AAIDD F.Y.I.
August 2007, Vol.7, No.8
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Dear AAIDD Friends and Colleagues:
THE SECOND EDITION OF THE AAIDD POSITIVE BEHAVIOR SUPPORT TRAINING CURRICULUM FOR SUPERVISORS AND DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS IS NOW AVAILABLE!
Originally published in 2004, the Positive Behavior Support Training Curriculum (PBSTC) by Dennis H. Reid and Marsha B. Parsons has been widely adopted by service agencies for training direct support staff on the principles of positive behavior support while interacting with people with intellectual disabilities. A second edition of the PBSTC just published by the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD), builds on comprehensive feedback received from users, and trains both supervisors and direct support staff with a selection of activities that applies to persons with varying degrees of intellectual disability. Known to create a culture of respect and dignity in service settings, the PBSTC is an evidence-based Curriculum. This means that the trainees are required to demonstrate mastery of skills acquired in 25 training modules through quizzes, role plays, staff observations, and other hands-on learning techniques.
To learn more about the PBSTC and its benefits, visit https://bookstore.aaidd.org/BookDetail.aspx?bid=65.
To download an introduction and a sample module from the Curriculum, visit https://bookstore.aaidd.org/BookChapterExcerpt/pbstc%20module%20intro.pdf.
For questions, email books@aaidd.org.
NEW NATIONAL REGISTRY IS LAUNCHED TO HELP FAMILY MEMBERS CONNECT WITH MISSING RELATIVES WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY
For family members and people with an intellectual disability, a new national registry developed by The ArcLink.org provides an opportunity to connect with missing relatives by providing basic contact information at https://www.thearclink.org/findfamily/. Representatives at The ArcLink.org will contact registered people in case of a match. For decades, parents of children with intellectual disabilities were advised to institutionalize their child and as a result, experts report that a high percentage of people with disabilities have no regular contact with family members. The FindFamily registry is one opportunity for missing family members to reunite.
To learn more on why the FindFamily registry was launched, visit http://www.thearclink.org/news/article.asp?ID=739
TWO NEW ACTS BENEFITING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES ARE INTRODUCED IN THE U.S. CONGRESS
The advocacy efforts of the disability community have resulted in two Acts being introduced in the U.S. Congress. Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and Representative James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) introduced the ADA Restoration Act . Since the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a series of court decisions has chipped away at the original intent of the law and has seriously weakened protections, explains Kim Musheno, Director of Legislative Affairs at AUCD in a press release issued by the Association. This bill restores the promise to end employment discrimination for people with disabilities as was originally intended by Congress. To learn more about the ADA visit http://www.aucd.org/template/page.cfm?id=309. Various disability groups are urging citizens to call their Representative and urge him or her to cosponsor the ADA Restoration Act. To take action, visit http://capwiz.com/aucd/home/ or go to http://www.congress.gov. In related ADA news, the National Council on Disability released two reports on the Americans with Disabilities Act that show that ADA implementation is not only possible and practical, it is also good for business. Read more and download the reports at http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/news/2007/r07-540.htm.
Also, the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Act of 2007 would create an insurance program for adults who become functionally disabled, providing a cash benefit to help obtain services and supports, while providing more choices on community participation, education, and employment. The CLASS Act was introduced by Senators Edward Kennedy and Tom Harkin and Representatives John Dingell and Frank Pallone. To read a press release from Senator Kennedy’s office, visit http://kennedy.senate.gov/newsroom/press_release.cfm?id=ff644903-1844-4478-b53a-5cfb712a5850
HOW COMMON ARE MARITAL DIFFICULTIES IN FAMILIES OF CHILDREN WITH DOWN SYNDROME? LARGE POPULATION-BASED STUDY PUBLISHED IN THE AMERICAN JOURNAL ON MENTAL RETARDATION TAKES A LOOK AT DIVORCE AMONG PARENTS OF CHILDREN BORN WITH DOWN SYNDROME
While Down syndrome is well-studied, there have been gaps in research, on the focus on families. A large-scale population study—one of the first with an epidemiological approach—studied families of 647 children with Down Syndrome and 361,154 of comparison children who did not have any disabilities, and found that divorce in families of children born with Down Syndrome is not as common as thought of, but is higher in cases of less educated parents and those living in rural areas. The findings from the study can be used to counsel parents of newborns about the risks and timing of possible marital discord during the first few years of the child’s birth, as well as to develop special programs for families in rural areas.
To read “Divorce in Families of Children with Down Syndrome: A Population-Based Study” by Richard C. Urbano and Robert M. Hodapp in the American Journal on Mental Retardation (Volume 112, No. 4), visit http://www.aaidd.org/Reading_Room/pdf/AJMRDivorceandDownSyndrome.pdf. To learn more about AJMR, visit http://aaidd.allenpress.com/aamronline/?request=get-static&name=ajmr-info
THE WHITE HOUSE RELEASES A 2007 PROGRESS REPORT ON PRESIDENT BUSH’S NEW FREEDOM INITIATIVE
The year 2007 progress report on the New Freedom Initiative highlights recent accomplishments by the current Bush administration and outlines next steps to be taken in major areas touched upon by the report—technology, education, employment, and access to community life. Announced in February, 2001, the New Freedom Initiative is President George W. Bush’s plan to eliminate barriers toward full community inclusion for the 54 million people with disabilities in America.
Read The President's New Freedom Initiative: The 2007 Progress Report at http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/newfreedom/newfreedom-report-2007.html
THE SUPPORTS INTENSITY SCALE WILL SOON BE AVAILABLE IN FRENCH!
The American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) is poised to publish a French translation of the Supports Intensity Scale (SIS) planning tool. The SIS measures support needs of persons with intellectual disabilities in 85 medical, behavioral, and life activities areas, and is currently in use in many states within the U.S. and abroad. While it is anticipated that the initial need for the French language SIS will be in Canada , this version of SIS can be adapted to French-speaking countries worldwide. To learn more about the French language version of SIS, please visit http://www.siswebsite.org/cs/Newsletter/FrenchSIS. For questions, email books@aaidd.org. To learn more about SIS, visit www.siswebsite.org.
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. To purchase AAIDD products, visit http://bookstore.aaidd.org.
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© Copyright 2007 American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD)
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