The birth industry is an optimistic one, filled with images of perfect, healthy babies, but in reality, many babies are born with conditions that can cause impairment in physical, learning, language, or behavior areas. These conditions begin during the developmental period, may impact day-to-day functioning, and usually last throughout a person’s lifetime.
Recent estimates in the United States show that about one in six, or about 17%, of children aged 3 through 17 years have one or more developmental disabilities [1]. Many of these are diagnosed during pregnancy or shortly after birth, an event that leaves mothers and fathers overwhelmed with powerful emotions and doubts about their ability to care for their child properly.
This course is designed to equip the Doula to serve expecting mothers and fathers that have learned their baby may be born with a developmental disability.
[1] CDC.org
Course Prerequisite: Madriella Birth Doula Certification, Madriella Postpartum Doula Certification, and the Madriella Professional Development Course.
Course Requirements:
This course requires 1 textbook, Different Dreams:Reflections and Realities of Raising a Child With Developmental Disabilities
| Module 1 | Introduction |
|---|---|
| Unit 1 | Welcome |
| Unit 2 | The Role of the Doula |
| Unit 3 | Emotional Support |
| Unit 4 | Informational Support |
| Unit 5 | Partner Reinforcement |
| Unit 6 | Self Advocacy |
| Module 2 | Some Common Developmental Disabilities |
| Unit 1 | What is a Developmental Disability? |
| Unit 2 | Down syndrome |
| Unit 3 | Autism Spectrum Disorder |
| Unit 4 | Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) |
| Unit 5 | Cerebral palsy (CP) |
| Unit 6 | Intellectual disability, (formerly known as mental retardation) |
| Unit 7 | Spina bifida |
| Unit 8 | Muscular Dystrophy |
| Unit 9 | Vision and Hearing Impairment |
| Unit 10 | Kernicterus |
| Unit 11 | Tourette Syndrome |
| Unit 12 | Fragile X syndrome (FXS) |
| Module 3 | Research Assignment: Different Dreams |
| Unit 1 | Book Report: Different Dreams |
| Module 4 | Practical Help for Parents of Children with Developmental Disabilities |
| Unit 1 | Offering Practical Help to Parents |
| Unit 2 | State Agencies |
| Unit 3 | Final Project Instructions |
| Unit 4 | Supportive Organizations for Down Syndrome |
| Unit 5 | Supportive Organizations for Autism Spectrum Disorder |
| Unit 6 | Supportive organizations for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder |
| Unit 7 | Supportive organizations for Cerebral Palsy |
| Unit 8 | Supportive organizations for Intellectual Disability |
| Unit 9 | Supportive organizations for Spina Bifida |
| Unit 10 | Supportive organizations for Muscular Dystrophy |
| Unit 11 | Supportive organizations for Vision and Hearing Impairment |
| Unit 12 | Supportive organizations for Kernicterus |
| Unit 13 | Supportive organizations for Tourette Syndrome |
| Unit 14 | Supportive organizations for Fragile X Syndrome |
| Unit 15 | Final Project Due |