Washington State University, Responsibility Opportunity Advocacy and Respect (WSU ROAR) is an inclusive 2-year residential postsecondary education program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. WSU ROAR is a recognized comprehensive transition program located in rural eastern Washington. Within the program, there are four…

Adolescents with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) who also possess limited speech capabilities often display poor language and academic skills in adolescence. However, as with all adolescents, they have personal goals and should have equal access to participation across facets of life including but not limited to education.…

As youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are making plans to attend college, it is more important than ever that families become fully informed about guardianship as well as less-limiting alternatives. This brief defines some of the options and possible ramifications. It also presents special circumstances for consideration,…

People with intellectual disabilities who are deaf face obstacles participating in social environments that do not take into account their need for accessible visual communication. In the present case series, we describe the development of the adaptive skills profiles of eight participants in a fully inclusive therapeutic living community,…

This article examines issues related to identification of children with specific learning disorders (SLDs). The focus is on the Diagnostic Criteria in DSM-5 ["Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition"]. Diagnostic features, associated features supporting diagnosis, and prevalence are discussed.

Children and youth diagnosed with developmental disabilities (DD) are at a higher risk for mental health concerns (e.g., anxiety) and physical health issues (e.g., obesity) when compared to their typically developing counterparts. An intervention that may be able to mitigate and even prevent these issues is physical activity (PA); however, despite…

The field of Mind, Brain, and Education (MBE) has debated the strategies and merit of training teachers in principles of neuroscience. A previous study argued for groups of teachers to be trained as "educational engineers" capable of translating the work of cognitive neuroscientists and education researchers into practical application.…

"A Blueprint for Community Inclusion Strategies for Youth with Developmental Disabilities in Washington, DC" provides a summary of comments and common themes among DC youth with disabilities and their families. This includes their top priorities, solutions to pressing issues, and ways that allies (individuals and organizations) can…

The history of intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in the United States is, in many ways, a triumphant story reflecting an increasingly progressive attitude acknowledging the equality of all persons. The law now recognizes people with IDD as citizens, possessing an equal right to education, health care, and employment--each of which…

BraveHeart Center for Place and Purpose (BraveHeart CPP) is a comprehensive post-high school, inclusion-focused partnership of university, faith, and local communities. This new initiative aims to address unmet needs of the vulnerable and underserved population of young adults with disabilities through a community-in-community inclusion (CICI)…

This paper looks at the theory, research, applied aspects, and future possibilities of using strengths-based positive interventions in action, modified for people with no or low literacy with the use of the camera and video feedback. Action-based modifications of interventions, focusing on the emergence of character strengths and immediate visual…

Since 2011, Bridgewater State University (BSU) has received funds through the Massachusetts Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment Initiative (MAICEI) to support students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to attend college. This BSU-MAICEI partnership, named EXCEL (Extraordinary Expectations for Career, Education and Life), offers up…

Across the country, colleges are opening their doors to students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. At University of Rochester (UR), we coordinate one such initiative called "Transition Opportunities at University of Rochester (TOUR)." Inclusive higher education at UR is based on the philosophy that ACCESS + SUPPORT =…

This fifth article of the Social Justice Committee's series on health disparities expands on previous articles (i.e., Tan et al., 2020; Ormiston et al., 2021) to discuss applications of advocacy by school psychologists to improve health parity for youth. As previously outlined in Proctor et al. (2020), health disparities are restricted…

Research has shown that children's levels of physical activity are set at an all-time low, which can lead to health problems such as obesity and diabetes. So, what can parents do to ensure that their child gets enough physical activity each day? This booklet answers that question and explains why the key to helping a child be more physically…