This article describes an exploratory study of deaths of people with intellectual disabilities (IDs) that had occurred in group homes managed by an ID service provider in Australasia. Such settings are increasingly recognised as places for both living and dying. Little is known about the extent to which they encounter the death of a person with ID…

Background: Individuals with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) are at greater risk of contact with the criminal justice system. Diagnosis and appropriate treatment of SLCN reduces these risks, leading to better life outcomes for the individual as well as broader social and economic benefits. These youth represent a particularly…

Background: Choking is a serious and under-recognised condition for adults with intellectual disability (ID), with health, psychological and potentially fatal consequences. This study aims to determine the prevalence and risk factors for choking in a population-based sample of older adults with ID. Method: 597 adults with ID (mean age: 60 years…

What do we know about camps and COVID-19? About as much as we know about the virus itself, which is that it is universal, it is catastrophic, and it is forcing us to bend and shift in ways we never expected. We don't yet know the full impact of COVID-19 on camps, although preliminary findings from a series of studies conducted by the American Camp…

This essay chronicles the research of the author in celebration of Dr. Boyung Lee the program chair of the Religious Education Association and principle designer of the REA Conference with her theme "Gender, Sexuality, and Wholeness: Religious Education for Confrontation and Healing." As with the conference theme with its focus on gender…

The objectives were to characterize behavioral signs of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in younger siblings of diagnosed children (high-risk; HR) and examine classification features of the Autism Observation Scale for Infants (AOSI). Participants (501 HR and 180 low-risk [LR]) were assessed between 6 and 18 months using the AOSI and at age 3 for…

Rhythmic gymnasts repeat elements thousands of times which may put a risk on gymnasts' health. It is necessary to protect the current and future health conditions of young gymnasts, especially in the growth process. There is a lack of knowledge about training education on rhythmic gymnastics. To suggest innovative changes, the current study aimed…

Adolescent marijuana use has become increasingly more problematic compared with the past; thus, understanding developmental processes that increase the liability of marijuana use is essential. Two developmental pathways to adolescent substance use have been proposed: an externalizing pathway that emphasizes the expression of aggressive and…

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (LGBTQ) youth experience numerous disparities, including but not limited to access to health care, HIV risk, safety in school, educational opportunities, and family support. Historically, research on this community lumped together LGBQ experiences with experiences of transgender and…

In 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that 8% of youth in grades 9-12 reported being in a physical fight one or more times in the 12 months preceding the survey, with more than 7% reporting being threatened or injured with a weapon on school property. Homicide is the 3rd leading cause of…

Background: Research has demonstrated that parent-child attachment security and school connectedness (SC) are protective factors against substance use, depression, and suicidality during adolescence. However, past research has examined these factors independently, and little is known about how attachment security and SC work in conjunction to…

Racial disparities in violence exposure and criminal justice contact are a subject of growing policy and public concern. We conduct a large-scale, randomized controlled trial of a six-month behavioral health intervention combining intensive mentoring and group therapy designed to reduce criminal justice and violence involvement among Black and…

Difficult life circumstances can make anyone vulnerable. For example, families of children with special needs are at risk, as are families facing other stressful circumstances, such as poverty or parental mental illness. This article builds on previous action research by Plavcak (2020) and introduces a new research problem. We conducted a…

This study aimed to assess the mental health needs and risk behaviors of adolescents attending an afterschool life-skills skateboarding program, to evaluate the perceived benefits of the program, and to identify potential modifications required to meet the identified needs. Program participants were from three gang- and poverty-affected urban…

The quality of meal-oriented support for people with intellectual disabilities is important for their health. The aim of the present study was to explore the experiences of meal-oriented support and diet counselling for adults with intellectual disabilities living in supported housing, from the perspective of housing staff and mothers. Five focus…