MARCH 2025  developmental disabilities   

March is Developmental disabilities Awareness Month. The term "developmental disabilities" is a broader category of often lifelong challenges that can be intellectual, physical, or both. "IDD" is the term often used to describe situations in which intellectual disability and other disabilities are present. Developmental disabilities are a group of conditions due to an impairment in physical, learning, language, or behavior areas including Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), Cerebral Palsy, Fragile X Syndrome, Intellectual Disability, Language Disorders, Learning Disorders and Tourette Syndrome.

One in six children in the U.S. have one or more developmental disabilities or other developmental delays. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders of childhood. It is usually first diagnosed in childhood and often lasts into adulthood. It is normal for children to have trouble focusing and behaving at one time or another. However, children with ADHD and other IDD diagnoses do not just grow out of these sysmptoms and behaviors. They can continue, differ in severity, and can cause difficulty at school, at home, or with friends. Some adults have ADHD but have never been diagnosed. Undiagnosed condtions can exacerbate difficulties with communication, understanding, and with relationships. 

Child Development Specific Conditions | CDC

About Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDDs) | NICHD

Developmental Disabilities | CDC

Developmental Disabilities Month | Mountain Lifeworks

Coffee with a Cause  march 2025     

Data shows early detection and intervention begins with a local doctors, school district and community centered board. The earlier the diagnosis the better the outcomes. Navigating healthcare, education and emloyment requires different services and supports based on the needs of the individual. There is no one size fits all solution. BLS data shows over half of workplace accommodations cost $0. It also at that those with disabilities and caregivers are more likely to be self-employed to meet both caregiving responsibilities and personal career goals.

While 1 in 6 children experience a developmental disability and require services in Colorado. 1 in 36 will have an Autism Sectrum Disorder. In a county with 600 families that's 100 kids requiring diagnostics and services. Mountain and rural counties struggle maintaining services due to the high cost of living and lack of affordable housing fuel high turn-over rates. As prevalence increases so do the demands for expertise and costs. These costs accelerate further exacerbated by inflation. If we already have waitlists how will added demands be met to benefit from "EARLY" intervention?

Medicaid HCBS Waiver Wait List, by States | KFF

State Health Coverage for Immigrants and Implications | KFF

Coffee with a Cause  march 2025  

Did you know Colorado still has a disability waitlist with an average wait of six years. In 2024, more than 3,357 people were still waiting. The average wait time has dropped from 15 years, but the goal set in 2014 clearly has not been achieved a decade later. To be clear the goal was to end the waitlist by 2020. Many of these families are there because of early detection. It is the political will and necessary funding for early intervention and lifelong supports that is lacking. NAMI data shows the average family caregiver provides 32 hours per week of unpaid care. At the same time the data indicates 78% of those who are receiving care get it from a family member or neighbor… not government agencies or private providers.

Anyone who has participated in an IEP meeting knows it is supposed to be about what's best for a child, but it can turn into a battle over budgets, expertise and service hours. That's why more than half of all parents view IEP meetings as adversity instead of assistance. With over 200 mental health diagnosis combined with many documented comorbidities it is unrealistic and unfair to expect any one school district or mental health professional to be an expert in all of them. Mountain Lifeworks proposes options to help meet growing demands while increasing transparency and accountability. By complementing existing government programs with qualified private sector solutions we can improve outcomes instead of paying more for the same results and longer waitlists.

Mental Health By the Numbers | NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness

Remember a balanced approach uses verified data to identify problems and to propose actionable solutions. Only those willing to have difficult conversations can solve difficult problems. The first step to solving any problem is accepting the data indicating a problem... not blaming the messenger or method of delivery.

So join us for Coffee with a Cause and let's keep the conversation going each month with more data and actionable real life solutions!