Lula Cahen

Hello, my name is Lula Callen. 

I am the Assistant Program Director for the Institute for the Study of Disadvantage and Disability (ISDD).  I work directly with Janice Nodvin, Program Director with Project GRANDD and Healthcare Without Walls.  I have a bachelor degree in Administrative Management (personnel) and a graduate certificate in Gerontology. Two of my career goals in life were to work with children with disabilities and older adults.  One of my goals came true when I dedicated ten years to working with children diagnosed with Emotional Behavior Disorder, physical disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Down syndrome, Learning Disabilities, ADHD, and others. I worked with the children one-on-one, as well as in a resource and self-contained classroom. This was truly a rewarding experience.  ISDD has allowed me the opportunity to work in the field of my other interest--working with older adults.  The welfare and well-being of the elderly has always near and dear to my heart. I was born to elderly parents (born in 1911/1922); therefore, causing me to have an innate understanding of what some older adults are faced with daily living. I had a sister who had a  serve stroke and became disabled.  My parents faced disappointment and disparities due to the lack of knowledge of available resources and not qualifying for services.  Working for ISDD has afforded me the ability to work with both of my career interests … working with children with disabilities and older adults at the same time.

New Board Members:

REBECCA POLINSKY, JD –
Ms. Polinsky is a Registered Mediator with the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution. She is a former Health Disparities Fellow with the Health Law Partnership (HeLP) at Hughes Spalding Hospital of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and a former law clerk at CARE USA. She sits on the Advisory Board of Healthcare Without Walls.

PATRICIA SOLOMON, BA –
Ms. Solomon is the Family Engagement Specialist at the Georgia Department of Education. She is a national speaker of special education rights and a parent advocate.  She has recently created for the Department of Education a series of videos explaining the special education laws and rights.

April 2

BREAK THE CYCLE 7

Conference scheduled for April 2, 2012 at Emory University

Welcome!

Background

In 2004, the Institute for the Study of Disadvantage and Disability was formed to address the relationship between social and economic disadvantage and the prevalence of developmental disabilities and to reduce health disparities and the disparity in services available for this vulnerable population.  The mission of ISDD is to “break the cycle” of disadvantage and disability and to reduce the environmental impact of adverse social and economic factors on the growth, health and development of children by:

  • Supporting and developing programs for families that will reduce the impact of social and economic disadvantage on the health, growth and development of children and adults
  • Supporting and coordinating research to reduce the environmental factors that predispose children to developmental disabilities and other chronic health related problems throughout the life span
  • Influencing health care policy and practices, training of health care professionals and cultivating future leaders in reducing the impact of social and economic disadvantage on disabilities and other health related problems in children and adults.

Break the Cycle diagram