AAMR F.Y.I.
March 2005, Vol.5, No.3
Visit http://www.aamr.org/FYI/ to access current and past issues of this monthly newsletter.
POPULATION
IN STATE INSTITUTIONS ON A STEADY DECLINE, SAYS NEW STUDY
A 2004 survey of developmental disability agencies and state institutions in
the U.S. revealed a steady decline in residents, according to a new study published
in the April issue of Mental Retardation.
Read more at http://www.aamr.org/Reading_Room/pdf/LakinMarch05MR.pdf
CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL LAUNCHES PROGRAM TO HELP
PARENTS IDENTIFY EARLY SIGNS OF AUTISM AND OTHER DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
“Learn the Signs. Act Early” is a public awareness campaign launched
by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to educate parents about early
childhood development, including early warning signs of autism and other developmental
disabilities. In the United States, an estimated 17 percent of children have
a developmental or behavioral disability such as autism, mental retardation,
or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Two percent of children have a serious
developmental disability, such as mental retardation, cerebral palsy, or autism.
Learn more at http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/actearly/
DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS FAIRNESS AND SECURITY ACT
OF 2005 BRINGS WAGES OF DIRECT CARE WORKERS TO THE LEGISLATIVE FOREFRONT
Wages of direct support professionals continue to gain prominence on the U.S.
legislative agenda, with the introduction of Direct Support Professional
Families and Security Act of 2005, a bill introduced by Representatives
Lee Terry (R-NE) and Lois Capps (D-CA). The legislation aims at making wages
of direct care workers competitive and attractive.
To read a press release on the bill, visit http://www.ancor.org/2004/issues/shortage/DSP_Terry_Capps_press_release_3-05.doc
Read a copy of the bill at http://www.ancor.org/2004/issues/shortage/HR1264.doc
X CHROMOSOME REVEALED: SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY SHEDS
LIGHT ON THE ROLE OF CHROMOSOMES IN HEALTH AND DISORDERS
More than 300 disorders have been linked to the X chromosome, including varied
forms of mental retardation and Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Now the National
Institutes on Health (NIH) has released the first comprehensive analysis of
the sequence of the human X chromosome, crowning it “a monumental achievement
for biology and medicine.” Even though the X chromosome contains only
4 percent of all human genes, it accounts for almost 10 percent of inherited
disorders caused by a single gene.
To read a press release on the discovery by NIH visit http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/mar2005/nhgri-16.htm
A detailed analysis of the X chromosome’s DNA sequence and a survey of
its gene activity, are published in the current issue of the journal Nature at http://www.nature.com/index.html
INTELLECTUAL
DISABILITY RESOURCES IN THE NEWS
Mercury and Learning Disabilities, a new publication by the National
Education Association, the Arc of the United States, and the Learning Disabilities
Association of America helps parents identify the causes of mercury pollution
and how exposure to this potent neurotoxicant can adversely affect a child's
learning potential. Learn more at http://www.thearc.org/publications/mercury.pdf
A new brochure by the Arc of the United States at http://www.thearc.org/ideachanges/crsanalysis.pdf helps
parents families, providers, and advocates understand the revisions to the Individuals
with Disabilities Education Act enacted in the 108th Congress.
For a Frequently Asked Questions on aging and developmental disabilities, visit
the home page of the American Association on Mental Retardation at http://www.aamr.org/Policies/faq_aging.shtml For
position statements on critical issues facing the field of mental retardation,
visit http://www.aamr.org/Policies/position_statements.shtml
HERE’S YOUR CHANCE TO PARTICIPATE IN A SUPPORTS
INTENSITY SCALE RELIABILITY STUDY
If you have attended training on the Supports Intensity Scale (SIS)
and/or have experience administering SIS, the American Association on Mental
Retardation would like you to participate in a new SIS reliability study. Participants
will be asked to complete 1 or 2 SIS forms and mail these forms to the researchers.
All names will be kept confidential.
If you are interested in participating in this study, please contact Dr. Jim
Thompson at jrthomp@ilstu.edu
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
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