From the Q's News Harper Foundation Enriches Camp Experience This August marked the end of another successful season at Quest’s Camp Thunderbird! Campers from all over the country had the time of their lives making new friends and unforgettable memories, while they learned new skills and took on challenges that helped them build self-confidence. This summer was made more exceptional for the campers thanks to the Harper Family Charitable Foundation, a longtime supporter and friend of Quest, who turned its generosity to Camp Thunderbird once more in preparation for the 2008 season. The foundation provided the resources to add a host of improvements, including handicap-accessible sidewalks and bathrooms, beds for dorms, an E-Z-GO cart, a fire pit, and many others. Countless campers have greatly benefitted from the Harper Foundation’s many contributions this year. Campers like Julie, who has attended Camp Thunderbird each year since it first started in 1969. For Julie, living with her disability meant overcoming challenges when it came to walking. Her increasing dependency on her wheelchair were making her summers at Camp Thunderbird, with its lack of accessible sidewalks, nearly impossible. If not for the Harper Foundation’s goodwill, Julie would have had to leave behind her lifelong friends and the place she’d come to love over the last 39 years. Instead, Julie came to Camp Thunderbird this summer and was able to participate in more activities than she had in the past five years. The Harper Family’s donations will make it more possible for other children and adults to also have a real summer camp experience – some for the first time! Download the Fall 2008 Q's News for more news Previous editions of Q's News | 2008 | 2007 |
| Disability Facts and Updates What is a developmental disability? A developmental disability is a serious condition caused by mental and/or physical impairments that will last throughout a person's lifetime. Though generally present at birth, developmental disabilities can begin to become evident anytime before the age of 22. Developmental disabilities affect social and cognitive areas, such as language, communication, learning and interpretation of social cues. According to the Administration of Developmental Disabilities, there are approximately 4.5 million people with developmental disabilities in the United States - equivalent to about 1.5 percent of the population.
Statistics - Incidence and Prevalence of Some Common Developmental Disabilities
• According to the Autism Society of America, as many as 1.5 million Americans today are believed to have some form of autism.
• 1 in 150 children is diagnosed with autism, with 67 children diagnosed per day. That is equivalent to a new diagnosis almost every 20 minutes (Autism Speaks, Inc.).
• According to the United Cerebral Palsy Research and Educational Foundation, between 1.5 and 2 million people have cerebral palsy in the U.S. There are an estimated 10,000 new cases each year.
• About 3 in 10 children with cerebral palsy have severe learning disabilities; 1 in 3 children cannot walk; 1 in 4 cannot feed or dress themselves (United Cerebral Palsy Research and Educational Foundation).
• The National Down Syndrome Society estimates that Down Syndrome occurs in one out every 733 live births – approximately 5,000 births per year.
• Down syndrome is the most commonly occurring genetic condition, currently affecting more than 350,000 people in the U.S. (National Down Syndrome Society).
• An estimated 2.5 million people in the United States have an intellectual disability - approximately 1 percent of the population (U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission).
• There are no cures for any of these developmental disabilities.
|
