Annandale Village-Their Community...with our help: Who We Serve

Annandale Village provides services for adults with developmental disabilities or traumatic brain injury. There are many classifications of developmental disabilities including those resulting from trauma or genetic disorders. Annandale's scope of services are appropriate for many adults with developmental disabilities who do not exhibit significant behavioral or aggression traits. You will find descriptions of just a few of the many developmental disabilities listed below. For more information please visit www.disabilityresources.org.

Developmental Disability Defined

Developmental disability is a term used to describe life-long disabilities attributable to mental and/or physical or combination of mental and physical impairments, manifested prior to age 18. The term is used most commonly in the United States to refer to disabilities affecting daily functioning in three or more of the following areas:

capacity for independent living
economic self-sufficiency
learning
mobility
receptive and expressive language
self-care
self-direction

There are many social, environmental and physical causes of developmental disabilities, although for some, a definitive cause may never be determined. Common factors causing developmental disabilities include:

brain injury or infection before, during or after birth
growth or nutrition problems
abnormalities of chromosomes and genes
extreme prematurity
poor diet and health care
drug misuse during pregnancy, including alcohol intake and smoking
child abuse can also have a severe effect on the development of a child, specifically the socio-emotional development.
diagnosis of an autism spectrum disorder

Some people with developmental disabilities exhibit challenging behavior. Common types of challenging behavior include self-injurious behavior, aggressive behavior, inappropriate sexualized behavior, behavior directed at property and stereotyped behaviors such as repetitive rocking or elective incontinence. Many times, challenging behavior is learned and it is very often possible to teach people new, more acceptable behaviors.

Autism
Autism is a brain disorder that typically affects a person's ability to communicate, form relationships with others, and respond appropriately to the environment. People with autism often seem to be living in their own world. Some people with autism are relatively "high functioning," with good speech, language, and intelligence, while other may have mental retardation, serious language disorders, repetitive behaviors, and/or rigid thinking patterns.

Asperger Syndrome
Asperger syndrome (AS) is an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), one of a distinct group of neurological conditions characterized by a greater or lesser degree of impairment in language and communication skills, as well as repetitive or restrictive patterns of thought and behavior. Other ASDs include: classic autism, Rett syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (usually referred to as PDD-NOS). Unlike children with autism, children with AS retain their early language skills.

Down Syndrome

Down syndrome is a genetic condition that occurs in one in every 733 births. It is the most frequently occurring chromosomal condition and is found in people of all races and economic levels. More than 400,000 people in the United States have Down syndrome. A few of the common physical traits of Down syndrome are low muscle tone, small stature, an upward slant to the eyes, and a single deep crease across the center of the palm. Every person with Down syndrome is a unique individual and may possess these characteristics to different degrees or not at all. People with Down syndrome have an increased risk for certain medical conditions such as congenital heart defects, respiratory and hearing problems, Alzheimer's disease, childhood leukemia, and thyroid conditions. However, many of these conditions are now treatable, so most people with Down syndrome lead healthy lives. Life expectancy for people with Down syndrome has increased dramatically in recent decades - from 25 in 1983 to 60 today. People with Down syndrome experience cognitive delays, but the effect is usually mild to moderate and is not indicative of the many strengths and talents that each individual possesses. Children with Down syndrome learn to sit, walk, talk, play, and do most other activities; only somewhat later than their peers without Down syndrome. Quality educational programs, a stimulating home environment, good health care, and positive support from family, friends and the community enable people with Down syndrome to develop their full potential and lead fulfilling lives. People with Down syndrome attend school and work, and participate in decisions that concern them, and contribute to society in many wonderful ways.

Fragile X Syndrome

Fragile X syndrome is a genetic condition which is caused by a change in a gene that is inherited at the time of conception. This gene, called the FMR1 gene is found on the X chromosome. When this gene change occurs the FMR1 gene does not work properly. The FMR1 gene is responsible for making a protein that is important in brain development. Therefore when the gene is not working properly brain function including learning, behavior and communication is affected.