December 2008, Vol. 8, No. 12

AAIDD IS SEEKING VOLUNTEER INTERVIEWERS TO HELP DEVELOP A STATE-OF-THE-ART ADAPTIVE BEHAVIOR SCALE FOR PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES
The American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) is seeking volunteer interviewers to administer a newly-developed Diagnostic Adaptive Behavior Scale (DABS) on typically developing individuals from 4 to 21 years old. Data collected from these interviews will contribute toward the standardization of the Scale. The new AAIDD Adaptive Behavior Scale will facilitate the diagnosis of intellectual disability in an individual. The Scale will consist of 259 items across the three adaptive behavior domains of conceptual, social, and practical skills.

To read more on how to participate and download a recruitment form, visit www.aaidd.org.

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THE CONSORTIUM OF CITIZENS WITH DISABILITIES PRESENTS U.S. PRESIDENT-ELECT, BARACK OBAMA, WITH REPORT ON MAJOR ISSUES FACING THE NEW ADMINISTRATION AND CONGRESS CONCERNING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND THEIR FAMILIES
From autism to veterans affairs, the Consortium of Citizens with Disabilities, a coalition of leading disability organizations, presented a transition report to U.S. President elect, Barack Obama, outlining major issues in disability policy to be addressed by the 111th Congress. The report also suggests potential solutions to challenges faced and lists staff positions within the Administration that are critical to people with disabilities.

To read Disability Policy Recommendations for Presidential Transition and 111th Congress, click here.

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“FALSE CONFESSIONS FROM 53 PERSONS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES: THE LIST KEEPS GROWING”—READ AN ARTICLE BY NOTED DISABILITY ADVOCATE, ROBERT PERSKE
In an article appearing in the December 2008 issue of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Robert Perske writes eloquently about 53 people with intellectual disabilities who have confessed to serious felonies they have not committed. Robert Perske is a disability advocate who works tirelessly with people with disabilities in the criminal justice system.

To read “False Confessions From 53 Persons With Intellectual Disabilities: The List Keeps Growing”, click here.

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THE MARCH OF DIMES GIVES THE UNITED STATES A “D” IN ITS FIRST ANNUAL PREMATURE BIRTH REPORT CARD, WHEN COMPARING ACTUAL PRETERM BIRTH RATES TO THE NATIONAL HEALTHY PEOPLE 2010 OBJECTIVE
In the first of its annual Premature Birth Report Card, the United States received a “D” and not a single state earned an “A,” when the March of Dimes compared actual preterm birth rates to the national Healthy People 2010 objective. Eighteen states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia failed, according to the report. Babies who survive a premature birth face the risk of serious lifelong health issues including learning disabilities, cerebral palsy, blindness, hearing loss, and other chronic conditions.

To read the report card, including state-by-state rankings, click here.

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LEARN HOW TO MAKE ONLINE PRESENTATIONS MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIESAccess a lay friendly, web tutorial by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Target Center on ways you can adapt web technologies to make presentations more accessible to people with disabilities at https://admin.na3.acrobat.com/_a774694537.cfm/p25975456/.

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