Heritage Behavioral Services Blog

Drone: Used to Deliver Emergency Medical Supplies Drones have been proposed for some pretty mundane uses, such as delivering pizzas or packages, but new research suggests the high-flying machines could be used to swoop in and save lives. Swedish researchers think drones can quickly deliver defibrillators to someone whose heart has suddenly stopped beating.

  Heather, Katie, and Will stories “Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income are part of Social Security and the promise of that program must be honored for Katie, Will, Heather, and millions of people who need to access these basic but crucial benefits. Social Security is far too often the only thing keeping the lights on and food on the table for a person with a disability or a chronic condition.

MRI study: Autism Detectable at 6 months of Age  By using a technique known as machine learning to look at brain patterns in infants, researchers say they were able to successfully flag most children on the spectrum well before symptoms appeared. The findings published in the journal Science Translational Medicine may offer a first step to developing an early detection method for autism, researchers said.

Caleb's Story Stacy’s son, Caleb, was born with Down syndrome.  She shares how having a child with disabilities gives her family a new cup by which to measure. Read her family’s story below. There are many different emotions a mother and father go through when their child is born with a disability, but the emotion that most often gets stymied in the midst of tests and uncertainties is the simple beautiful joy of having a baby. Our son Caleb was born with  Down syndrome , and I did not wish to hide or ignore the diagnosis, but I found it difficult to celebrate as countless tests and pending results kept knocking at the door.

Complaints Against Airlines on the Increase  The number of disability-related complaints against airlines shot up more than twofold in a decade, a new government report finds. Travelers with disabilities filed more than 30,000 complaints with airlines in 2015, up from fewer than 14,000 in 2005.  The vast majority of complaints — 58 percent — blamed airlines for failing to provide assistance, generally with wheelchairs, GAO found. (credit: Disability Scoop)

Suicide is Preventable Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States. A significant proportion of individuals who die by suicide have made a prior suicide attempt, and often access emergency care (ED) services. Research funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) now shows hospital emergency departments can play a vital role in lowering the number of suicide attempts among adults by as much as 30 percent. Learn more......

The AHCA cut would not only force states to cut eligibility for state Medicaid programs, but will also diminish the quality and quantity of services that are provided to people who are already enrolled in these programs. For many people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, Medicaid generally is the only source of funds for them to live and work in the community with friends and families and avoid costly, harmful, and segregated institutions.