February 2010, Vol. 10, No. 2

AAIDD F.Y.I.
February 2010, Vol.10, No.2
Visit www.aaidd.org/FYI/ to access current and past issues of this monthly newsletter. Subscribe at http://www.responsetrack.net/aaidd/sign_up.

Dear AAIDD Friends and Colleagues:

• Study indicates that children with suspected development problems might not get needed referrals.
• The push to replace “mental retardation” with “intellectual disability”: “Rosa’s Law” in the U.S. Senate, New AAIDD Manual.
• Social Security Administration launches Website for people with Social Security disability benefits who want to return to work.
• Study indicates relationship between mortality and residential/social factors among adults with intellectual disabilities in nursing homes.
• National Council on Disability releases reports on state of housing and on future of support workforce in America.
• Coming in April: Disability Policy Seminar in Washington, DC.

STUDY INDICATES THAT CHILDREN WITH SUSPECTED DEVELOPMENT PROBLEMS MIGHT NOT GET NEEDED REFERRALS
A study from the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center and other institutions indicates that, while a fairly high percentage of pediatricians screen their patients for developmental delays, far fewer refer those children with suspected delays for further testing or treatment. The study, published in the February issue of Pediatrics, notes that pediatric practices need two separate formalized systems—one for screening and one for referral.  Read a press release on the study. Or read abstract.

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THE PUSH TO REPLACE “MENTAL RETARDATION” WITH “INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY”: “ROSA’S LAW” IN THE U.S. SENATE, NEW AAIDD MANUAL
“Rosa’s Law,” a bill introduced in the U.S. Senate to eliminate the terms “mental retardation” and “mentally retarded” from the federal law books and use “intellectual disability” instead, has gathered 28 co-sponsors from both sides of the aisle in the U.S. Congress. Many are members of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, to which the bill has been referred. Track the bill's progress. The bill, S. 2781, was introduced in November by Senators Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD) and Michael B. Enzi (R-WY).

The same change in terminology appears in the 11th edition of the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Intellectual Disability: Definition Classification and Systems of Supports. Learn more or purchase the Manual.

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SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION LAUNCHES WEBSITE FOR PEOPLE WITH SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFITS WHO WANT TO RETURN TO WORK
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has launched the Choose Work Website for people receiving Social Security disability benefits who want to return to work. The site contains first-person accounts by people who have used the SSA’s work incentives; videos, including a Work Incentive Seminar Event; help finding local resources; and more.

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STUDY INDICATES RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MORTALITY AND RESIDENTIAL/SOCIAL FACTORS AMONG ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES IN NURSING HOMES
A study of adults with intellectual disabilities residing in nursing homes indicated that, beyond age, adaptive behavior, and health, other aspects related to mortality were the size of residences, residential characteristics, and social factors. The study, “Residential Characteristics, Social Factors, and Mortality Among Adults With Intellectual Disabilities: Transitions Out of Nursing Homes” by Kelly Hseih, Tamar Heller, and Sally Freels, appears in the current issue of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Read abstract of the article.
        
Learn more about Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, published by the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

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NATIONAL COUNCIL ON DISABILITY RELEASES REPORTS ON STATE OF HOUSING AND ON FUTURE OF SUPPORT WORKFORCE
Last month, the National Council on Disability (NCD) released two reports.
(1) The State of Housing in 21st Century America—A Disability Perspective  (html version) (pdf version)evaluates relevant public laws, policies, and program initiatives; analyzes the housing, supports, and other benefits available through the public, nonprofit, and/or private sectors; and makes recommendations for improving housing opportunities for people with disabilities. The report reveals a gap between current policy goals and outcomes, and also includes real-life examples reflecting best and most promising practices.

(2) Workforce Infrastructure in Support of People with Disabilities: Matching Human Resources to Service Needs (html version) (pdf version) highlights the problem that, in the coming decades, a growing number of Americans will need the disabilities services infrastructure. Yet, forecasts show a shortage of qualified workers to meet these needs.

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COMING IN APRIL: DISABILITY POLICY SEMINAR IN WASHINGTON, DC
The American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities is one of disability organizations co-hosting the annual Disability Policy Seminar in Washington, DC, from April 12-14, 2010. The seminar is a yearly examination of organizations’ grassroots networks for bipartisan advocacy of national policies promoting full inclusion of people with disabilities in our society. Visit seminar website.

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AAIDD F.Y.I. is compiled by Anu Prabhala, Editor and is published by the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (Formerly AAMR). Please submit comments, suggestions, tips, and news to anu@aaidd.org. To learn about AAIDD products, visit http://bookstore.aaidd.org. For more information on becoming an AAIDD member, visit /content_14.cfm?navID=13.