — and went on to graduate summa cum laude with a sociology degree from George Mason University. When Woodward, who loves to dance, is learning to play the electric guitar, and is in a long-term relationship with Peanut Butter Falcon actor Zack Gottsagen — began her job at NDSS, she learned her transplant experience was not the norm. The knowledge pained her. 'There have been many stories about denials of organs and transplants. We will never know how many,' she says, tearing up. 'I think, 'How could you?' ' The solution, she says, is legislation and education. 'I don't think people are doing it maliciously. It's rooted in fear and ignorance,' says Woodward, who urges people to consider organ donation — and call their representatives in Congress and urge them to support her bill. 'People with Down syndrome are just that: people. They have strengths and challenges like everyone else. They shouldn't have to prove their worth in order to get a transplant.' Read the original article on People
Associated Press
11-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
CentralReach's Market-Leading Autism and IDD Care Platform™ Wins Gold in 2025 Stevie Awards for American Business
Fort Lauderdale, FL, June 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CentralReach, a leading provider of Autism and IDD Care software for ABA, multidisciplinary, and special education, today announced it has been named a Gold winner in the 'Healthcare Technology Solution' category of the 23rd Annual American Business Awards® for its market-leading, end-to-end Autism and IDD Care Platform™. Building on the momentum of last year's Silver award in the same category, CentralReach has introduced several new additional features to its Platform. CentralReach rebranded and relaunched its special education data collection and IEP management software, CR LiftEd – a cornerstone in the company's special education program. The company also announced the launch of several AI solution integrations including CR ClaimCheckAI, CR NoteGuardAI, and CR ScheduleAI, all aimed at alleviating clinical administrative tasks to enhance the quality and consistency of care. Lastly, the company's acquisitions of Silas, a social and emotional learning and behavior solution, and Behavior Science Technology Inc. (BST), a research-backed platform designed to collect and track treatment fidelity for ABA therapy, expanded the Platform's capabilities into new territory. 'We've always believed that technology should be a force multiplier for providers across the autism and IDD care continuum,' said Chris Sullens, CEO of CentralReach. 'This recognition by the Stevie Awards validates the significant strides we've made over the past year, from embedding powerful AI tools into our platform to expanding our capabilities through strategic acquisitions, all with the singular goal of helping our customers deliver better outcomes for the individuals they serve.' The American Business Awards are the United States' premier business awards program for public and private, for-profit and nonprofit, large and small organizations. More than 3,600 nominations from organizations of all sizes and in virtually every industry were submitted for consideration this year, judged by more than 250 professionals worldwide. This year's winners were honored at a gala ceremony at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York on June 10. Details about The American Business Awards and the full list of 2025 Stevie winners are available at To learn more about CentralReach's suite of solutions, visit: About CentralReach CentralReach is a leading provider of autism and IDD care software, providing a complete, end-to-end software and services platform that helps children and adults diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and related intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) - and those who serve them - unlock potential, achieve better outcomes, and live more independent lives. With its roots in Applied Behavior Analysis, the company is revolutionizing how the lifelong journey of autism and IDD care is enabled at home, school, and work with powerful and intuitive solutions purpose-built for each care setting. Trusted by more than 200,000 professionals globally, CentralReach is committed to ongoing product advancement, market-leading industry expertise, world-class client satisfaction, and support of the autism and IDD community to propel autism and IDD care into a new era of excellence. For more information, please visit or follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook. CentralReach [email protected]
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New law brings managed care to people with intellectual disabilities
Gov. Ron DeSantis, left, and House Speaker Daniel Perez, right. (Photos by Jay Waagmeester/Florida Phoenix) Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday signed into law priority legislation for House Speaker Daniel Perez that addresses how people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) receive health care. There were fears in the IDD advocacy community that DeSantis was going to veto the bill but he signed HB 1103 into law without any ceremony or a press conference. He acted three days after receiving it and while the House and Senate met in an extended session to craft the next state budget. Jim DeBeaugrine, a former Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) director and now a lobbyist, praised language that requires the agency to make public information about the number of people served in the Medicaid waiver program known as iBudget, plus the number of individuals on the waiting list, broken down by the counties in which they live. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Federal Medicaid law provides coverage for health care services to cure or ameliorate diseases but generally doesn't cover services that won't. Specific to IDD, Medicaid covers the costs of institutional care but not of home- and community-based services that, if provided, can help people with IDD live outside of institutions. Former Gov. Jeb Bush applied for a Medicaid waiver to provide these services to people with IDD. Eligible diagnoses include disorders or syndromes attributable to intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, autism, spina bifida, Down syndrome, Phelan-McDermid syndrome, or Prader-Willi syndrome so long as the disorder manifested itself before the age 18. But the program is underfunded and has had lengthy waiting lists on which sometimes people have lingered for more than a decade. The Legislature has required APD to provide it with information about the program but while the information was once easily publicly available, the DeSantis administration stopped posting it online. The bill requires the information to be made public again. 'You know, APD has gotten hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars over the last several years. And I think it'll help to hold the agency accountable. And it's good for the public, particularly the advocacy community, to understand what happens with those dollars, how many people we're funding, whether the dollars are being spent for services,' DeBeaugrine told the Florida Phoenix Tuesday. 'You know, the rub on all of this is that the agency used to publish that data without the law telling them to. But since they stopped, I believe this is a positive step towards re-establishing accountability and transparency.' The law also involves a Medicaid managed-care pilot program launched at the behest of then-House Speaker-Designate, now speaker, Perez in 2023. The pilot was designed to care for up to 600 individuals and was approved for Medicaid regions D and I, which serve Hillsborough, Polk, Manatee, Hardee, Highlands, Miami-Dade, and Monroe counties. The state received federal approval for the pilot in February 2024. The Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) issued a competitive procurement for the pilot with two vendors, Florida Community Care and Simply Healthcare Plans Inc., vying for the contract. AHCA eventually awarded the contract to Florida Community Care. Three hundred and fifty eight people were enrolled in the pilot program as of May 5. During testimony before the House Health and Human Services Committee in February, Carol Gormley, vice president for government affairs for Independent Living Systems, attributed the slow start-up to administrative barriers on APD's part. Independent Living Systems is the parent company of Florida Community Care. The new law lifts the 600-person cap on the pilot program on Oct. 1, expanding enrollment statewide for qualifying disabled people on the Medicaid iBudget wait list. There are 21,000 plus people on the waitlist, according to a legislative analysis. In a statement to the Florida Phoenix Tuesday, Gormley lauded DeSantis and the Legislature for their 'commitment to expanding and improving services for persons with disabilities. 'We look forward to the opportunity to extend the comprehensive benefits offered through the pilot program to families who choose to participate,' she said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Forbes
02-06-2025
- General
- Forbes
Combating Isolation For Adults With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities
Social isolation and loneliness have been pervasive public health concerns in America, especially impacting adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Both mental and physical health are impacted by isolation and loneliness with research indicating that it can be more harmful than smoking, increasing the risk of depression, heart disease, and premature death. While the emotional toll of isolation has been acknowledged in the broader population, adults with IDD often experience an even deeper, more persistent sense of isolation—stemming from systemic exclusion, lack of accessible opportunities, and insufficient support networks. People with IDD often experience higher rates of loneliness due to environments that lack adequate inclusion. People in the general population often find connection through clubs, community centers, faith communities, and other local activities. These spaces offer natural opportunities for social engagement and a sense of belonging. However, for adults with IDD, these same settings are not always accessible to people with IDD, especially without adequate support. As a result, many individuals with IDD are left with limited opportunities to participate meaningfully in community life, leading to greater isolation and fewer chances to build lasting social connections. Research indicates that social isolation in individuals with IDD is associated with increased mental health challenges, including anxiety and depression. A lack of everyday interaction, meaningful engagement, and community inclusion results in a pattern of inactivity and dependence. This impacts an individual's overall health, well-being and growth. This invisible crisis is an area where more focus should be directed to shed light on ways to address this issue and mitigate loneliness. A feature issue on loneliness and people with intellectual disabilities shares personal stories, research, and more on this topic. Structured social programs tailored for adults with IDD play a critical role in alleviating loneliness. For example, community day programs provide safe, supportive environments where individuals can build friendships, gain self-confidence, and participate in engaging activities. Social programs are more than an antidote for loneliness—they provide a pathway for people with IDD to develop meaningful lives. Our Place of New Trier Township is a social support program that provides innovative programs for over 120 individuals with IDD. These group activities help participants develop essential life and job skills, supporting them in building greater autonomy and a strong sense of contribution. Activities include going to local restaurants for community lunch, creative art projects, volunteer opportunities, and structured recreational programs that foster emotional intelligence, communication skills, and self-determination. When people with IDD have the support they need, they're more likely to engage in their communities—supporting neighborhood businesses and giving back through volunteer work. Studies support this holistic benefit. A 2021 study in Frontiers in Psychology found that adults with IDD who participated in community-based social and recreational programs reported greater life satisfaction and lower rates of loneliness. Importantly, these programs also contribute to a greater sense of inclusion and belonging—two factors strongly linked to long-term health and quality of life. Enacting community engagement and inclusion is a practice. Investing in social programs for people with IDD is strategic. Communities thrive when all members are empowered to contribute. Inclusive programs reduce long-term care costs, increase employment, and strengthen civic bonds. Nonprofit organizations like Our Place have been at the forefront of cultivating social opportunities. This work requires support from public and private sectors, including businesses, local governments, and philanthropists who recognize the long-term value of inclusion. Working together, we can prevent the loneliness crisis among adults with IDD. By intentionally investing in social programs, we can reduce isolation and increase inclusion. We can create spaces where adults with IDD form true friendships, learn critical skills, and live self-directed, fulfilling lives. Everyone deserves connection, purpose, and a place to belong.
