Considerations for Intervention and Support
Biological
Supporting youth with IDD and complex behavioral health needs includes understanding how physical needs can impact the youth's ability to regulate emotions which ultimately can impact their learning. This section introduces three biological considerations that all team members need to be aware of when supporting youth in any environment. Watch the videos to learn more about each area of consideration. Next, reflect on your knowledge of each area. Select resources that will assist you in learning more about an area of interest and the strategies to support and educate youth in the home, school, and community.
Watch
Learn how physical or biological factors impact the ability to learn, connect with others, and regulate emotions. The videos in this section introduce three biological areas of consideration which include Medical, Trauma, and Sensory. Select a video to learn more about the consideration area and the implications for intervention and support.
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Medical
Learn why all team members should be aware of the medical needs of youth and the impact of health and wellness on behavior and learning.
Video: Medical
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Captions / Transcript
After hitting play you can access an interactive transcript for this video by selecting the Show Transcript icon
in the top right corner of the video when you select play.You can turn on captions by selecting the Enable Captions icon
in the bottom right corner. Captions can also be turned on by selecting the Settings icon
, where you can also set your caption preferences.When available, you can use Spanish subtitles for this video by selecting Settings
and choosing Spanish in the Captions drop down menu.
Activities
After viewing the Medical video, select resources that match your level of knowledge of this element. Want an easy tool to keep track of your selected resources? Use the My Essentials Plan for Considerations for Intervention and Support.
- 20 Questions to Help Determine the Cause of Aggression and 5 Things to Know about Psychiatric Appointments
Dr. Julie Gentile specializes in the treatment of individuals with co-occurring IDD and mental health concerns. Dr. Gentile shares helpful insights in these two short videos.
- Medical: Health and Wellness Navigation Essentials Toolkit. Coming Soon to Navigation Essentials!
Learn about the impact that health and wellness can have on the ability to learn and regulate. Become aware of the role that all team members play in supporting wellness.
- NC Complex MH/IDD Resources - Physical and Behavioral Healthcare
This website provides information and resources about physical and emotional support and strategies that can be used to support people with IDD who are also experiencing mental illness or have behavioral health needs.
- The New Reality - Interpreting Behavior of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities
Dr. Julie Gentile, MD, MBA reviews the biopsychosocial model as a lens to better understand the root cause of behavior in people with IDD. This model can be used to surface important information that impacts the development of appropriate treatment and intervention plans.
- What Educators Need and Want to Know About Medications
Dr. Sara Dugan reviews frequently prescribed medications that can assist in mood stabilization and learning. Dr. Dugan explains the intended positive outcomes of medications, as well as the unintended side effects that may occur.
- US Department of Health and Human Services – Youth Mental Health
Mental health is an essential part of overall health. Expand your skills by exploring this webpage that offers information, tips, resources, and advice for team members based on their role.
- Polypharmacy and Diagnostic Overshadowing
Learn more about complex medical issues that can occur in youth with IDD and behavioral health needs. Dr. Tara Chandrasekhar explores the practice of multiple medication use and explains how some diagnoses may be overlooked in favor of a mental health diagnosis.
- 20 Questions to Help Determine the Cause of Aggression and 5 Things to Know about Psychiatric Appointments
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Trauma
Discover why teams supporting youth with IDD and behavioral health needs must be trauma-informed and use resilience-based strategies.
Video: Trauma and Resilience
This video is being reviewed for audio description.
What is Audio Description (AD)?
When AD is enabled, descriptive language narrates what is on the screen. To learn more, visit our accessibility webpage.
Video Player Help
Kaltura Video Hosting: This website uses Kaltura, a video hosting company, to serve video content. If you are having difficulty viewing videos on this site, it may mean that your location (e.g., school district, organization) is blocking or filtering the Kaltura website. Please contact your IT personnel to resolve this issue.
Accessibility: We strive to make this website accessible for all users, including people with disabilities. We test and modify this website for optimal usability. If you have any accessibility questions or find any pages on our website that pose accessibility barriers, please contact support@ocali.org.
Captions / Transcript
After hitting play you can access an interactive transcript for this video by selecting the Show Transcript icon
in the top right corner of the video when you select play.You can turn on captions by selecting the Enable Captions icon
in the bottom right corner. Captions can also be turned on by selecting the Settings icon, where you can also set your caption preferences.When available, you can use Spanish subtitles for this video by selecting Settings
and choosing Spanish in the Captions drop down menu.
Activities
After viewing the Trauma video, select resources that match your level of knowledge of this element. Want an easy tool to keep track of your selected resources? Use the My Essentials Plan for Considerations for Intervention and Support.
- Trauma and Resilience Navigation Essentials Toolkit
Review the information in the Learn section of the Trauma and Resilience Navigation Essentials toolkit. The Learn section explains how trauma responses develop and the neurology of trauma.
- Impact of Trauma on People with Developmental Disabilities
Dr. Julie Gentile, MD Professor and Director, Intellectual Disability Psychiatry provides an overview of trauma in persons with developmental disabilities and how to facilitate trauma recovery.
- The Impact of Trauma on Youth with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: A Fact Sheet
This fact sheet from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network offers residential providers, teachers, and others important points to be aware of when supporting youth with IDD.
- Trauma and Resilience Navigation Essentials Toolkit
Review the information in the Do section of the Trauma and Resilience Navigation Essentials toolkit. The Do section reviews six resilience-based strategies to use in the home, school, or community.
- DODD Trauma Informed Care
The Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) Trauma Informed Care webpage hosts a large group of resources, downloads, and videos that can support deeper learning about trauma and resilience.
- School-Based Mental Health
School-based mental health and wellness initiatives are key to ensuring students are in school, healthy, ready to learn, and prepared for success. The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce provides information and resources to assist in creating a supportive and safe environment to learn. The Supporting School Wellness Toolkit offers strategies and resources for teachers, administrators, families, and the community.
- Finding Hope Consulting Video Playlist
Review videos from Mary Vicario and Finding Hope Consulting, LLC about trauma, resilience, and resilience-based strategies.
- National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN): Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Trauma Resources
NCTSN offers free fact sheets, webinars, and training curriculum that focus on children with IDD and trauma. Engage in these resources to expand professional skills to support youth that have experienced trauma.
- Trauma and Resilience Navigation Essentials Toolkit
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Sensory
Learn why interventions to address sensory needs are a critical component of a support plan for the home, school, and community.
Video: Sensory
This video is being reviewed for audio description.
What is Audio Description (AD)?
When AD is enabled, descriptive language narrates what is on the screen. To learn more, visit our accessibility webpage.
Video Player Help
Kaltura Video Hosting: This website uses Kaltura, a video hosting company, to serve video content. If you are having difficulty viewing videos on this site, it may mean that your location (e.g., school district, organization) is blocking or filtering the Kaltura website. Please contact your IT personnel to resolve this issue.
Accessibility: We strive to make this website accessible for all users, including people with disabilities. We test and modify this website for optimal usability. If you have any accessibility questions or find any pages on our website that pose accessibility barriers, please contact support@ocali.org.
Captions / Transcript
After hitting play you can access an interactive transcript for this video by selecting the Show Transcript icon
in the top right corner of the video when you select play.You can turn on captions by selecting the Enable Captions icon
in the bottom right corner. Captions can also be turned on by selecting the Settings icon, where you can also set your caption preferences.When available, you can use Spanish subtitles for this video by selecting Settings
and choosing Spanish in the Captions drop down menu.
Activities
After viewing the Sensory video, select resources that match your level of knowledge of this element. Want an easy tool to keep track of your selected resources? Use the My Essentials Plan for Considerations for Intervention and Support.
- Sensory: A Focus on Interoception Navigation Essentials Toolkit
Kelly Mahler, OTD, OTR/L reviews the foundations of the sensory system with a focus on interoception in the Learn section of the Sensory: A Focus on Interoception Navigation Essentials toolkit. Activities and tools are also available to enhance learning.
- Sensory Differences – Autism Internet Modules
Autism Internet Modules are free online training designed for anyone that teaches or supports people with autism or other complex needs. This module reviews the eight senses and how our bodies use the information gathered by these senses to participate in daily activities. The module explores how the sensory differences may impact day-to-day behavior and function.
- Sensory: A Focus on Interoception Navigation Essentials Toolkit
Review the information in the Do section of the Sensory: A Focus on Interoception Navigation Essentials toolkit. The Do section goes deeper into the topic of interoception and offers guidance on strategies for sensory support.
- Making Sense of Sensory
Watch a session from OCALICONLINE that explains the impact of sensory differences. Kelly Mahler, OTD, OTR/L and two women with lived experiences review the sensory systems and sensory system dysfunction. Personal stories of how sensory differences impact daily life and the supports that help are also shared.
- Understanding Sensory Processing Differences in Children: Symptomatology, Interpretation, Considerations, and Interdisciplinary Collaboration
In this video, Amy Wheadon, OT, OTD, OTR, CPT, YES provides a comprehensive overview of sensory processing and how interdisciplinary collaboration and teaming are an important part of the plan.
- Positive Partnerships – Interoception
This webpage offers videos and downloads to support learning about interoception and ideas for practical application of strategies in school and at home to support interoceptive awareness.
- Sensory: A Focus on Interoception Navigation Essentials Toolkit
Tools and Resources
Explore tools that can assist with intervention and support for the components included in Biological Needs.
- 7 Easy Somatic Exercises for a Healthier Mind and Body
This article suggests ways to use movement that can benefit health and wellness, sensory regulation, and support resilience. Teams can incorporate these tools into daily routines for youth across the home and school environments.
- Kelly Mahler – Free Resources
Learn more about interoception from Kelly Mahler, OTD, OTR/L through a set of short videos. Continue learning on the same website by exploring free downloadable printables to support youth in the home and school settings.
- Vanderbilt Kennedy Center Health and Development Resources
This set of tools is designed to assist teams to support individuals with IDD to learn about healthy practices and medical procedures. Includes resources about blood draws, medical appointments, health, puberty and sexuality, sleep, and more.
- Healthy Behavior Check-In Basic Checklist
This simple tool is a place to begin when considering one’s understanding of behaviors. Biological needs are highlighted in the checklist.