July 1, 2019

Summer Skin Safety

It’s that time of year again, summertime.  Summer time means lots of outdoor activities, from picnics, fairs, carnivals, swimming pools, to just hanging out in the sun.  It’s a great time for all.  But with the added heat and sun all of us need to take care of our largest organ, the skin. Being outside is great but getting sunburned...

Categories General/Skin Care

June 3, 2019

Successfully Preparing Meals for Soft & Bite-sized Diets

With the new guidelines from the International Dysphagia Diet Standardization Initiative (IDDSI), we now have very clear definitions for diet consistency and texture, and guidance on how to test the foods to be sure they are correct. This is vital, since choking is a leading cause of death for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. A dysphagia advanced diet is...

Categories Nutrition

May 6, 2019

Making Minced Meat Out of the Minced and Moist Diet

With the new guidelines from the International Dysphagia Diet Standardization Initiative (IDDSI), we now have very clear definitions for diet consistency and texture, and guidance on how to test the foods to be sure they are correct. This is vital, since choking is a leading cause of death for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. A mechanically altered diet is...

Categories General/Nutrition

April 1, 2019

Getting Your Diabetic Footing

Since skin is the largest organ of the body, taking care of it needs to be a constant priority. Because people with diabetes type 1 or 2 have a greater risk of skin infections, skin breakdown, and amputations, skin care cannot be neglected. If a diabetic lacks good control of their blood sugar, they are at an even high risk....

Categories General/Skin Care

March 8, 2019

Becoming a Pureed Diet Champ

With the new guidelines from the International Dysphagia Diet Standardization Initiative (IDDSI), we now have very clear definitions for diet consistency and texture, and guidance on how to test the foods to be sure they are correct. This is vital, since choking is a leading cause of death for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. A pureed diet is now...

Categories General/Nutrition

January 23, 2019

Working Out in the Winter

Western Pennsylvania weather can make it difficult to have any activity outside in the cold.  Sometimes running from my heated car in the parking lot to the grocery store and back feels like an Olympic feat.  Not to mention, that it gets dark so much earlier making it much more likely for us to want to curl up with a blanket...

Categories Physical Activity

January 23, 2019

The Importance of Exercise for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities

Engaging in regular physical activity leads to significant health benefits for all individuals, regardless of age and ability.

Categories Physical Activity

January 16, 2019

Changes Coming to the National Dysphagia Diet!

If you haven’t heard the great news, here it is! The Dysphagia Diet is about to change! Why is that great news? The changes are an effort to make sure modified consistency diets and thickened liquids are the same across the world. For this reason, the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) was formed in 2013. Why are these changes...

Categories Nutrition

January 9, 2019

5 Tips to Help Prevent Pressure Ulcers

Pressure ulcers or skin ulcers are areas of damaged skin and tissue that occur when there is friction or unrelieved pressure on one area of the body. These areas can effect anyone who has difficulty moving on their own, or staying in one position for too long. Pressure ulcers can start to form in as little as 15 minutes. Pressure...

Categories Skin Care

January 2, 2019

The Importance of Discussing Sexual Nuances

What Parents, Educators, and Disability Service Providers Need to Know In the months before his 30th birthday Darryl* adamantly and repeatedly told his staff that on his 30th birthday he “is going to have sex.” He previously never expressed any interest in having a sexual relationship, so why now? As a teenager, when he expressed any interest in a romantic...

Categories Sexuality