Developmental Disabilities

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Developmental Disabilities

• By Evelyn W. Stone, RN.,BSN., M.Ed.

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• Developmental Disability refers to disabilities
  affecting daily functioning in three or more of
  the following areas
• Capacity for independent living
• Economic self sufficiency
• Learning
• Mobility
• Receptive and expressive language
• Self-care
• Self-direction

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Causes

• Brain injury before, during or after birth
• Growth or nutrition problems
• Abnormalities of chromosomes or genes
• Babies born long before the expected birth date
  also called extreme prematurity

• Poor diet and healthcare
• Drug misuse during pregnancy, including drug
  intake and smoking
• Child abuse can also have a severe effect on the
  development of a child, specifically the
  socio-emotional development

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Mental health issues (dual diagnoses)

• The high likelihood of encountering traumatic
  events throughout their lifetime
• Abandonment by loved ones
• Abuse
• Bullying and harassment
• Social restrictions
• Lack of education
• Poverty
• Limited employment opportunities
• Limited opportunities for fulfilling
  relationships
• Boredom

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Abuse

• Physical abuse
• Neglect
• Sexual abuse
• Psychological or emotional abuse

• Constraint and restrictive practices
• Financial abuse
• Legal or civil abuse
• Systemic abuse
• Passive neglect

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Physical Abuse

• Physical force that results in injury, pain or
  impairment
• Violence that may result in bodily harm

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Physical Indicators of Physical Abuse

• Injuries
• Bruises to the arms, legs or other body parts
• Patterns of indicators unexplained falls
• Sprains
• Burns
• Abrasions on arms, legs, or torso
• Internal injuries evidenced by pain

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Behavioral Indicators of Physical Abuse

• Explanation of the injury do not fit with the
  injury
• Family members provide different explanation of
  how it happened
• History of similar injuries
• Victim is taken to different medical facilities
  for treatment
• Delay between onset of injury seeking medical
  care

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Emotional Abuse

• Infliction of emotional suffering
• Fear
• Actions that lead to fear of violence
• Deprivation
• Loss of dignity
• Intimidation
• Powerlessness

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Why Emotional Abuse?

• The perpetrator wants to mold the individual into
  who he or she thinks that individual should be.
• Turn the victim into who they are

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Psychological Abuse

• Willful infliction of mental anguish
• Humiliation
• Verbal or nonverbal conduct

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Behavioral Indicators

• Isolates themselves from others
• Problems sleeping
• Exhibits depression and confusion
• Exhibits unusual behavior Sucking, biting,
  rocking

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Sexual Abuse

• Any form of degradation, manipulation, force or
  control of sex
• Forced in to having sex with the abuser
• Goes hand hand with physical abuse
• Forced to have sex with others

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Financial Abuse

• The abuser uses money as a means of controlling
  the victim
• Uses finances to gain power and dominance over
  the victim
• Required to do illegal acts for money
• Victim may be forced to work and perpetrator uses
  the money

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Financial Abuse (continued)

• Perpetrator may forbid the victim to work
• The abuser may put bills in the victims name
• Perpetrator refuse to work
• Victims money is used by the perpetrator

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Challenging Behavior Culturally Abnormal
Behaviors

• Self Injurious behaviors
• gt hitting gtbiting gthead
  butting
• Aggressive behavior
• gthitting others gtscreaming gtspitting
  gtkicking
• Inappropriate sexualised behavior
• gtpublic masturbation gtgroping
• Behavior directed at property
• gtthrowing objects gtstealing
• Stereotyped behaviors
• gtrepetitive rocking gtecholalia
  gtelective incontinence

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Causes of Challenging Behavior

• Biological
• Social
• Environmental
• Psychological

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Services and Support

• Education and Training
• At-home and community support
• Residential accommodation
• Employment support

• Employment support
• Day services
• Advocacy

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Conclusion

• Remember there are many causes of DD
• Abuse is an issue for those who are vulnerable
• Remember the advocacy group if there are
  suspension of neglect or abuse

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Other Services

• Nurse Assistant classes
• Mental Health Hab Tec classes
• Mental Illness
• Medication Aide
• Medication Administration
• Blood Borne Pathogens
• Behavior Management
• Developmental Disabilities

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Other Services

• There are more classes available.
• We have a calendar of Continuing Education for
  the year.
• Private Consultation for starting a mental health
  facilitator

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Contact Instructor

• Evelyn Stone, RN., BSN., M.Ed.
• 1008-F Big Oak Court
• Knightdale, NC 27545
• [phone]
• Email stn_vlyn_at_yahoo.com