Demystifying Syndromes II ─ Clinical and Educational Implications of Common Syndromes Associated With Persons With Intellectual Disabilities

This book represents a revision of a 2004 edition called Demystifying Syndromes. In Demystifying Syndromes II, the editors have selected some common and some lesser known syndromes that are associated with persons with developmental disabilities and coexisting mental or behavioral challenges, specifically Autism Spectrum Disorders, as well as Fragile X, Down, Williams, Smith-Magenis, 22q Deletion, Smith-Lemli-Opitz, and Angelman syndromes. Each book chapter provides the reader with an informative and accurate description of the disability, written by individuals with an integrated understanding of how the physical, psychiatric or biochemical influences may interact with the psychological factors (learning approaches, communication, skills) of the individual, as well as with the social-environmental aspects (supports, adaptations, and vulnerabilities). The authors have not merely focused on the challenges presented by the syndrome, but the strengths and resiliency that each syndrome presents. New to this edition is a chapter that addresses the importance of understanding syndromes for families and various professionals. This book demonstrates how and why support and treatment can be individualized for the individual with a specific diagnosis, through a holistic understanding of the bio-psycho-social implications of the various syndromes.

Dr. Griffiths has extensive experience in working on clinical issues regarding dual diagnosis (persons who are developmentally disabled and have mental health issues). Her expertise more specifically is in the area of sexual abuse and offence, aggression and self-injury, and social skills training with persons with developmental disabilities. Her recent research interests have included Human Rights and Deinstitutionalization. She has written and speaks extensively on these topics. She is notably recognized for five books that she co-authored/co-edited called Changing Sexually Inappropriate Behavior, Dual Diagnosis, Demystifying Syndromes, Ethical Dilemmas of Sexuality and Developmental Disabilities, and The Human Rights Agenda. She is a recipient of numerous teaching, research and advocacy awards, including the Order of Ontario and the Order of Canada. I received my Ph.D in Educational Psychology from the University of Alberta in 2008. I have been in the Psychology department at Laurentian University since July, 2007. I currently teach Introduction to Psychology, Fundamentals of Psychometrics, Topics in Developmental Disabilities, and Bio-psycho-social Approaches to Disability, but I have also taught Developmental Psychology, Psychology of Education, and Motivation. I strongly believe in fostering critical thinking skills in students, so my lectures tend to be interactive, including group work and discussion. I encourage students to think about the material being presented and to develop their own educated opinions. My main areas of research focus on intellectual disability issues. I employ mixed methods or purely qualitative approaches to study various aspects of disability, currently families of children with various disabilities as well as sexuality issues. I am particularly interested in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and autism. I have presented internationally on various disability issues and I conduct training with agencies on how to teach sex education to individuals with disabilities, sexual abuse of individuals with disabilities, how to employ a bio-psycho-social approach to disability, and about specific disabilities and how they can affect sexuality. I have published several articles related to intellectual disability. I have also co-edited 3 books, including Ethical Dilemmas: Sexuality and Developmental Disability, Rights Agenda: An Action Plan to Advance the Rights of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities, and most recently Demystifying Syndromes: Clinical and Educational Implications of Syndromes Associated with Intellectual Disabilities (in press). I supervise graduate students in the Psychology, Master's in Interdisciplinary Health, and Interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Rural and Northern Health. As a supervisor, I try to provide as many publication opportunities to students as possible. I encourage research collaboration and co-authorship with my students. I am the Chair of the Ontario Association on Developmental Disabilities (OADD) Research Special Interest Group (RSIG) and I am the Co-ordinator of the Master's in Interdisciplinary Health.