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regarding current world events
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Updates
ASHA President Theresa H. Rodgers has written a letter to Missouri Governor advocating for audiologists and SLPs to receive priority access to the COVID-19 vaccine. [Read Letter]
The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services’ Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) released a Q&A document in response to inquiries concerning implementation of the In [Learn More]
Executive Order 20-04 was issued on March 18, 2020, ordering temporary waive or suspend the operation of statutes and regulations to provide services via telehealth. Executive Order 20-04 has been ext [Learn More]
The MSHA Handbook has been revised and is available for your viewing. [Read More]
The US Department of Education has just released some information that provides guidance that pertains to students being served under IDEA during the COVID-19 outbreak. [Please review this information and frequently check the MSHA and ASHA websites for information.]
MSHA knows that there have been concerns raised around CMS’ 2020 edit that did not allow same-day billing of 92611 (modified barium swallow study) and 74230 (radiologist charge). [Read More]
DESE Special Education Standards and Indicators now available. [Learn More]
April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month 👏🏼
Fun Fact: The red tulip is the symbol of Parkinson’s disease
This weeks post is from Maryville University President, Morgan Gabriele 🏫
Check it out! ⬇️
Parkinson's disease is a progressive nervous system disorder that affects movement. Symptoms start gradually, sometimes starting with a barely noticeable tremor in just one hand. Tremors are common, but the disorder also commonly causes stiffness or slowing of movement.
The cause of Parkinson's disease is unknown, however, in the disease certain nerve cells in the brain increasingly break down or die. The symptoms seen are due to a loss of neurons that produce a chemical messenger in your brain referred to as dopamine. Abnormal brain activity then occurs due to the decreased dopamine levels, leading to impaired movement and other listed symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
Signs & Symptoms:
•Loss of automatic movements
•Writing
•Speech changes
•Tremors
•Slow movements
•Poor posture or balance
Risk Factors:
•Age: begins in middle to late life, usually develops around age 60
•Sex: Men are more likely to develop the disease
•Heredity: Relatives with the disease increases the chances
•Exposure to toxins: Exposure to herbicides and pesticides slightly increases the risk
For more information, please check out these resources:
www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/parkinsons-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20376055
www2.asha.org/EvidenceMapLanding.aspx?id=8589936519&recentarticles=false&year=undefined&tab=al
April 2nd - Autism Awareness Day!
Alysa Massey, Missouri State University NSSLHA Chapter Member put together an informational post for us! Check it out below: ⬇️
Celebrating and Promoting Acceptance National Autism Awareness Month!
Autism Awareness started in the 1970s and has influenced many current national organizations and charities. This National celebration now includes the awareness and acceptance of autistic individuals. In summary, the goal of Autism Awareness Month is to:
• Promote accurate information about autism
• Promote acceptance of autism
• Ensure that autistic individuals have the means to achieve the highest quality of life possible.
There are two diagnostic categories for this neurodevelopmental disorder. The first category is different communication abilities and social interactions. The second category is the presence of restrictive or repetitive interests or behaviors.
HOWEVER, ASD is a spectrum. Everyone will have a different set of characteristics that will affect their life in different ways. A famous quote to keep in mind is, “If you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism.” While it is necessary to acknowledge general information about what autism can look like, it is more important to accept people with autism as individuals, not stereotypes. They all have their unique abilities and strengths that deserve celebration as well.
It’s up to all of us to do our part in advocating and supporting change not only during Autism Awareness Month but every month. So, how are you going to make a change? Let me know in the comments! 😊👍🏼
By: Alysa Massey
Sources:
www.autism-society.org/
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association | ASHA
FST-4.3-Autism-Spectrum-at-a-Glance.pdf (netdna-ssl.com)
Nora Goller, Rockhurst University NSSLHA Chapter President, is our final post for the month! Where does time go?! 👀
As March comes to an end, Nora wanted to shed some light on Brain Injury Awarenss 🧠 Check out some reminders Nora provided us with ...⬇️
March is Brain Injury awareness month!
This month we would like to bring attention to caring for your brain. According to the CDC, here are some ways that you can practice self-care for your brain:
1. Always wear a seatbelt
2. Never drive under the influence
3. Wear appropriate head protection, such as a helmet, etc.
For more information visit:
www.cdc.gov/traumaticbraininjury/prevention.html or www.loveyourbrain.com
TODAY IS MARCH 21ST - WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY! 😊
Want to help raise awareness and support?! Wear your colored/bright socks and paint your nails blue or yellow! Drop a photo in comments below to show how you are supporting!
Jenna Weyrauch, from the University of Central Missouri volunteered to write up today's post! 👏🏼
Thank you Jenna for engaging with the MSHA community! We love our NSSLHA Chapter Members:
March 21st is World Down Syndrome Day to celebrate and bring awareness to those born with it. Down Syndrome is also known as Trisomy 21, and occurs when there is a copy of the twenty-first chromosome of a baby. There are around 1 in 800 babies born with Down Syndrome every year, and it is found all over the world. On March 21st, people all over the world are invited to join the #lotsofsocks campaign and wear crazy socks to bring awareness to the holiday. Below is a link to the World Down Syndrome Day website for more information and ways to get involved with the campaign.
www.worlddownsyndromeday.org/about-wdsd
This weeks post was created by Maggie O’Brien - from Mizzou NSSLHA chapter! 🙌🏼
All information can be found on our MSHA Instagram as well / @showmemsha
••Cerebral Palsy is the most common motor disability among children. CP is a nonprogressive disorder that effects movement, balance, posture, and speech. This condition begins from brain damage before birth, during birth, or within the first 3 years of life. With appropriate resources such as occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech therapy people with CP can stay active in their communities. However, awareness is still necessary because much of the therapy for Cerebral Palsy has not changed much in the last 50 years.
••March is national CP awareness month and CP awareness day is March 25th. Make sure to wear your green and donate to yourcpf.org ! 😊
