Caregiver Crisis for Disabled Individuals

There is currently a huge caregiver crisis for disabled individuals in the U.S.

This firsthand account reflects a growing national conversation about the caregiver crisis for disabled individuals in the United States. A Psychology Today article (November 2023) emphasizes the increasing societal burden of adult caregiving, highlighting the emotional and financial stress placed on caregivers. In parallel, Harvard Health (May 2024) brings attention to the often-overlooked impact on caregiver well-being, noting that nearly 75% of caregivers are over the age of 50, and more than three-quarters are women—demographics particularly vulnerable to burnout and health complications. Tackling this crisis demands systemic reform: increased compensation, professional support for caregivers, and policies that invest in home and community-based services rather than defaulting to institutional care.

Continue reading

Understanding Intellectual Disability

A little over a month ago, I took on the task of trying to write a string of articles to help define intellectual disability (ID). The approach I chose would be to: first, explain what ID is, second, discuss the importance of ID awareness and pride, and third, discuss the stigma around ID. However, this task proved to be far from simple. I started my research by looking at what ID is and how to define it. As I began researching, I realized that there is a lot of information out there specifically related to defining ID. Everything I read provided a slightly different definition for ID that ultimately made it harder to define. Each article highlighted different aspects of ID. For example, some articles focused heavily on intelligence quotient (IQ) tests while others stated that IQ tests should not be the determinate for whether an individual has an intellectual disability. I began questioning if trying to define ID was the best starting point and ultimately decided to change my path and began researching ID awareness.

Read more: Understanding Intellectual Disability Continue reading