AAIDD F.Y.I.
July 2008, Vol.8, No.7
Visit www.aaidd.org/FYI/ to access current and past issues of this monthly newsletter. Subscribe at http://www.responsetrack.net/aaidd/sign_up.
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
The American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD)
is calling for papers for a special issue of the American Journal on Mental
Retardation (AJMR) on cognitive neuroscience studies of persons with intellectual
and developmental disabilities. Deadline for submissions is December 15, 2008.
The AJMR is among top three journals in special education and rehabilitation,
according to latest impact factor rankings. Read more about submission requirements
here.
Learn more about AJMR here.
Dear AAIDD Friends and Colleagues:
AAIDD PUBLISHES WHITE
PAPERS ON FOUR MAJOR ISSUES CONCERNING THE USE OF THE SUPPORTS INTENSITY
SCALE PLANNING TOOL FOR PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES
Resource allocation, individual service planning, psychometric properties,
and international implementation with the Supports Intensity Scale™(SIS)
are the focus of four white papers published by the American Association
on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD). The white papers
are edited by SIS authors, Robert L. Schalock, Marc J. Tassé, and
James R. Thompson. To access the white papers, please visit the individual
websites listed below. The website allows you to post your comments on each
white paper and share your concerns and perspectives with other users of
the Scale.
Relating Supports Intensity Scale™ Information to Individual Service Plans:
http://www.siswebsite.org/cs/SISwhitepaper/Individualserviceplans
SIS™ Resource Allocation: Four Papers on Issues and Approaches: http://www.siswebsite.org/cs/SISwhitepaper/Resourceallocation
International
Implementation of the Supports Intensity Scale™:
http://www.siswebsite.org/cs/SISwhitepapers/Internationalimplementation
Psychometric Properties of the Supports Intensity Scale™: http://www.siswebsite.org/cs/SISwhitepaper/Psychometricproperties
Questions? Email books@aaidd.org. To learn more about the Supports Intensity Scale, visit www.siswebsite.org. To subscribe to the SIS Vantage newsletter, visit www.siswebsite.org/Newsletter.
READ A COMPARATIVE
ANALYSIS OF INSTITUTIONAL VERSUS COMMUNITY SERVICES IN THE U.S. IN
THE LATEST 2008 STATE OF THE STATES STUDY
A comparative analysis of institutional versus community services in the
United States in the latest 2008 edition of the State of the States study
by David L. Braddock reveals two broad trends: inflation-adjusted community
services spending grew steadily in every U.S. state during the past 10
years, and public-private institutional spending declined in 43 states
and DC during the past decade. The seven states where institutional
spending did not decline over the past 10 years are: Connecticut, Iowa,
Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, and New Jersey. State leaders
in the growth of community services in 2004-2006 are Hawaii (17%), Arkansas
and Maryland (16%), and Idaho and Tennessee (14%). Sixteen states and DC
reduced community spending between 2004-2006.
The State of the States study is a thorough and the only one of its kind investigation on public spending, revenues, and programmatic trends of intellectual and developmental programs and services within the United States since 1977. The book is arguably the best known for its 4-page report card on developmental disability spending on each U.S. state and DC. To learn more about the book, click here.
Here are some interesting historical facts revealed by the 2008 State of the States research: (1) Public spending for community services in the U.S. first exceeded institutional spending in 1989; (2) Mississippi has committed a significantly increased amount of public resources for community services over the past 10 years despite still spending more on institutional services than community services; (3) Alaska in 1981, and Colorado and Michigan in 1982, were the first three states to allocate a majority of their total I/DD funding base to community services; (4) After its peak in 1991, institutional spending in the U.S. declined each year through 2006 and declined 5% in 2004-2006; (5) Alaska, New Mexico, and Vermont operated no public or private 16+ person settings during 2004-2006; (6) Georgia had the largest increase (28%) in public and private institutional spending in 2004-2006.
Advertisement Take Advantage of ANCOR’s Professional Development Opportunities! ANCOR, a national association representing private providers who offer quality supports to people with disabilities, offers a variety of timely and informative programs. Two upcoming opportunities are:
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CENTERS FOR
DISEASE CONTROL STUDY SHOWS THAT RISK OF AUTISM IS HIGHER FOR PRETERM AND
LOW BIRTH WEIGHT GIRLS
A study conducted by researchers at the centers for Disease Control (CDC)
shows that babies with a birth weight lower than 2,500 grams and born prior
to 33 weeks of gestation were associated with an approximately two-fold increased
risk for autism, with the magnitude of risk being higher in girls. The study
also found a significant four-fold increased risk in low birth weight girls
for autism accompanied by intellectual disability, whereas there was no significantly
increased risk observed in low birth weight boys for autism alone.
The study is published in the journal, Pediatrics. To read an abstract of “Birth Weight and Gestational Age Characteristics of Children With Autism, Including a Comparison With Other Developmental Disabilities” click here.
CENTERS FOR MEDICARE
AND MEDICAID SERVICES IS SEEKING COMMENTS ON NEW “STAR” RANKING
SYSTEM FOR AMERICA’S NURSING HOMES; ANNOUNCEMENT FOLLOWS CMS’ FIRST-EVER
REPORT ON POOR-PERFORMING NURSING HOMES
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is requesting comments
on a “star” ranking system of America’s nursing homes.
The ranking system is designed to provide patients and their families with
an easy-to-understand assessment of nursing home quality and distinguish
between high-performing and low-performing homes. The announcement
on this ranking system follows the agency’s first nationwide identification
of chronically underperforming nursing homes (See AAIDD F.Y.I.,
Volume 8, No.1).
To read more on the CMS ranking system, click here.
TIPS FOR STUDENTS
AND YOUNG PROFESSIONALS IN INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY ON GETTING PUBLISHED!
ACCESS MATERIALS FROM A RECENT AAIDD/AUCD TELECONFERENCE FOR YOUNG LEADERS
IN THE DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY FIELD
Presentations from a webinar held on June 19, 2008, titled “Early
Career Development: Writing for Publication”, organized by the
American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD)
and the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), are
now available
online. The webinar featured noted scholars, Susan L. Parish and
K. Charlie Lakin. The webinar is part of a joint initiative between AAIDD
and AUCD to meet the needs of students, trainees, and young professionals
in the field of intellectual disability. To send in your comments on
what future presentations you’d like to see, please send an email
to books@aaidd.org.
To see the latest newsletter published by the AAIDD Young Professionals program, visit http://www.aaidd.org/YP/index.shtml. To fill out an AAIDD survey to help develop a clearinghouse of masters/doctoral programs and post-doctoral opportunities in the intellectual and developmental Disabilities, click here.
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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