News
Linda Bidabe, 1945 - 2017
November 03, 2017
by Carmen Hinkey
Heroes and social giants belong to other times and other places. We see the well- known images of Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela, Oscar Schindler, and we know where they lived, what they did, and why we remember them. We know who the famous people are.
A lesser known woman, but one who is no less a hero is Linda Bidabe. Those who know her know that she developed movement science concepts ahead of...
News
Here’s what we didn’t see.
October 16, 2015
by Carmen Hinkey
Two weeks ago we highlighted a story about Michael Keating, the young man who was singled out by Pope Francis for blessing. Now we don’t normally just rerun news items, but this thoughtful follow-up story that just appeared in the Washington Post is too good not to share with you. And it provides a window into the life of a special boy and his beautiful family, written with a sensitivity that is...
News
Take It from the Pope
September 29, 2015
by Carmen Hinkey
Even for a man whose every day is managed and choreographed to the moment, the last six days in the United States must have been extraordinarily micro-managed. All the more surprising then, that the Holy Father, Pope Francis, took opportunities to break out of script and send a message to the watching world.
On Saturday, after landing in Philadelphia, the Holy Father halted his motorcade—his entire...
News
Everyone is Unique. Really?
September 01, 2015
by Carmen Hinkey
Next month brings us to National Down Syndrome Awareness Month. The industry news is full of inspirational stories of how children and adults with Down syndrome have enriched the lives of their families, peer groups, communities, and a wider acceptance of those with a third copy of the twenty-first chromosome.
The entertainment and fashion industries have done a great deal to further this effort...
News
Saving Medicaid Dollars and Improving Care
August 10, 2015
by Carmen Hinkey
A small population with huge costs, children with complex conditions and severe involvement require seamless care, and few hospitals can provide that kind of 24-hour coverage on the average awarded Medicaid reimbursements.
However, the St. Joseph's Children's Hospital Chronic-Complex Clinic in Tampa has joined a growing network of hospitals across the country to find a payment formula to cover the...
News
Cerebral Palsy and the NYC Ballet: In Praise of Dance
July 06, 2015
by Carmen Hinkey
Albert Einstein said dancers are the athletes of God. And St. Augustine, “I praise the dance, for it frees people from the heaviness of matter and binds the isolated to community….O man, learn to dance, or else the angels in heaven will not know what to do with you.”
NYC Ballet discovered that ancient wisdom is still true today, when they responded to a mother’s idea about a...
News
Advocacy as Art
April 07, 2015
by Carmen Hinkey
If you look up ‘Medicaid Waiver’ on the internet, you’ll find the four primary types available to states across the nation. You’ll also find myriad links and sites available to aid the application process, and the collateral industry that has emerged to facilitate these programs. If you’re like me, you’ll soon be lost.
For parents of adult children with developmental...
News
Community Action at its Finest
March 09, 2015
by Carmen Hinkey
The receding snow banks are creating inviting sidewalks, and which kid’s first response is not “where’s my bike?” Children with physical disabilities want to ride just as much as any child, and they should. Sadly, adaptive trikes are far too rarely covered by Medicaid or insurance, even with a strong case for the therapeutic benefits of cycling.
Thankfully, there is a growing...
News
The "Adverse Birth Outcome"
February 10, 2015
by Carmen Hinkey
I didn’t know Henry until this morning, but he’s been in my mind all day thanks to what his mother shared so honestly about having him.
In case any of us need reminding, the Washington Post carried her beautiful reminder that they are children first, their potential to learn and meet milestones far more important than their disabilities. And she takes it even farther: She is &ldquo...
News
Found Today on the Web
January 02, 2015
by Carmen Hinkey
Every time a major media source writes a serious story about the challenges faced by those with developmental disabilities we should be encouraged and reminded that our society has made strides in accessibility and acceptance.
Facilities like the Lee Specialty Clinic in Louisville Kentucky are to be commended for creating an environment where these challenges are more easily met and the DD...