AAMR F.Y.I.
November 2004, Vol.4, No.11
Visit http://www.aamr.org/FYI/ to access current and past issues of this monthly newsletter.
Dear AAMR Friends and Colleagues:
IN THIS ISSUE:
*Special note* Oral-B CrossAction Power and PowerMAX toothbrushes and
refills, used in brushing of teeth of persons with special needs, have
been recalled due to reported incidents of coming apart in the mouth
while brushing. Visit http://www.oralb.com/home.asp for more information
or call 1-800-496-6557 for further questions.
MAKE THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM MORE CONSUMER-DIRECTED FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES,
SAYS NEW REPORT FROM THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON DISABILITY
Consumer-Directed Healthcare: How Well Does It Work?, a new study by
the National Council on Disability calls for a major shift in the way
government, private agencies, and even consumer organizations organize,
locate, and manage health care for persons with disabilities in America.
An overarching recommendation made by the report is to include consumers
with a wide range of disabilities in the decision-making process, from
research and policymaking to program design and evaluation.
Read more at http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2004/consumerdirected.htm
MORE THAN 8 MILLION PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES SAY THEY ARE UNABLE TO VOTE
DUE TO VARIOUS BARRIERS
Roughly one-fifth of Americans with disabilities who say they wanted
to vote were not able to, due to reasons ranging from lack of accessible
transportation and inaccessibility of polling places to not understanding
the voting machine, according to a poll by the National Organization
on Disability/ Harris Interactive. This poll result is part of a larger
disability survey project studying voter preferences, issues of concern,
and barriers to voting during the U.S. presidential election season.
Read more at http://www.nod.org/content.cfm?id=1578
DRUG USED FOR ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE MAY BOOST LEARNING CAPACITIES
OF PERSONS WITH DOWN SYNDROME
A new study by the Duke University Medical Center shows that a drug already
approved for treating patients with Alzheimer's disease might also boost
language skills of children with Down syndrome. Down syndrome affects
one in every 800 live births and is the most common genetic cause of
mental retardation worldwide.
Read a press release on the discovery at http://www.dukemednews.org/news/article.php?id=8184
To read an abstract of an article on the discovery in the November issue of the American Journal on Medical Genetics, visit http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/jhome/33129
FINAL REPORT ON FIRST EVER POLLUTION, TOXIC CHEMICALS, AND MENTAL RETARDATION
SUMMIT NOW ONLINE
In 2003, a concerned group of national leaders on the environment and
disability met for a historic Summit in Racine, Wisconsin to discuss
the impact of the environmental toxicants on the health and lives of
persons with developmental disabilities. Now, a report containing a synthesis
of papers presented and a framework for a national blueprint for health
promotion and disability prevention is available online at http://www.aamr.org/ToxinsandMentalRetardation/pdf/ToxicChemical&MRReport_final_color.pdf
The Summit was initiated by the American Association on Mental Retardation (AAMR).
$31 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDS TO GO TOWARD VARIOUS DISABILITY INITIATIVES,
INCLUDING PREVENTING INAPPROPRIATE PLACEMENT OF PERSONS IN INSTITUTIONS
The U.S. Health and Human Services announced $31 million in grants to
31 states to help people with disabilities or long-term illnesses live
in their homes and participate fully in community life. A total of 52
grants were awarded in 9 categories, including quality assurance, housing,
transition from children to adult services, reform of long-term support
systems, mental health systems reform, rebalance initiative, independent
living, developing educational centers and information, and technical
assistance programs for community living.
Learn more at http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2004pres/20041005a.html
FACT SHEET DISPELS MYTHS ABOUT PERSONS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES
IN JOB SETTINGS
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has released a fact
sheet on the application of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
to persons with intellectual disabilities in the workplace. The fact
sheet addresses various issues, including when an employer may ask an
applicant or employee questions about his or her intellectual disability
and what types of reasonable accommodations employees with intellectual
disabilities may need on the job.
Read more at http://www.eeoc.gov/facts/intellectual_disabilities.html
SPECIAL FREEVIEW AND DISCOUNT ON THE JOURNAL OF RELIGION, DISABILITY & HEALTH
FOR AAMR MEMBERS
Visit http://www.haworthpress.com/FreeView/AAMR.asp to get a special
preview of Volume 7 of the Journal of Religion, Disability & Health.
AAMR members get a special discount of 30% on subscriptions. Call 1 800-429-6784
and provide code AAM30 to receive the discount.
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/. To subscribe, visit http://www.responsetrack.net/aamr/sign_up
© Copyright 2004 American Association on Mental Retardation
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