News & Updates

Chemicals Linked with Brain Disorders in Children

In a report published online in Lancet Neurology, Philippe Grandjean, adjunct professor of environmental health at Harvard School of Public Health, and Philip Landrigan, Dean of Global Health the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, examine the neurodevelopmental consequences of early exposure to industrial chemicals and/or pesticides.  The report follows up on a 2006 review by the authors that identified five industrial chemicals as developmental neurotoxicants (lead, methylmercury, polychlorinated biphenyls, arsenic, and toluene).   The current report adds six additional developmental neurotoxicants (manganese, fluoride, chlorpyrifos, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, tetrachloroethylene, and the polybrominated diphenyl ethers).  The authors speak of a pandemic of developmental neurotoxicity and propose a global prevention strategy.  Click here to read this report.

Wall Street Journal Features Dual Diagnosis Problems

On January 15, the Wall Street Journal featured an article that dramatizes the plight of individuals with intellectual/developmental disability and severe mental illness.  Beginning with the California case of a 49 year-old woman, Deborah Clark, who has schizophrenia and an IQ of 63 whose actions, in response to a voice that she heard, resulted in the death of her parents, the article presents a fairly thorough exposition of the difficulties individuals with a dual diagnosis (IDD/MI) face.  The article, entitled “Splintered System Often Fails Mentally Ill with Low IQs,” appears on the first page of the Wall Street Journal.

Robert Fletcher, Founder and CEO of NADD, together with several members of the NADD Board of Directors, are quoted in the article.

“For most of her life, Ms. Clark bounced around a fragmented treatment and support system that left her and family members who tried to help mostly on their own,” notes the article.

In a subsequent article, the Wall Street Journal reported that a state court judge had ruled that Ms. Clark is competent to stand trial on arson and murder charges.

Review of Psychotherapy for Individuals with Intellectual Disability

A review of Psychotherapy for Individuals with Intellectual Disability, edited by Robert J. Fletcher, has appeared in Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities.  Click here to read this review, which is reprinted with the permission of the Emerald Publishing Company.

Towards the Prevention of Behavioral and Psychiatric Disorders in People with Intellectual Disabilities

Robert Fletcher, NADD CEO & Founder, is a co-author of an article, “Towards the Prevention of Behavioural and Psychiatric Disorders in People with Intellectual Disabilities,” published by the Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities.  The paper promotes a public health prevention model and maps out opportunities for intervention at primary, secondary and tertiary levels.  The other co-authors are David Allen, Paul Langthorne, Bruce Tonge, Eric Emerson, Peter McGill, Anton Dosen, and Craig Kennedy.

The paper presents an alternative strategy to the current prevailing “diagnose and treat” strategy.  The paper proposes the reduction in the incidence of behavioral and psychiatric disorders through the use of primary and secondary prevention strategies, potentially reducing the overall cost incurred by challenging behavior over the lifespan and freeing up resources for better-quality tertiary prevention for those who continue to present with severe emotional and behavioral difficulties. “Central to this proposal is a greater integration of issues for people with intellectual disabilities within much broader policy and research agendas.”

Click here to read the abstract of this article.

Barnhill Addresses 200 in Baton Rouge

Dr. Jarrett Barnhill, Director of the University of North Carolina Developmental Neuropharmacology Clinic and a member of the NADD Board of Directors, spoke to an audience of more than 200 parents and early childhood professionals as part of a speaker series organized by the Academic Distinction Fund.  NADD CEO Robert Fletcher had recommended Dr. Barnhill as a speaker to the Academic Distinction Fund.  Click here for a story about Dr. Barnhill’s presentation.

Sharon Lewis Appointed Principal Deputy at ACL

Sharon Lewis, keynote speaker at the NADD 30th Annual Conference and Exhibit Show, has been named Principal Deputy of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Community Living and Senior Advisor on Disability Policy.  We congratulate Ms. Lewis on this important appointment.

Click here for news release.

NADD Adopts Health Care Reform Policy Paper

On October 23, the NADD Board of Directors adopted a position paper entitled “Including Individuals with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities and Co-Occurring Mental Illness: Challenges that Must Be Addressed in Health Care Reform.”  Eileen Elias, chairpersons of the NADD U.S. Public Policy Committee, spearheaded production of this position paper.  Click here.

Ohio MHA Recognizes Ohio NADD Conference

Ohio’s Mental Health & Addiction Services October 2013 e-Update contains a nice article on the 11th Annual Ohio NADD Conference, including pictures of Founder and CEO Robert Fletcher, Board Member Mike Schroeder, and Keynote Speaker Julie P. Gentile.  Click here for the e-Update, see page 3 for the story and pictures.

NHA Dual Diagnosis Treatment Team Receives RCPA Innovation Award

NADD Board Member Terrence McNelis’s NHS Dual Diagnosis Treatment Team has been named a winner of the Pennsylvania Rehabilitation and Community Providers Association (RCPA) Innovation Award.  Click here for information on the winners.

Book Reviews of Intellectual Disability and Mental Health

Intellectual Disability and Mental Health: A Training Manual in Dual Diagnosis, by Sharon McGilvery and Darlene Sweetland has been reviewed in Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities (2013; Vol. 7, No. 4, pp. 249-250).  The review notes, “This is a useful addition to the expanding literature targeting professional care providers. It aims to provide practical guidelines and tools, with the ultimate aim of establishing more comprehensive care for people with intellectual disabilities and mental health needs…. [T]he case study chapter and the collection of resources in appendix will be useful in guiding the reader to apply theoretical knowledge to practical caring situations.”

Intellectual Disability and Mental Health has also been published in Frontline Initiative.  Click here to read the review.

Joli Fletcher Tlaka DSP Scholarship

Robert J. Fletcher, Founder and CEO of NADD, announces the new Joli Fletcher Tlaka Direct Support Scholarship Fund in memory of his daughter.  Click here.

McNellis Provides Training at Smoky Mountain

NADD President Donna McNellis provided well-received training at Smoky Mountain Center in June.  Click here to read what Smoky Mountain says about the training.

Congratulations to NADD!

I am pleased to inform you that NADD has been recognized for its valuable contributions.

NADD recently received a Certificate of Excellence from the Hudson Valley Psychological Association (HVPA) and a Certificate of Recognition from our State Senator Terry Gipson on June 7, 2013 at a ceremony at the Henry A. Wallace Center at the FDR Presidential Library & Home, Hyde Park, NY.

The Hudson Valley Psychological Association annually recognizes nonprofit organizations and individuals that enhance the psychological health of our communities in Dutchess, Ulster and Orange counties. NADD has served our communities for many years with programs and services that positively affect those with a dual diagnosis.

The idea underlying the Certificate of Excellence, as well as the Certificate of Recongition is to notice the excellence of work provided by human service organizations in the Hudson Valley of New York State. We are proud to be among the organizations that have been recognized by contributing to the well being and better quality of life for youth, families and the elderly.

Sincerely,

Rob

Robert J. Fletcher DSW, ACSW, NADD-CC
Founder & Chief Executive Officer

Prenatal Methylmercury, Postnatal Lead & ADHD

Research published in Environmental Health Perspectives examined the relation of developmental exposure to methylmercury, PCBs and lead to behavioral problems at school age in Inuit children.  The study identified an association between prenatal methylmercury and ADHD symptomatology as well as finding an association between low-level childhood lead exposure and ADHD.  Click here to read this report.

Psychologically Healthy Community Awards

NADD is pleased to have been nominated for the Hudson Valley Psychological Association 2013 Psychologically Healthy Community Awards.  We congratulate the winners in the Nonprofit Organization category: New Paltz Youth Programs and Mediation Center of Dutchess County.

Autism and Art

“A Thousand Words,” a documentary on art and autism filmed in a farmstead community in Ohio for adults with autism, will premiere at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 23. For tickets to the premiere (which is free) and for more information about the film, click here.

Results from NADD Membership Survey

In order to better understand and serve our members, NADD asked members to complete a short survey.  Click here for a report on results of this survey.

Association between ASD and Ozone Exposure

Research published in Environmental Health Perspectives demonstrates increased incidence of Autism Spectrum Disorders associated with prenatal exposure to ozone and particulate matter.   Click here to read this research article.

Ruedrich Appointed Lenkoski Prof. of Psychiatry

We are pleased to announce the Stephen Ruedrich, MD, a member of the NADD Board of Directors, has been appointed the L. Douglas Lenkoski, MD Professor of Psychiatry at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.

Schizophrenia & Autism

Jarrett Barnhill, MD, writes about the relationship between autism and schizophrenia in his “Neuroscience Reviews” article in the January/February issue of The NADD Bulletin.   Click here to read this article.

DM-ID-2

NADD is beginning work on the revision of its seminal Diagnostic Manual – Intellectual Disability (DM-ID).  Click here for details.

Early Detection Screen for Dementia

The National Task Group on Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia Practices has produced a tool that can be used by both families and agencies/organizations to record information about persons with Down syndrome and other intellectual disabilities who may be showing early signs of functional decline.  For further information about the NTG-Early Detection Screen for Dementia (NTG-EDSD) or to download this tool, click here.

Postdoctoral Fellowship in ASD Treatment and Care Research

York University in Toronto, Ontario, is inviting applicants to apply for a two-year postdoctoral fellowship, funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.  Click here for information.

For details of the conference, click here.

NADD Training and Monitoring Contracts

Over the past two years, NADD’s work on behalf of individuals with co-occurring mental illness and intellectual and developmental disabilities has included large contracts in the states of Pennsylvania and Montana.  Click here for details.

Benson Elected Fellow of the APA

Betsey Benson, PhD, a long-time, active member of NADD, has been elected as “Fellow” of the American Psychological Association.  Dr. Benson is director of the Adult Behavior Support Services Program at the Ohio State University Nisonger Center.  Click here for news release.

Documentary  “Dual Diagnosis: The Long Way Home”

“For families in this country raising children with severe disabilities… the medical system can be daunting. And for medical professionals, these cases can be very problematic… patients who cannot communicate their ailments can go undiagnosed or even misdiagnosed.”

To listen to a CBC documentary, “Dual Diagnosis: The Long Way Home,” about the story of one Ontario couple whose son suffers from multiple mental and physical disorders, click here.

Dr. Fletcher Speaks about DM-ID-2

While Dr. Robert Fletcher was at the IASSID World Congress in Halifax, Nova Scotia this past July, he was interviewed by Peter Koedoot from the Netherlands. The interview was based on the DM-ID 2. Parts of this interview can be seen on youtube at this link.

Robert J. Fletcher, DSW, Awarded AAIDD Leadership Award

Robert J. Fletcher, DSW, Founder and CEO of NADD, received the 2012 AAIDD Leadership Award at the 136th annual meeting of the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) on June 20th.  The AAIDD Leadership Award is given for courage and dedication resulting in an outstanding contribution to the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities.

ID/MH Collaboration

NADD is developing an Intellectual Disability/Mental Health (ID/MH) collaborative to share information among ID/MH providers and professionals. This collaborative will provide resources as well as serve as a network for clinical referrals and collaborative research.

Please click on the very brief survey below.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/IDMHconsortium

National Plan on Dementia and Adults with ID

The National Task Group on Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia Practices has issued a plan for improving the community care of adults with ID affected by dementia.

To read a report about the plan, “‘My Thinker’s Not Working’: A National Strategy for Enabling Adults with Intellectual Disabilities Affected by Dementia to Remain in Their Community and Receive Quality Care,” click here.

Click here to read the Executive Summary.

NADD Psychopharmacology Special Interest Group: Sign up for email alerts/listserv access now

Do you have an interest in connecting with your colleagues who prescribe psychotropic medications to individuals with Co-occurring Intellectual Disabilities and Mental Health Issues? To be added to the email list, please send your email address/name/organization/occupation in an email to Judie Johnston at jjohnston@thenadd.org.

Psychotherapy SIG Web-Based Discussion Group

The NADD Psychotherapy Special Interest Group welcomes NADD members to participate in a newly formed web-based discussion group, where they intend to explore subjects related to the study and practice of psychotherapy for individuals with Intellectual Disabilities. To be added to the email list, please send your email address/name/organization/occupation in an email to Bronwyn Robertson, bronwynrobertson.lpc@gmail.com.

Family Members Welcome

If you are a family member and are interested in networking and discussing a variety of topics with other family members, the NADD Family Issues Committee may be able to help you learn from others who have been there and done that. Contact Julia Pearce @ runnamokk@hotmail.com to become a part of the Committee.