At Foundations for Independence (FFI) we assist
individuals will a variety of disabilities; the following is a
brief overview of disabilities.
CEREBRAL PALSY Cerebral palsy is a condition caused by damage to the brain,
usually occurring before, during or shortly following birth. "Cerebral" refers to the brain
and "palsy" to a disorder of movement or posture. It is neither progressive nor
communicable which means it doesn’t get worse, and is not contagious. It is also not
"curable" in the accepted sense, although education, therapy and applied technology can
help persons with cerebral palsy lead productive lives. It is not a disease and should never
be referred to as such. It can range from mild to severe.
The causes of cerebral palsy include illness during pregnancy, premature delivery, or lack
of oxygen supply to the baby; or it may occur early in life as a result of an accident, lead
poisoning, viral infection, child abuse, or other factors. A less common type is acquired
cerebral palsy: head injury is the most frequent cause, usually the result of motor vehicle
accidents, falls, or child abuse.
There are three main types of cerebral palsy: spastic -- stiff and difficult movement;
athetoid -- involuntary and uncontrolled movement; and ataxic -- disturbed sense of
balance and depth perception. There may be a combination of these types for any one
individual. Other types do occur, although infrequently.
Cerebral palsy is characterized by an inability to fully control motor function. Depending
on which part of the brain has been damaged and the degree of involvement of the central
nervous system, one or more of the following may occur: spasms; tonal problems;
involuntary movement; disturbance in gait and mobility; seizures; abnormal sensation
and perception; impairment of sight, hearing or speech; and mental retardation. A person
with cerebral palsy may only be affected physically, their mind would function normally.
DOWN SYNDROME Down syndrome is the most common and readily identifiable
chromosomal condition associated with mental retardation. It is caused by a
chromosomal abnormality: for some unexplained reason, an accident in cell development
results in 47 instead of the usual 46 chromosomes. This extra chromosome changes the
orderly development of the body and brain. In most cases, the diagnosis of Down
syndrome is made according to results from a chromosome test administered shortly after
birth.
There are over 50 clinical signs of Downs syndrome, but it is rare to find all or even most
of them in one person. Some common characteristics include:
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Poor muscle tone
Slanting eyes with folds of skin at the inner corners (called epicanthal folds)
Hyper flexibility (excessive ability to extend the joints)
Short, broad hands with a single crease across the palm on one or both hands
Broad feet with short toes
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Flat bridge of the nose
Short, low-set ears
Short neck
Small head
Small oral cavity
Short, high-pitched cries in infancy
Individuals with Down syndrome are usually smaller than their non-disabled peers, and
their physical as well as intellectual development is slower.
Besides having a distinct physical appearance, children with Down syndrome frequently
have specific health-related problems. A lowered resistance to infection makes these
children more prone to respiratory problems. Visual problems such as crossed eyes and
far or nearsightedness are higher in those with Downs syndrome, as are mild to moderate
hearing loss and speech difficulty.
MULTIPLE DISABILITIES People with severe disabilities are those who traditionally
have been labeled as having severe or profound mental retardation. These people require
ongoing extensive support in more than one major life activity in order to participate in
integrated community settings and enjoy the quality of life available to people with fewer
or no disabilities; they frequently have additional disabilities, including movement
difficulties, sensory losses and behavior problems.
People with severe or multiple disabilities may exhibit a wide range of characteristics,
depending on the combination and severity of disabilities, and the person's age. There
are, however, some traits they may share, including:
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Limited speech or communication
Difficulty in basic physical mobility
Tendency to forget skills through disuse
Trouble generalizing skills from one situation to another
A need for support in major life activities, e.g., domestic, leisure, community use,
vocational
A variety of medical problems may accompany severe disabilities. Examples include
seizures, sensory loss, hydrocephalus (water on the brain), and scoliosis (curvature of the
spine).
AUTISM A developmental disability significantly affecting verbal and non-verbal
communication and social interaction, generally evident before age three.
MENTAL RETARDATION Significantly sub-average general intellectual functioning
existing concurrently with deficits in adaptive behavior and manifested during the
developmental period.
SPEECH OR LANGUAGE IMPAIRMENT A communication disorder such as
stuttering, impaired articulation, a language impairment, or a voice impairment.
TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY (TBI) An injury to the brain caused by an external
physical force, resulting in total or partial functional disability or psychosocial
maladjustment, or both. The term does not include brain injuries that are congenital or
degenerative, or brain injuries induced by birth trauma.
DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY Developmental disabilities are severe, chronic
disabilities attributable to mental and/or physical impairment, which manifest before age
22 and are likely to continue indefinitely. They result in substantial limitations in three or
more areas: self-care, receptive and expressive language, learning, mobility, selfdirection, capacity for independent living, and economic self-sufficiency, as well as the
continuous need for individually planned and coordinated services.
CAH Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia is a family of inherited disorders affecting the
adrenal gland. The most common form is 21-hydroxylase deficiency, which is inherited
in severe or mild forms. The severe form, called Classical CAH (CAH), is usually
detected in the newborn period or in early childhood. The genetic frequency of Classical
CAH is approximately 1 in 15,000 births. The milder form, called Nonclassical CAH
(NCAH), may cause symptoms at anytime from infancy through adulthood. Nonclassical
CAH is a much more common disorder than Classical CAH. It affects 1 in 100 to 1 in
1000 in the general population, depending upon the ethnic composition of a given
community, since its frequency varies in different ethnic groups. For example, it affects 1
in 27 Ashkenazi Jews, 1 in 40 Hispanics, 1 in 53 Croatians, and 1 in 300 Italians. This
frequency makes NCAH the most frequent genetic disorder identified to date.
Fortunately, CAH can be managed with medication and affected individuals go on to live
normal lives.
For more information check us out on the web at www.ffiutah.org
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