AAMR F.Y.I.
July 2004, Vol.4, No.7
Visit http://www.aamr.org/FYI/ to access current and past issues of this monthly newsletter.
Dear AAMR Friends and Colleagues:
IN THIS ISSUE:
NEW REPORT ASSESSES IMPACT OF OLMSTEAD V. L.C. FIVE YEARS AFTER ITS IMPLEMENTATION
A new study by the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured traces the
progress made in the U.S. five years after the landmark Olmstead V. L.C. ruling
of 1999 by the U.S. Supreme Court. The report points to the need for two critical
changes: modernizing Medicaid and increasing incentives for investments in
community services. The report was prepared by Sara Rosenbaum, J.D., and Joel
Tietelbaum, J.D., LL.M., of The George Washington University Medical Center
in Washington, DC.
Read Olmstead at Five: Assessing the Impact at http://www.kff.org/medicaid/7105a.cfm
NO CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHILDHOOD VACCINES AND AUTISM, SAYS
FINAL REPORT BY THE INSTITUTE OF MEDICINE OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES
The eighth and final report of the Immunization Safety Review Committee of
the Institute of Medicine, part of the National Academies, concludes that neither
the mercury-based vaccine preservative thimerosal nor the measles-mumps-rubella
(MMR) vaccine is associated with autism. Further, the hypotheses regarding
how the MMR vaccine and thimerosal could trigger autism lack supporting evidence
and are theoretical only, said the Committee.
To read Immunization Safety Review: Vaccines and Autism, visit http://www.nap.edu/books/030909237X/html/
To read a press release issued on the report, visit http://www4.nationalacademies.org/news.nsf/isbn/030909237X?OpenDocument
NEW PAPER SERVES AS KEY REFERENCE ON BIRTH DEFECTS AND THE ENVIRONMENT
A new paper by Dr. Ted Schettler, co-author of In Harm’s Way: Toxic Threats
to Child Development and Director of the Science and Environmental Health Network
and Betty Mekdeci, Director of the Birth Defect Research for Children, reviews
published research on environmental contributors to some of the most common
birth defects. Read Birth Defects and the Environment at http://www.protectingourhealth.org/newscience/birthdefects/2004-0501birthdefectspreview.htm
In other environment news, the executive summary of the Wingspread Summit on "Pollution,
Toxic Chemicals and Mental Retardation" held by the American Association
on Mental Retardation in Wisconsin is now available online at http://www.aamr.org/ToxinsandMentalRetardation/pdf/wingspread_exec_summary.pdf
Also, pollutants emitted from motor vehicles in New York City cause more damage
to fetal DNA than previously thought, according to a study by The Columbia
Center for Children's Environmental Health. Read more at http://www.mailman.hs.columbia.edu/ccceh/press-clips/second_hand_smoke.html
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PARTNERS WITH MAJOR DISABILITY ORGANIZATION TO BUILD
STRONG DIRECT SUPPORT WORKFORCE
The U.S. Department of Labor and the American Network of Community Options
and Resources (ANCOR) are developing a pilot program geared to provide screened
and trained direct support professionals to private providers of community-based
facilities for persons with developmental disabilities.
Read more at http://www.ancor.org/dev/Activities/NAC/DoLPilot0504.pdf
PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES REMAIN PERVASIVELY DISADVANTAGED, REVEALS NEW SURVEY
The latest National Organization on Disability/Harris Survey of Americans with
Disabilities reveals that persons with disabilities are at a critical disadvantage
compared to other Americans in ten key areas of life. Continuing a trend, the
survey found slow and modest progress in the indicators, which Harris has been
tracking since 1986. A full report based on the survey will be published in
August 2004.
Read highlights of the survey at http://www.nod.org/content.cfm?id=1537
NATIONAL SUMMIT ON DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES TO BE HELD IN 2005 IN WASHINGTON
A coalition of 11 disability organizations, including the American Association
on Mental Retardation, called the Alliance for Full Participation, LLC (AFP)
is holding a disability summit next year from September 21-24 in Washington,
DC. "The purpose of the 2005 Summit is to create a spirit of partnership
and collaboration that will lead to a vision and road map for achieving full
participation that can be embraced by all stakeholders, including self advocates,
family members, providers, professional and public officials at the federal,
state and local levels," says James F. Gardner, PhD, President and CEO
of The Council on Quality and Leadership, and chairman of the AFP Program Committee.
Read more about the disability 2005 summit at http://www.allianceforfullparticipation.org/news/060604.asp
To download an exhibitor prospectus, visit http://www.allianceforfullparticipation.org/docs/SmExhbro.pdf
AAMR F.Y.I. is compiled by Anna Prabhala, Editor. Please submit comments, suggestions, tips, and news to annap@aamr.org
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