ROI prides itself on being a resource for communities and families for information on disabilities and disability services. Whether you want to learn more about the people we serve, you've recently been faced with a disability, or you're just curious, we're happy to help you learn more about disability issues.
ROI would like to share the following stories of struggling families in our own community. Kalamazoo was visited by NPR StoryCorps, who recorded their testimonies. Listen here to the personal stories of these families, and how they were helped by community resources through ROI:
Jeanette Breaznau & Jenni Kaup (36 min 22 sec)
Kay Nash (31 min 40 sec)
Fran Hoard (17 min 19 sec)
What is a disability?
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has its own website: http://www.ada.gov/ with links to further information on disabilities rights. This important act, adopted in 1990, provides a legal definition for an individual with a disability: "a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major activities of such individual." This definition consists of several elements:
An impairment
The type of impairment (mental or physical)
The degree to which the limitation applies (it must be a substantial impairment)
And the nature of the activity or activities limited (they must be "major")
Even this straightforward definition, however, is inadequate to encompass all questions related to whether or not a condition qualifies as a "disability." Other related regulations, administrative rules and court decision have added an additional element to the definition: the term only applies to those conditions that cannot be corrected. Though it is implied, the ADA definition does not explicitly specify that the condition must be long-lasting. However, disabilities typically fit into one or both of the following categories: physical and mental disabilities.
Developmental Disabilities
The term "developmental disability" comes from The Michigan Mental Health Code, which is state law. A developmental disability is, in essence, a severe disability that occurs before the age of 22. Technically, a developmental disability is defined as:
Caused by a mental or physical problem or both; becomes a problem before the person reaches 22 years of age; is likely to continue for a very long time; results in major limitations in the ability to talk or express one's self, understand and follow simple directions, or take care of one's self in daily living activities. This can be expressed through a hindered ability to learn to recognize colors, shapes, letters, words and foods or to move in a normal manner that includes walking, running or sitting. This results in problems in the ability to live independently or earn money to partially support themselves, and often requires special treatment for a long period of time, often continuing over one's lifetime.
Many developmental disabilities are present at birth while others may occur later as the result of disease, injury, or other event. At ROI, most of the people we serve have been diagnosed with developmental disabilities and have many other disabilities as well.
Below are links to organizations which can provide more information on a particular disability. This list is by no means comprehensive. It is meant to highlight some of the more common disabilities and other challenges that are important to the people we serve.
The Michigan State Mental Health Code defines mental illness as "a substantial disorder of thought or mood that significantly impairs judgment, behavior, capacity to recognize reality, or ability to cope with ordinary demands of life." Serious mental illness can include dementia all the way to schizophrenia.
Mental illness is typically the result of a biological disorder in the brain, and can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, race, education or income. Mental illness is distinct from mental retardation. Although one can have mental retardation and mental illness, the two are not necessarily linked.
Early warning signs of mental illness include:
Marked personality changes
Confused thinking
Prolonged severe depression
Excessive anxiety or fear
Withdrawal from others
Denial of obvious problems
Marked changes in eating or sleeping patterns
Anger or hostility out of proportion to the situation
Growing inability to cope with problems and daily activities
Thinking or talking about suicide
Alone, these signs are probably not an indication of possible mental illness. If several of these warning signs are present for long periods, however, it may be advisable to seek the advice of a mental health professional.
Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED)
Under the Michigan Mental Health Code, a Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED) is "a diagnosable mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder affecting a minor that exists or has existed during the past year" for a significant period of time", and that "substantially interferes with or limits the minor's role or functioning in family, school, or community activities." The conditions that meet these criteria are hotly debated; biophysical, psychoanalytical, behavioral, sociological, and ecological factors are all offered as potential causes of SED. The legal definition, however, recognizes SED by its effects, leaving the debate over causes and exact characteristics to the mental health professionals.
For more information on mental illness please visit the link provided below.
For one of the most comprehensive lists of disabilities and disorders available see:
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/disorder_index.htm ,
This link will take you to the National Institute of Disorders and Stroke website via the National Institute of Health.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Center for Medicaid Services offers "Using Medicaid to Support Working Age Adults with Serious Mental Illnesses in the Community: A Handbook": http://aspe.hhs.gov/daltcp/reports/handbook.pdf
