Successful nutritional management of clients with intellectual disabilities By Jodie Ellis, APD, PhD
Jodie is an APD who has over 15 years experience working in disability. She was the convenor of the DAA Nutrition and Disability Interest for nine years and has been a consultant on a number of key documents and policies in the area of nutrition and disability.
In her webinar Jodie explained that the life expectancy of people with intellectual disabilities are much shorter than that of the general population, mainly due to preventable chronic diseases. Jodie described the nutritional assessment of people with intellectual disabilities. The assessment process is not often straightforward and can differ significantly from the assessment of our clients who are not intellectually impaired. She also outlined the role of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). The NDIS will provide dietitians with more opportunities to work with intellectually disabled clients. For many of us this may be a new area. So it was wonderful to have Jodie present on this important and complex area of dietetic practise.
The Centre for Developmental Disability Health Victoria provide freely available fact sheets outlining a range of specific developmental conditions.
For more details and to purchase a recording of the webinar click here