POMPANO BEACH FL (02.26.08) – Imagine not being able to move, twitch or even scratch your nose. Now imagine not be able to do that for decades, and likely for one's life.

A series of discussion papers by Dr. Michael Carifio are investigating the mental health of children and young adults with profound physical disabilities to shed light on a growing population of young people of whom psychologists know almost nothing.

These investigations examine the manifestations of behaviors, experiences, and mental health of residents of Broward Children's Center's sub-acute pediatric skilled nursing facility and group home.

While many of these residents have well-developed thinking and reasoning skills, they cannot move their bodies, or feed, wash, bathe, or even breathe unaided. Residents need nursing and respiratory care to attend to their required breathing device (a ventilator) for them to survive.

Dr. Carifio's investigations attempt to outline how these physical challenges and the resulting necessary residence in a sub-acute or group home environment impacts these individual's mental health.

"Individuals with these special needs are, indeed, unique," said Dr. Carifio. "Due to their physical condition, these children and teens do not move through the typical physical maturation process that accompanies child and adolescent growth patterns."

Broward Children's Center CEO Marjorie Evans said Dr. Carifio's research was a collaboration between the Center and Dr. Carifio aimed at educating the public, regulators, and other health providers.

"What Dr. Carifio's research demonstrates is that treating the bodies of those we serve is only one component of our duty of care as a society. We must also care for and nourish the minds of those with profound disabilities."

For a copy of the report or for more information please contact Thor Barraclough at 954.410.441 or at thorb@bcckids.org.

For more than 35 years, Broward Children’s Center has been providing medical, educational, and advocacy services to infants, children, and young adults with special needs.

Contact: Thor Barraclough
954.410.4410 thorb@bcckids.org