Guest opinion: another view of the SDC
Posted on May 6, 2015 by Sonoma Valley Sun
By Nancy Gardner
I first toured Sonoma Developmental Center (SDC) over 35 years ago, just out of graduate school and eager to change the world for people with developmental disabilities. Having worked in community services for children with disabilities since a teenager, I was shocked by the conditions I observed at SDC. The passion I already felt for this population and the desire to advocate for them was strengthened, and has continued to be a central focus of my life and career.
If you or I needed assistance with most every-day living activities, where would you rather live: in your own home with support, a small group home, or in a large state run institution?Read more.

A new study suggests that babies born before 33 weeks have less connectivity in areas of the brain responsible for higher cognitive functioning. (Marice Cohn Band/Miami Herald/TNS)
Differences in brain wiring could help explain why children born premature are at greater risk for autism and other developmental disorders, researchers say. Read more.

Disney World is set to begin automating its Disability Access Service Card. (Matt Stroshane/Disney/TNS)
Disney is again updating its program for accommodating guests with disabilities at its theme parks.
Starting Thursday, the Disability Access Service Card is going digital at Walt Disney World in Florida. Rather than write down return times for rides and other attractions on a card, cast members will scan visitors’ tickets or MagicBands, the company said.
The change will allow the disability accommodation to be integrated with My Disney Experience, a website and app for park visitors. .Read more.

Los Angeles Times

At least a dozen major studies have found that early childhood vaccines do not cause autism. But one possibility remained: that immunizations could cause autism in a small group of children who were already primed to develop the disorder. Read more.

The Disability and Abuse project has published a new essay that many will find interesting. It focuses on the social rights of adults with developmental disabilities.

The essay refers to Gregory’s Case as a specific example of how the First Amendment rights of people with I/DD are infringed by judges in adult guardianship cases. Read more.

Los Angeles Times

A comprehensive study of European adults has found that compared with people who drink a single sugar-sweetened drink daily, those who drink water, coffee or tea instead are at 14% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Read More.

Bringing disabled and non-disabled children together in a welcoming venue can make the richness of the arts accessible to all, says Nicky Goulder, co-founder and CEO of Create.

Young people face many barriers that can hinder their access to the arts and culture, such as a lack of family support, a low-income background, preconceptions of what the arts are and who they are for, as well as an individual’s concept of identity. Read more.