People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) face discrimination on a daily basis. They are often excluded from opportunities to live, work and recreate in their communities and are frequently prevented from participating in the same activities non-disabled people take for granted.
CLEARWATER, Fla. , March 6, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- According to The Arc (1), people living with a disability face discrimination, segregation, and exclusion from education, employment, community living, and routine daily activities.
Fortunately, Matthew, a young adult living in Florida , isn't one to put up with being excluded. Matthew turned 16 in February and had big plans to celebrate by giving blood for the first time. As a lifelong Tampa Bay Lightning fan and big-time Victor Hedman fan, Matthew hoped to encourage 77 others to join him in honor of his hockey hero, who wears the #77 jersey.
Unfortunately, when he arrived at the blood collection center in his community on his birthday along with 20-25 of his supporters and prospective donors, he was told people who couldn't independently get up on the donor bed couldn't donate because of a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirement. Matthew, who has cerebral palsy, uses a wheelchair and can assist in transfers but needs a little help to get there.
"I was discouraged and sad because I had waited for years for this moment. Everyone there knew I was in a wheelchair before I got there. It wasn't nice for them to deny me saving lives when I was ready and able to donate my blood," said Matthew.
Matthew, his mother, and his former teacher and IntellectAbility Inside Sales Representative, Grace Gould , knew this wasn't right. "I was shocked that in the year 2023, an otherwise healthy individual was denied donating much-needed blood simply because he needed minimal assistance to get up on the donation bed," said Grace. "What about the organization's responsibility for complying with the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)?"
They researched blood donation regulations, sent emails and received confirmation from the FDA's Office of Blood Research and Review (OBRR) that there are no federal rules about one's ability to independently get on or off the blood donation bed. Armed with this information, they returned to the blood collection center, which reconsidered its previous decision and issued a policy clarification referred to as "Matthew's Memo," indicating people can be assisted by their own supporters onto the donation bed. And as soon as the mandatory waiting period after being rejected as a donor is up, Matthew plans to be there, front and center, to donate.
"We applaud Matthew, his parents, and his supporters for their perseverance. And we encourage others to advocate for people with disabilities. And, as we celebrate National Cerebral Palsy Month, we recognize and salute the countless direct supporters who work to advocate for and enhance the lives of people with disabilities every day," said Dr. Craig Escudé, IntellectAbility President.
To learn more about Matthew, click here https://replacingrisk.com/matthews-memo-an-advocacy-success-story/
About IntellectAbility IntellectAbility provides tools and training to agencies, governmental entities, and supporters of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to foster early recognition and mitigation of health risks, thereby improving health and wellness. One such tool is the Health Risk Screening Tool (HRST), of which they are the sole developer, producer, and distributor. The web-based HRST is the most widely used and validated health risk screening instrument for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. IntellectAbility also provides numerous health-related and person-centered service training for supporters of people with IDD. With an unrelenting focus, IntellectAbility works to fulfill its mission of improving health and quality of life for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and other at-risk populations. For more information, visit http://www.ReplacingRisk.com.
Source: 1) The Arc. 2023. https://thearc.org/about-us/mission-values/
Karla Jo Helms , JOTO PR™, 727-777-4619, khelms@jotopr.com
Adial Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ: ADIL) shares are trading higher after an update on its regulatory strategy for AD04, the company's lead compound for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). The company said additional analysis of ONWARD data identified specific genotypes that outperformed others. The data exhibited AD04 achieved a statistically significant reduction of heavy drinking days in a subgroup of patients - the "heavy drinkers." Adial believes there is a clear, cost-effective path toward FDA appr
An FDA advisory committee recommended approving Pfizer's (PFE) and GSK's respective RSV vaccines for older adults. Currently, there are no RSV vaccines anywhere in the world.
(Bloomberg) -- WW International Inc., previously known as WeightWatchers, surged by the most in more than seven years after striking a $132 million deal for a telehealth provider, a move that helps the company tap into the burgeoning market for a new class of weight-loss drugs.Most Read from BloombergMeta Plans Thousands More Layoffs as Soon as This WeekBiden Eyes Tax Hike on Income Over $400,000 to Fund MedicarePowell Sees Higher Peak for Interest Rates, Says Fed Prepared to Speed Up If NeededU
'Use of contaminated eye drops can result in the risk of eye infections that could result in blindness,' the makers of Purely Soothing eye drops said
Two of Merck's new drugs could generate north of $10 billion in peak sales, an analyst said Tuesday.
Scarcity has changed what some fans are willing to do to obtain the most sought-after bourbon. In Oregon, a criminal investigation is under way after an internal probe concluded several state liquor officials used their clout to obtain scarce bourbons, including the holy grail for bourbon fanatics: Pappy Van Winkle 23-year-old, which can sell for tens of thousands of dollars on resale markets. A limited number of Pappy Van Winkle 23-year, produced by Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery of Frankfort, Kentucky, goes to each state.
The unprofitable biotech that pioneered novel cancer agents has caught the attention of the world’s largest drugmakers.
'I’m afraid there will be violence': Mark Sawusch entered a mental spiral following acid trips with gurus Anthony Flores and Anna Moore, testimony shows
An L.A. County public hospital performed an unneeded surgery after its doctors received pay from the maker of the medical device they implanted, a whistleblower says.
Given your wish list, you are headed for a major city or its suburbs unless you are OK with some compromises. Finally, it also rated highly when I turned to MarketWatch’s “Where Should I Retire” tool.
U.S. health officials are alerting consumers about two more recalls of eyedrops due to contamination risks that could lead to vision problems and serious injury. The announcements follow a recall last month of eyedrops made in India that were linked to an outbreak of drug-resistant infections. One person died and at least five others had permanent vision loss. The Food and Drug Administration posted separate recall notices for certain eyedrops distributed by Pharmedica and Apotex after the companies said they are voluntarily pulling several lots of their products from the market.
Covis Pharma said it told the Food and Drug Administration that it would voluntarily withdraw the medicine called Makena, which a study in 2019 showed did not work to extend pregnancies.
The railroad’s CEO is slated to testify before a Senate panel on Thursday about the East Palestine, Ohio, derailment.
A pilot program in New York City high school seeks to teach students about ways to identify and stamp out ageism.
President Joe Biden on Tuesday proposed new taxes on the rich to help fund Medicare, saying the plan would help to extend the insurance program's solvency by 25 years and provide a degree of middle-class stability to millions of older adults. In his plan, Biden is overtly declaring that the wealthy ought to shoulder a heavier tax burden. Biden wants to increase the Medicare tax rate from 3.8% to 5% on income exceeding $400,000 per year, including salaries and capital gains.
UnitedHealthcare, Centene, and Aetna have seen their revenue surge by billions as their membership soared by millions.
Amarin Corporation plc (NASDAQ: AMRN) announced a new analysis from the Vascepa/Vazkepa (icosapent ethyl) cardiovascular outcomes REDUCE-IT study. The study exhibited the effectiveness of Vascepa/Vazkepa in patients with the recent acute coronary syndrome. The post-hoc analysis showed that icosapent ethyl (IPE) substantially and significantly reduced the risk of first and total ischemic events by 37% and 36%, respectively, in patients with the recent acute coronary syndrome (ACS) without increas
WW International Inc, known as WeightWatchers, said on Monday it is acquiring subscription telehealth platform Sequence, moving the weight-loss program operator into the obesity drug prescription business. WeighWatchers said it expects its $132 million acquisition in cash and stock will complement its nutrition and behavior-change program for weight loss at a time when obesity drugs are seen as one of the biggest markets for drugmakers.
The planned $90 million Atlanta Public Safety Training Center would, according to officials, boost police preparedness and morale in the wake of demonstrations that roiled the city, and others across much of the country, after George Floyd's death in 2020.