Prematurity Awareness

HELEN Journal’s Cover Story: Walk into any neonatal intensive care unit and you'll witness something extraordinary: strangers caring for the most vulnerable members of our community with a devotion that transcends profession. It's this profound humanity, so often hidden behind hospital doors, that inspired our project, The NICU: A Life in Between. Through the lens of photographer Rick Guidotti from Positive Exposure, we set out to capture what families and healthcare workers experience every day in the NICU: not just medical miracles, but moments of resilience, connection, and hope.

Steven Perlman, DDS, MScD, DHL (hon), President, People Advocating for Optimal Health (PAOH) & Vanessa Rastović, JD: “In every generation, there comes a moment to ask whether our health systems truly serve all people fairly. We are once again at that crossroads. For decades, federal programs have used geography as the primary lens for deciding who is ‘underserved.’”

Rick Rader, MD, FAAIDD, FAADM, Editor-in-chief, Helen Journal": “We were reminded of the importance of timing in milestone events. Following marriage, the next significant ‘get me there on time,’ event was the birth of the baby. The “timing” of staying in the oven until it was safe to come out and explore has not always been observed…Preterm birth is when a baby is born too early, before 37 weeks of pregnancy have been completed. In 2022, preterm birth affected about 1 of every 10 infants born in the United States.”

By Rick Rader, MD, FAAIDD, FAADM, Editor-in-chief, Helen Journal” “In considering stress, for most of the time, and for most of us, you can’t ignore, dismiss, or wish it away. While stress comes in waves, like paper cuts that are persevering, they can bring you to tears, or to your knees. Stress and the events, scenarios and possibilities that promote them are inevitable; they are part of the human experience.”

Nancy S. Jokinen, MSW, Ph.D.: “Dementia changes everything—not just for the person diagnosed, but for those who care for them. For caregivers of adults with intellectual disability (ID), the road to diagnosis and beyond is often unfamiliar and full of challenges. Many find themselves asking: ‘What is happening to my loved one?’ ‘How can I best support them?’ and ‘Where do I turn next?’”

BOOK REVIEW: Jennifer Ghent-Fuller has emerged as a leader and innovator in dementia care. Her expertise and insight have enabled her to counsel and educate individuals with dementia, as well as their families, friends, and caregivers. The motivation to inform people about the nature of dementia and its emotional and psychological impacts led her to write Thoughtful Dementia Care: Understanding the Dementia Experience (2012).

(Source: PreTRM)) Premature babies—also called preemies—are babies who are born before the end of 37 weeks of pregnancy. If your baby is born early, you and your baby will be likely to have a different medical experience than you might have with a pregnancy that goes to 37 or more weeks. Here are the top 10 interesting facts about premature babies, the care they receive, and the ways doctors and researchers are working to predict preterm birth outcomes and prevent preterm birth.

Editor’s Note: THE DISABILITY RIGHTS MOVEMENT has always faced KEY ISSUES.  Some have been resolved, some  still remain, and some are a work in progress.  HELEN’s latest feature showcases "older" articles that are still relevant and have focused on these key issues. This Edition: “Coney Island’s Incubator Babies”

Wondering if changes you’re seeing could be dementia? Join this practical, webinar to learn how to use the NTG-Early Detection Screen for Dementia (NTG-EDSD). You’ll gain simple, effective ways to track changes, talk with doctors, and advocate for the best care for your family member or clients.

There are literally thousands of journals published around the world that relate to the disability community.  It is virtually impossible to capture even a fraction of them. HELEN receives "stacks" of journals and selectively earmarks what we feel are "must read" articles of interest for our readers. This Edition: “ANCOR Issues Findings from 2025 State of America's Direct Support Workforce Crisis Survey” …and more….

HELEN Journal believes there is an abundance of Posters that could lead to organizations, institutions and providers adopting promising, evolving and novel programs based on learning about them at conferences.

MID-OCTOBER Edition: “Student-Led Peer-Development for Curriculum Growth”; “Successful Dental Visits My Dental Care Passport”; “Tardive Dyskinesia in Individuals with IDD”; “The Developmental Medicine Area of Distinction (2)”; “Transitions of Care for Patients with IDD”