AAMR F.Y.I. - a monthly e-newsletter

AAMR F.Y.I.
June 2005, Vol.5, No.6

Visit http://www.aamr.org/FYI/ to access current and past issues of this monthly newsletter.

Dear AAMR Friends and Colleagues:

IN THIS ISSUE:

Discuss your queries on the Supports Intensity Scale on a new online discussion board.
Free lecture series on environmental health and developmental disabilities.
Parents speak up on why they are against and for institutions in the June issue of Mental Retardation.
Ontario to build 390 new homes as part of a $41.1 million effort to help adults with developmental disabilities live in communities.
Self-advocates and family members can apply for a stipend to attend the Alliance for Full Participation Summit in Washington.
Geriatric evaluation and nurse visits can reduce health problems faced by aging persons with developmental disabilities.

DISCUSS YOUR QUERIES ON THE SUPPORTS INTENSITY SCALE ON A NEW ONLINE DISCUSSION BOARD
The Supports Intensity Scale (SIS) has a new virtual home at www.siswebsite.org! Stay informed on news and events through the SIS website. The website features an online discussion board for state and private professionals at http://www.siswebsite.org/forum/forums/list.page

Here, you can post questions, comments, or concerns, and/or engage in conversations with other users of SIS. The Supports Intensity Scale is a planning tool that helps professionals determine what types of supports a person with an intellectual disability requires to live an independent life in society.

Questions or comments? Email books@aamr.org

FREE LECTURE SERIES ON ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
The 2nd free teleconference lecture series on "Toxic Exposures and Developmental Disabilities" hosted by the American Association on Mental Retardation (AAMR) will be held on June 15th from 2-3pm U.S. Eastern Standard Time. Titled "Preventing Harm at School," the teleconference features Dr. Barnett, Executive Director of the Healthy Schools Network, Inc. Participate by dialing 1-877-888-3490 (free to callers within the Unites States). To learn more about other upcoming lectures, visit http://www.aamr.org/ToxinsandMentalRetardation/pdf/lecture_series%20announcement6.pdf

Questions? Contact Michele Gagnon at mgagnon@aamr.org
Also in the environmental health arena, visit http://www.aamr.org/ToxinsandMentalRetardation/activities.shtml to read U.S. Congressional testimonies on how chemical exposure affects children’s (See May issue of AAMR F.Y.I. at http://www.aamr.org/FYI/fyi_vol_5_no_5.shtml#us for item on U.S. Senate briefing co-sponsored by AAMR).

PARENTS SPEAK UP ON WHY THEY ARE AGAINST AND FOR INSTITUTIONS IN THE JUNE ISSUE OF MENTAL RETARDATION
The June issue of the journal Mental Retardation contains an exchange of parent perspectives on institutions versus community living. Says Steven J. Taylor, Editor of Mental Retardation, "Although I personally believe that the time to debate the place of people with disabilities in society has long since passed, the debate must continue as long as many policymakers and members of the public do not question the appropriateness of institutionalization."

Visit http://www.aamr.org/Reading_Room/pdf/MR06Tayloreditorial.pdf to read an editorial by Taylor, "Outcomes That Matter: Parents' Perspectives" on institutions by Mary McTernan and Nancy Ward of the Voice of the Retarded, and "Response to McTernan and Ward" by Sue Swenson of the Arc of the United States.

ONTARIO TO BUILD 390 NEW HOMES AS PART OF A $41.1 MILLION EFFORT TO HELP ADULTS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES LIVE IN COMMUNITIES
The Ontario government announced that it will spend part of the $41.1 million funding to build 390 new homes for people with developmental disabilities, including 90 homes for individuals who have very high needs. The fund will also establish 4 community networks that will provide and coordinate specialized supports and services such as assessments, consultations, and behavior therapy for adults with a developmental disability who require specialized care. To read more, visit http://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/CFCS/en/newsRoom/newsReleases/050518.htm
The government of Canada also recently awarded $3 million in funds to help people with intellectual disabilities integrate fully into community life (AAMR F.Y.I., May 2005 issue at http://www.aamr.org/FYI/fyi_vol_5_no_5.shtml#canada).

SELF-ADVOCATES AND FAMILY MEMBERS CAN APPLY FOR A STIPEND TO ATTEND THE ALLIANCE FOR FULL PARTICIPATION SUMMIT IN WASHINGTON
If you are a self advocate or a family member, visit http://www.allianceforfullparticipation.org/docs/AFPStipendApplication.pdf to apply for a stipend to attend one of the largest disability events in recent times.

GERIATRIC EVALUATION AND NURSE VISITS CAN REDUCE HEALTH PROBLEMS FACED BY AGING PERSONS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
A new study by the University of California at Los Angeles and the Casa Colina Centers for Rehabilitation reports that a geriatric evaluation and follow-up visits by a nurse practitioner can detect and reduce health problems faced by adults with developmental disabilities. These health concerns often go unaddressed by the health care system.
Read more at http://www.healthcare.ucla.edu/news/detail?rad_id=6173

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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