Resources and Education

Asthma affects a person's breathing. Airways in the lungs, called breathing tubes, swell and narrow, making it harder for air to get through. People with asthma may be extra sensitive to things like colds, smoke, cold air, exercise, and anything that causes an allergic reaction, such as dust mites or pollen.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common brain disorders. The disorder makes it hard for a child to focus and pay attention. Some children may be too active, called hyperactive, and have trouble controlling themselves.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a disorder that people are born with or that happens early in life. It affects the brain and makes interacting with other people (chatting, playing, hanging out, or socializing with others) more difficult.

Bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness. People who have it go through unusual mood changes. They go from very happy and active (“up”) to very sad, hopeless, and inactive (“down”). It’s also called manic-depressive disorder because the “up” period is mania and the “down” period is depression.

Burn can be caused by heat, chemicals, electricity, sunlight or radiation. There are three types of burns: 1) First-degree burns damage only the outer layer of skin; 2) Second-degree burns damage the outer layer and the layer underneath; 3) Third-degree burns damage or destroy the deepest layer of skin and tissues underneath; and 4) fourth-degree burns reach into the muscle below the skin.

Cancer is a disease caused by cells that are not normal and that can spread to other parts of the body. There are more than 100 different types of cancer. Most cancers are named for where they start. For example, lung cancer starts in the lung, breast cancer starts in the breast. The spread of cancer from one part of the body to another is called metastasis.

Cerebral palsy happens when the parts of the brain that control how a person moves do not develop properly or get damaged. It appears in the first few years of life. People with cerebral palsy may have difficulty walking. They may also have trouble with tasks such as writing or using scissors. Some have other medical conditions, like seizures.

COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) makes it hard for you to breathe. The main cause of COPD is exposure to substances that harm the lungs. This is usually cigarette smoke. Air pollution, chemical fumes, or dust can also cause it.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) causes a person’s mucus to be thick and sticky. The mucus clogs the lungs and other organs. It causes breathing problems, lung infections, and lung damage .

Depression is a brain disease. It is more than just feeling “down.” People with depression may feel sad all the time and lose interest in activities. Depression gets in the way of everyday life.

Developmental disabilities are a group of conditions that cause both physical and mental problems that usually last a lifetime.

Diabetes happens when the body doesn’t make enough of a hormone called insulin or doesn’t use it the right way.  When this happens, your blood glucose, or blood sugar, level gets too high. Type 1 diabetes is when your body doesn’t make any insulin. Type 2 diabetes is when the body either doesn’t make enough insulin or the body just ignores it.

People with Down syndrome are born with an extra copy of chromosome 21. Chromosomes control how a baby’s body forms during pregnancy. Some people with Down syndrome have physical problems, along with developmental disabilities.  Every person born with Down syndrome is different.

Epilepsy causes a person to have seizures. The seizures happen when nerve cells in the brain send out the wrong signals. This causes a person to feel strangely. They may fall down and shake or pass out.

Fetal alcohol syndrome is caused when a woman drinks alcohol while pregnant. The effects can include physical problems and problems with behavior and learning.

HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. It harms the body's immune system cells. That’s the part of the body that fights off disease and infections.  AIDS, which stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, is the most advanced stage of infection with HIV.

Learning disorders affect how a person understands, remembers and uses new information. People with learning disorders may have problems listening or paying attention, speaking, reading or writing, and doing math. Some children with learning disabilities also have ADHD.

There are many lung diseases that make breathing hard. 

Sickle cell anemia is when the body makes red blood cells that are shaped like a half moon. They should be round shaped. These sickle cells get stuck in blood vessels and block the flow of the blood. This causes pain and harm to organs in the body.

Many disorders can affect our ability to speak and communicate. They range from saying sounds incorrectly to being completely unable to speak or understand speech. Sometimes a delay may be caused by hearing loss, while other times it may be due to a speech or language disorder.