It's been real, DC, but it's time for me to get back to my patients (& time to get out of here before the traffic on 95 becomes horrific).
I had an amazing time at #AUCD2019! See everyone next year...
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Our team for the panel discussion on health and well-being for youth with IDD who are transitioning to adulthood!
#AUCD2019 @UNCCIDD
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So that's it! Hope that y'all liked our panel discussion / live tweet combo!
Now it's time to move on to the next session (and rest my right thumb)
#AUCD2019
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- there are freely available resources for comprehensive sexual education. These include http://yodisabledproud.org & http://respectability.org
#AUCD2019 #TipsForNewDocs
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- caregivers can teach and model privacy, bodily autonomy and consent, personal boundaries, & decision making skills
- "No" is a complete sentence!
#AUCD2019 #TipsForNewDocs
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- it's a lot more complicated to report sexual violence if youth don't know the correct names for their body parts
- families provide the scaffolding for youth to build upon so that they'll be able to make sexual health decisions for themselves
#AUCD2019 #TipsForNewDocs
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- Caregivers have a role in providing comprehensive sexual education! They should start conversations, listen to youth, teach correct names for body parts, give correct information about sex, answer questions honestly, model bodily autonomy & consent
#AUCD2019 #TipsForNewDocs
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- part 2 of the comprehensive sexual education program @UNCCIDD = sexuality and relationships = dating and relationships, sex and the law, staying healthy, and healthy sexual behaviors
#AUCD2019 #TipsForNewDocs
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- part 1 of the program @UNCCIDD = human development = anatomy & physiology, puberty, safety & boundaries
- we won't know what someone needs to know about sex until we talk to them about it!
#AUCD2019 #TipsForNewDocs
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- we have a sexuality and relationship education program for youth with IDD (& a separate program for their caregivers) @UNCCIDD!
(Morgan does an amazing job running this program, btw)
#AUCD2019 #TipsForNewDocs
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- Other barriers to sex education = fragmented systems of care, cultural discomfort towards sexual health issues, myths related to sexuality in people with IDD (assuming that they're child like, sexually aggressive, disinterested in sex, etc.)
#AUCD2019 #TipsForNewDocs
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- youth with IDD have limited opportunities to learn about sexual health and relationships so this kind of education is critically important
- many barriers exist = limited research on sexual health in IDD, conflict with family values...
#AUCD2019 #TipsForNewDocs
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- comprehensive sexual health and relationship education = health promotion, risk reduction, and harm prevention
- benefits of this education include promotion of self determination, decreased negative health outcomes, & decreased vulnerability, etc.
#AUCD2019 #TipsForNewDocs
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- we're all sexual beings and we all have the right to explore that aspect of ourselves (& receive education about it). This includes people with IDD!
- human development, relationships, behavior, health, & more go into comprehensive sexual education
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Now on to comprehensive sexual health and relationship education for youth with IDD, with Morgan Parlier
#AUCD2019 #TipsForNewDocs
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- a collective impact approach may be required to take on such a complex issue!
#AUCD2019 #TipsForNewDocs
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- we have some good models of sexual violence prevention programs for youth with IDD. however, these are often limited to certain areas or may be underfunded (& difficult to sustain as a result)
- these programs need more support!
#AUCD2019 #TipsForNewDocs
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- NPR recently had a program discussing this issue ("Abused and Betrayed")
- how do we combat this? Some programs use community engagement, inclusive and adaptable education, and identify community needs related to violence prevention & sexual health
#AUCD2019 #TipsForNewDocs
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- patients with IDD are particularly vulnerable because of increased opportunities of abuse by staff, decreased sexual health education, myths related to sex and sexuality in this population, etc.
- this is a very complex problem!
#AUCD2019 #TipsForNewDocs
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First we'll talk about sexual violence in the IDD community with Deb Zuver
- people with IDD are more likely to experience sexual violence than those without IDD
- up to 90% of people with IDD will experience sexual victimization at some point
#AUCD2019 #TipsForNewDocs
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Ok! On to sexual health and education for youth with IDD. Some highlights...
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- promote engagement in meaningful and regulating activities (community activities, team sports, artistic endeavors, etc.)
- support social needs of adolescents and young adults
- remember to discuss identity and disability status during therapy
#AUCD2019 #TipsForNewDocs
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- evidence based interventions can only go so far if you're not addressing quality of life issues! Basic healthcare needs (like sleep, nutrition, exercise, etc.) should also be addressed
- ask your psychiatry friends for help if you need it
#AUCD2019 #TipsForNewDocs
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- therapy is a time and place where patients can sit down and talk about issues / problem solve with a collaborative partner
- clinicians may need to use multimodal teaching / therapeutic strategies for youth with IDD & help them use these skills later
#AUCD2019 #TipsForNewDocs
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Clinicians should
- conduct mental health screening as part of developmental evaluations
- evaluate mood and behavior patterns
- evaluate stressors and personal needs during transition
- use a person centered holistic approach
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- there is increased stress and needs during the transition to adulthood but
- there are decreased mental health services and supports for young adults with IDD
#AUCD2019 #TipsForNewDocs
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Some highlights...
- it's important for clinicians to support mental health and well-being during this time of tremendous change
- youth with IDD are at increased risk of having mental health issues / have diagnostic complexity but are under diagnosed
#AUCD2019 #TipsForNewDocs
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So I'm actually going to try to live tweet our panel!
Check out my last thread for info on my section on healthcare transition for adolescents & young adults with IDD. Now onto mental health and wellness with Laura Hiruma!
#AUCD2019
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If you're here at #AUCD2019, feel free to join me and my colleagues, Deb Zuver, Morgan Parlier, & Laura Hiruma as we discuss healthcare transition, mental health issues, sexual education, & sexual violence = health & wellness issues for youth with IDD transitioning to adulthood!
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Remember...
Talk about #HealthcareTransition early (starting around age 12!) & annually
Patients are part of the planning team
Adolescents need 1 on 1 time with their providers
Adolescents can learn to manage simple aspects of their care very early
#AUCD2019 #TipsForNewDocs
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