Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Rae Martens ♿️

Rae Martens ♿️ @coffeeandresearch.bsky.social · 7d

Investing early in kids’ health pays off.

A new report called Thrive: The Economic Case for Investing in Children’s Health crunches the numbers for Canada.
/1

Image of a children running through running through a field

1 1 4

Rae Martens ♿️ @coffeeandresearch.bsky.social · 6d

Are you being ableist and disability just makes you uncomfortable?
When we talk about the future of education, we’re also talking about the future of every child. Real reform means investing in supports/equity, not pushing kids out of classrooms because they don’t fit a narrow idea of who belongs/2

1 2

Rae Martens ♿️ @coffeeandresearch.bsky.social · 6d

I support Alberta teachers.

There is one area of discourse in education reform that always comes up in moments like this and that’s disability and inclusion.
It’s important to ask yourself if you’re talking about meaningful policy development that ensures all children have the best outcomes.
Or…./1

1 1 3

Rae Martens ♿️ @coffeeandresearch.bsky.social · 7d

Read the report here: www.childrenshealthcarecanada.ca/media/mjlnh3... /4

www.childrenshealthcarecanada.ca

Rae Martens ♿️ @coffeeandresearch.bsky.social · 7d

• The earlier the intervention, the greater the savings; fewer complications, less burden on families, better long-term outcomes.
It’s not just the right thing to do, it’s smart economics. Let’s start investing in kids now, not later. /3

www.childrenshealthcarecanada.ca

1

Rae Martens ♿️ @coffeeandresearch.bsky.social · 7d

Key facts:
• Three chronic issues — type 1 diabetes, mood & anxiety disorders, and epilepsy, cost Canada billions every year in direct medical care + indirect losses.
• If we expand access to good treatments earlier, the return can be $1.39 to $4.89 (or more) for every dollar invested.
/2

www.childrenshealthcarecanada.ca

1 1

Rae Martens ♿️ @coffeeandresearch.bsky.social · 7d

Investing early in kids’ health pays off.

A new report called Thrive: The Economic Case for Investing in Children’s Health crunches the numbers for Canada.
/1

1 1 4

Rae Martens ♿️ @coffeeandresearch.bsky.social · 13d

Health messages don’t always need to be serious to make an impact. Commercials, campaigns, and even lighthearted reminders are all forms of knowledge tools that help us remember what matters; like booking your cancer screening. Early detection saves lives. #CancerScreening #PublicHealth

4

Rae Martens ♿️ @coffeeandresearch.bsky.social · 14d

Got me a used knitting machine. I know a lot of yarn based crafts are made with love. These might be made with other four letter words. It’s a learning curve but we’ll see.

Knitting machine sitting on a coffee table.

7

Rae Martens ♿️ @coffeeandresearch.bsky.social · 14d

I can definitely get behind an endorsement of all breads for sure!👍

Rae Martens ♿️ @coffeeandresearch.bsky.social · 15d

Parents of neurodivergent and disabled kids deserve support, clarity, and evidence-based guidance. My frustration is with the misinformation peddlers who profit from confusion. Families deserve clear pathways to trustworthy information.

Let’s build a space where evidence wins over exploitation.

3

Rae Martens ♿️ @coffeeandresearch.bsky.social · 15d

Why am I so passionate about addressing misinformation in the context of childhood disability?

I recently started a new social media account and what’s the first thing that’s pushed to me?

“Tylenol bad, give your neurodivergent child worms instead.”

Families deserve better than this.

4

Rae Martens ♿️ @coffeeandresearch.bsky.social · 15d

Parents of disabled or neurodivergent kids often face a maze of opinions and misinformation online. What would it look like if families had a clear path to evidence-based info they could trust? Let’s talk about how we get there.

1

Reposted by Rae Martens ♿️

Prof Peter Hotez MD PhD DSc(hon) @peterhotezmdphd.bsky.social · 18d

Some White House RFK Jr announcements expected early this week about autism, here’s my detailed interview with Boston @museumofscience.bsky.social explaining why it’s not related to vaccines www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHxb...

Understanding Vaccine Misinformation: A Conversation with Dr. Peter Hotez

YouTube video by Museum of Science

www.youtube.com

7 150 350

Rae Martens ♿️ @coffeeandresearch.bsky.social · 16d

I made banana bread this morning and thought, "This will summon good vibes for the week."
Because obviously the secret to global stability is carbs and potassium.

1 3

Rae Martens ♿️ @coffeeandresearch.bsky.social · 21d

Why fight and traumatize kids even more?

Disabled and neurodivergent kids have a human right to accessible healthcare. How can we begin to design more welcoming and supportive spaces? /2

3

Rae Martens ♿️ @coffeeandresearch.bsky.social · 21d

Can we have a conversation about #vaccines and #disability in #canada
This is a #publichealth issue I hope the profile can be raised on.
The ability for families to find neuro-affirming/supportive spaces to get their kids vaccinated is a laborious task where in some cases parents just give up. /1

1 3 6

Reposted by Rae Martens ♿️

Madhu Pai, MD, PhD @madhupai.bsky.social · Sep 7

Wow!

Covid vaccine development and delivery cost $79.4 billion, but the health and economic benefits of vaccination were valued between $4.83 trillion–$37.8 trillion.

A return on investment of $59.8–$475 per dollar invested!!

This is why vaccine equity matters!

www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...

The global return-on-investment of COVID-19 vaccines in the first year of the vaccination programme

COVID-19 vaccines played a critical role in reducing global health burden during the COVID-19 pandemic, but their rapid development required extraordinary effort. This study aims to evaluate their glo...

www.medrxiv.org

5 280 600

Rae Martens ♿️ @coffeeandresearch.bsky.social · 29d

The UN calls on States to:
• Shift resources to inclusive, community-based services
• Support caregivers financially & mentally
• Include children & caregivers in policymaking
• Advance gender equality in care

Read the full & easy-read versions: www.ohchr.org/en/documents... /2

A/80/170: Care and support for children with disabilities within the family environment and its gendered dimensions

SummaryIn the present report, the Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities, Heba Hagrass, highlights barriers faced by children with disabilities and their caregivers to the enjoy...

www.ohchr.org

2

Rae Martens ♿️ @coffeeandresearch.bsky.social · 29d

New UN Report on Disability & Caregiving (A/80/170)

Children with disabilities have the right to grow up in families, not institutions. Yet unpaid care, mostly by mothers, too often happens under poverty, stigma & without support.
/1

1 2

Reposted by Rae Martens ♿️

Adam R Houston @healthlawadamh.bsky.social · Sep 5

So while the "top doc" job at the Public Health Agency of Canada remains unfilled, (another) 10% of jobs lower on the ladder are being cut...😕
"PHAC cutting hundreds of jobs as part of 'post-pandemic recalibration' -Cuts are not related to government's overall plan to shrink public sector spending"

3 5

Rae Martens ♿️ @coffeeandresearch.bsky.social · Sep 3

New national exclusion tracker launches. mailchi.mp/fsibc/nation...

News Release: National Exclusion Tracker launches across Canada!

mailchi.mp

Rae Martens ♿️ @coffeeandresearch.bsky.social · Sep 2

What I imagine RFK’s made up term “mitochondrial challenges is all about in the cartoon below.

Want to read something actually interesting about mitochondria? Check out this article. www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-...

Two mitochondria sitting on chairs as though they are at a psychologist appointment.

1 1 10

Rae Martens ♿️ @coffeeandresearch.bsky.social · Sep 2

I can’t see the skyscrapers that I normally would from the height of Nose Hill Park.

Just a reminder that Health Canada states that wildfire smoke can impact you even at low levels.

Which is why I wear a KN95 outside due to my asthma.

More info at: www.canada.ca/en/health-ca...

View of a vehicle where the wildfire smoke is particularly bad.

3 10

Reposted by Rae Martens ♿️

CTV News Calgary @ctvnewscalgary.bsky.social · Sep 2

An air quality advisory has been called in Calgary and area because of wildfire smoke coming in from the Northwest Territories #yyc www.ctvnews.ca/calgary/arti...

Air quality warning issued for Calgary due to wildfire smoke

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) issued an air quality warning for Calgary on Tuesday morning as wildfire smoke blanketed much of the Prairies.

www.ctvnews.ca

5 14