AAMR F.Y.I.
June 2003, Vol. 3, No. 6

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Dear AAMR Friends and Colleagues:

IN THIS ISSUE:

AAMR ANNOUNCES NEW, DISABILITY BOOKSONLINE AT www.disabilitybooksonline.com! GET INSTANT ELECTRONIC ACCESS TO MAJOR DISABILITY BOOKS IN PDF AND HTML FORMATS AND MORE!
Now, you can get instant electronic access to major AAMR books in PDF, HTML, Ion text, and E-monocle formats at considerably lower prices than the original printed versions at www.disabilitybooksonline.com, a new e-book portal launched by AAMR. At Disability BooksOnline, you can buy, download, and start reading books on your computer in a matter of minutes. You can even purchase individual chapters from a book or buy paperback editions of hardcover books and save! A user-friendly Frequently Asked Questions page helps you navigate the site and decide which format best fits your needs. AAMR Disability BooksOnline also allows you to read portions of a book online at no extra cost before making a final purchase. Currently, Disability BooksOnline features five AAMR publications and access to individual state profiles on disability spending from the 50 U.S. states and D.C., part of the State of the States book (2002, 6th edition). More books will be added to the site later this summer.

With electronic access to books, you save almost 40% on the cost of printed books and enjoy full-text search capabilities. Visit AAMR Disabillity Books Online today at www.disabilitybooksonline.com.

Questions on AAMR Disability BooksOnline? Send an email books@aamr.org

NEW REPORT FINDS NEED FOR LONG-TERM CARE WORKERS IN THE U.S. WILL TRIPLE BY 2050
The United States will need around 5.7-6.6 million long-term care workers to meet the needs of the aging Baby Boom generation by year 2050, says a joint report issued by the U.S. Health and Human Secretary (HHS) and the Department of Labor (DOL). That’s at least 3.8 million more than the number of long-term care workers employed in 2000, which numbered 1.9 million. Further, the number of individuals using either nursing facilities, alternative residential care, or homecare services is expected to increase from 15 million in 2000 to 27 million in 2050. To read the HHS/DOL report titled "The Future of Supply of Long-Term Care Workers in Relation to The Aging Baby Boom Generation," visit http://aspe.hhs.gov/daltcp/reports/ltcwork.pdf

In the developmental disabilities field, the demand for long-term care services is rapidly increasing, reports a separate study published by The Arc of the United States at http://www.thearc.org/ga/10questions2003.doc. Titled "Ten Questions on The Role of Medicaid for Persons with Developmental Disabilities" in the United States, the report finds that (1) large numbers of aging family caregivers will be unable to continue to care for their family members with disabilities; (2) individuals with developmental disabilities are living longer; and (3) relatives with developmental disabilities will require out-of-home placements.

TRAIN SUPERVISORS AND DIRECT SUPPORT STAFF IN THE FIRST AND ONLY VALIDATED TRAINING CURRICULUM ON POSITIVE BEHAVIOR SUPPORT
Direct support, like any other profession, requires a set of skills and knowledge base. Now, you can give your supervisors and direct support staff the tools they need in behavior support to do their jobs effectively with the Positive Behavior Support Training Curriculum (PBST) published by AAMR. Developed by an experienced team of psychologists, administrators, and researchers, the PBST Curriculum is the first and only validated training curriculum to systematically train your staff in proactive behavior support strategies.

The PBST Curriculum is available in two editions: a supervisory edition trains supervisors of direct support staff in positive behavior principles and managerial skills. A direct support edition teaches essential, on-the-job behavior strategies to direct support professionals.

Learn more, including information on how to order the Curriculum at http://www.aamr.org/Bookstore/pdf/pbst_brochure.pdf. You can save 28% on the Curriculum if you purchase it before August 1, 2003! Questions? Email books@aamr.org

Apart from lack of adequate training, low wages and poor staff retention are two major issues facing the direct support field today. Read findings from a recent survey conducted by the Institute on Community Integration at the University of Minnesota on the "Wages of Direct Support Professionals Serving Persons with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities" at http://www.ici.umn.edu/products/prb/142/default.html

CALIFORNIA SHOWS 634% INCREASE IN AUTISM FROM 1987-2002, SAYS NEW STUDY
In a new report, the California Department of Developmental Services (DDS) reports that from December 1998 through December 2002, persons diagnosed with autism served by DDS increased from 10,360 to 20,377, and between 1987-2002, the state saw a 634% increase in cases of autism. The report is based on data of persons served by DDS and professionally diagnosed with full syndrome autism. The report concludes that the accelerated rate that has been sustained over this period would likely continue in the future years.

Visit http://www.dds.ca.gov/autism/pdf/AutismReport2003.pdf to read "Autistic Spectrum Disorders, Changes in the California Caseload: 1999-2002."

AAMR HONORS DISABILITY LEADERS IN EDUCATION, ART, GENETICS, THE MEDIA, PSYCHOLOGY, AND MORE AT THE 2003 ANNUAL MEETING IN CHICAGO
The recent AAMR annual meeting held in Chicago honored leaders in various specialty areas within the field of developmental disabilities. Read more on these distinguished leaders and their contribution to the field of developmental disabilities at http://www.aamr.org/Reading_Room/pdf/AAMR_2003_awards.pdf

U.S. TO COMMIT $13 MILLION TO MAKING VOTING MORE ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
The U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tommy G. Thompson announced $13 million in grants for states and territories to enhance access to voting areas and increase voter participation by individuals with a full range of disabilities, including intellectual disabilities. The program comes in the wake of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), which President Bush signed into law on October 29, 2002. In March 2003, Jim Dickson, president of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) explained the implications of HAVA for the MR/DD community to AAMR F.Y.I., "Accessibility for the MR/DD community means for example, placing a picture of the candidate on screen or the ballot. Each state will be developing a statewide poll worker training system. There will be opportunities for various groups, including advocates in the MR/DD community to be involved in the development of training systems."

Contacts: Diann Winford at (202) 690-5963 or dwinford@acf.hhs.gov OR Carla Brown at (202) 690-8332 or crbrown@acf.hhs.gov.

To read details, search the Federal Register at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html.

To read a press release by HHS on the grants announcement, visit
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/news/press/2003/release_052103.html.

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR THE SERENA MERCK MEMORIAL AWARD FOR EXCEPTIONAL CARE OR SERVICE TO MENTALLY CHALLENGED CHILDREN
Do you know someone who has demonstrated selfless dedication and compassion in caring for children with significant mental health problems? Here’s your chance to nominate them for the Serena Merck Memorial award established by the John Merck Fund.

Visit http://www.thenadd.org/content/news/merck.shtml to learn more on the nomination process.

AAMR F.Y.I. is compiled by Anna Prabhala, Editor. Please submit comments, suggestions, tips, and news to annap@aamr.org

Access past issues of AAMR F.Y.I. at www.aamr.org/FYI/

© Copyright 2003 American Association on Mental Retardation

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