AAIDD F.Y.I.
May 2007, Vol.7, No.5
Visit www.aaidd.org/FYI/ to access current and past issues of this monthly newsletter. Subscribe at http://www.responsetrack.net/aamr/sign_up.
Dear AAIDD Friends and Colleagues:
FUTURE OF DISABILITY IN AMERICA REPORT CONCLUDES THAT IMMEDIATE ACTION IS ESSENTIAL TO AVOID HARM AND HELP PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES LEAD INDEPENDENT AND PRODUCTIVE LIVES
A new report by the National Academies brings to the forefront several outdated policies that are an impediment to the lives of 40 million Americans with an impairment or limitation of some kind. The report says that the implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act is disappointing. Future also calls for eliminating the two-year waiting period for Medicare eligibility for receiving Social Security Disability Insurance.
To read a press release on the publication of the Future of Disability in America, click here.
To read an excerpt, click here.
The report is available for purchase at http://books.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=11898
THE SUPPORTS INTENSITY SCALE FINDS A NEW USE IN STATEMENT OF PERFORMANCE PLANNING AND TRANSITION SERVICES MANDATED BY THE IDEA LEGISLATION
Since the Supports Intensity Scale (SIS) planning tool assesses all the life areas mandated by the IDEA legislation to identify post-secondary supports for a student with a disability, the SIS tool is finding a new use in the area of transition services in special education. Visit www.siswebsite.org/cs/transition to read more about the benefits of using SIS for Statement of Performance (SOP) planning and more. The current adult version of SIS is applicable for adults ages 16-72 and is being successfully used in six U.S. states and other nations.
Questions? Send an email to books@aaidd.org. To learn more about SIS, visit www.siswebsite.org.
EIGHTY-TWO COUNTRIES SIGN LANDMARK U.N. TREATY TO PROTECT RIGHTS OF 650 MILLION PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WORLDWIDE; SEVERAL DISABILITY GROUPS URGE THE UNITED STATES TO SIGN TREATY
The signing of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on March 30, 2007 by over 80 countries marks a major step in formalizing this landmark convention into law, after the Convention was adopted by the General Assembly in December 2006. The Convention establishes an international framework for securing the rights of persons with disabilities as well as a responsibility to advance and promote the rights of persons with disabilities. Several disability groups in the United States, including the American Association of People with Disabilities, are asking President Bush to sign the treaty.
To read the text of the treaty, visit http://www.un.org/disabilities/convention/conventionfull.shtml
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BEST-SELLING POSITIVE BEHAVIOR SUPPORT TRAINING CURRICULUM FOR DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS IN ATLANTA!
The Positive Behavior Support Training Curriculum (PBSTC), the only evidence-based curriculum available to train direct support staff in the principles of positive behavior support, has been used nationwide since its publication in 2004 by the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD). Now, author Dennis Reid presents a training workshop on the second edition of the Curriculum at the AAIDD annual conference in Atlanta . Click here for details. To register, visit http://www.aaidd.org/Events/Atlanta/registration.shtml
Click here to read more about the PBSTC, including comments from users.
Also at the AAIDD Annual Meeting, students and young professionals in intellectual disability will can meet leaders in the field of intellectual disability on two occasions: at a free luncheon sponsored by the Academy on Mental Retardation on Wednesday, May 23 from 12:15-1:30 pm as well as a special theme session on May 23 at 3 pm on “Supporting the Next Generation of Leaders.” The latter will tell young professionals about ways to get involved in the work of AAIDD and work with current experts in the field. Questions about these sessions? Email books@aaidd.org
CHECK OUT THESE RESOURCES YOU CAN USE!
www.intellectualdisability.info is a web portal developed by St. George’s University of London and features comprehensive information on several topics of interest to health care practitioners and students in intellectual disability.
Looking to train staff on the 2004 Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA)? Check out the materials available at http://www.nichcy.org/training/contents.asp by the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY).
People with disabilities are 37 percent less likely to work than their non-disabled counterparts, a study by the Institute for Community Inclusion shows. Learn about ways in which your organization can enhance its ability to accommodate persons with disabilities by signing up for upcoming teleconferences by the Job Employment Network (JAN) at http://www.jan.wvu.edu/Teleconf/. Also, click here to download a free 14- minute video that highlights practical job accommodation issues related to the Americans with Disabilities Act. JAN is a free consulting service by the U.S. Office of Employment Disability Policy to increase the employability of people with disabilities.
Click here to read tips from the National Organization on Disability on ensuring the financial security of a child with a special need.
AAIDD F.Y.I. is compiled by Anna Prabhala, Editor and is published by the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (Formerly AAMR). Please submit comments, suggestions, tips, and news to annap@aaidd.org. For more information on becoming an AAIDD member, visit http://www.aaidd.org/Membership/index.shtml.
Subscribe for free at http://www.responsetrack.net/aamr/sign_up.
Access past issues of AAIDD F.Y.I. at www.aaidd.org/FYI/.
© Copyright 2007 American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD)
Publication of an advertisement by AAIDD is neither an endorsement of the advertiser nor of the advertised products or services.
AAIDD F.Y.I. may only be redistributed in its unedited form.