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September 2007, Vol.7, No.9

AAIDD F.Y.I.
September 2007, Vol.7, No.9

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:

HALF OF CHILDREN WITH AUTISM CAN BE ACCURATELY DIAGNOSED AT CLOSE TO ONE YEAR OF AGE, NEW STUDY SHOWS
Researchers at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, Maryland have found that autism can be diagnosed at close to one year of age, which is the earliest the disorder has ever been diagnosed. The study, which evaluated social and communication development in autism spectrum disorders in children 14 to 36 months of age, revealed that approximately half of all children with autism can be diagnosed around the first birthday. Early diagnosis of the disorder allows for early intervention, which can make a major difference in helping children with autism reach their full potential.

The study, titled “Social and Communication Development in Toddlers With Early and Later Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders” by Dr. Rebecca J. Landa et al. is published in the July 2007 issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry. To read an abstract, visit http://archpsyc.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/64/7/853. To read a press release on this discovery, visit http://www.kennedykrieger.org/kki_news.jsp?pid=6521.

Autism affects one in every 150 children in the United States, recent data released by the Centers for Disease Control shows. Read more at/FYI/fyi_vol_7_no_3.shtml#New.

PERSON-CENTERED STRATEGIES IN THE NEW AAIDD POSITIVE BEHAVIOR SUPPORT TRAINING CURRICULUM CREATE RESPECTFUL CLIENT-STAFF INTERACTIONS
The new edition of the Positive Behavior Support Training Curriculum (PBSTC) developed by the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD), is an evidence-based tool that trains direct support professionals and supervisors on interacting with clients using principles such as focusing on individual needs, respecting the rights of all citizens, and treating people with disabilities with dignity. Some of the strategies that create the basis for respectful client-staff interactions include: (1) using praise and feedback to increase a target behavior; (2) interacting with consumers in a positive and age-appropriate way; (3)learning how to identify and teach consumers essential skills as opposed to non-functional skills; (4) identifying how to give choices to individuals and when to give them; (5) correcting errors diplomatically while teaching a new skill; and (6) learning when to use verbal, gestural, modeling, and physical prompts.

To learn more, visit http://bookstore.aaidd.org and download a list of training modules contained in the Curriculum. Since the PBSTC is evidence-based, the strategies outlined in the Curriculum have been tested and known to work in real-life settings. For questions, email books@aaidd.org.

NEW (FREE) INTERNATIONAL HANDBOOK PROVIDES BASIC INFORMATION FOR WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES ON HOW TO STAY HEALTHY AND LIVE WELL
A new handbook with examples and illustrations drawn from across the world, serves as a basic guide to health and wellness for women living with a physical or mental disability. Women with disabilities across the world often find it difficult to get the health care they need, when they need it. A Health Handbook for Women With Disabilitiesby the Hesperian Foundation provides basic and essential information on issues such as understanding your body, sexuality, pregnancy, preventing abuse, taking care of assistive devices, information on common medications, and more. To download the book by chapter, visit http://www.hesperian.org/publications_download_wwd.php.

LEARN HOW GEORGIA, LOUISIANA, AND WASHINGTON IMPLEMENTED THE SUPPORTS INTENSITY SCALE PLANNING TOOL STATEWIDE FOR PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES
Developmental disability leaders from Georgia, Louisiana, and Washington discussed their experiences adopting and implementing the Supports Intensity Scale (SIS) planning tool statewide for people with intellectual disabilities at the 2007 annual meeting of the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD), publisher of SIS. Now you can hear this presentation in audio format at/audio/MAY23.mp3. The session includes the following presentations: “Moving the Money: Individual Development Accounts for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities” by Stephen Hall (Georgia); “Developing a Statewide System for Individualized Planning and Resource Allocation Using the Support Intensity Scale” by James LeVelle and Scott Meche (Louisiana); and “Implementing Standardized Assessment in Washington State” by Linda Rolfe, John Stern, Lisa Weber.

The SIS is an assessment tool that measures supports required by a person with an intellectual disability to lead an independent life. To catch up on the latest developments on SIS, read the SIS Vantage newsletter at www.siswebsite.org/Newsletter/. Subscribe for free at http://www.responsetrack.net/aamr/sis/sign_up. For questions, email books@aaidd.org.

LARGEST FEDERAL DISABILITY PROGRAMS HAVE NOT KEPT UP WITH SOCIETAL CHANGES IN THE UNITED STATES, A NEW REPORT FROM THE U.S. GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE SAYS
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) gathered advocacy groups, academia, federal agencies, and researchers for a forum to discuss what’s working well in over 200 federal disability programs in the United States, what needs to be improved, and how to strengthen partnerships and modernize programs. A new report titled Modernizing Federal Disability Policy published by GAO articulates the key concerns expressed in this forum. Some of the steps identified to enhance federal programs include talking with people receiving disability services to find out what additional services they need to succeed; developing a definition of disability and standard language that could be used across programs; and providing services to youth. Read the report athttp://www.gao.gov/new.items/d07934sp.pdf.

JOIN A TELECONFERENCE HOSTED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES ON FEDERAL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES AVAILABLE FOR SUPPORTING CAREGIVERS ACROSS THE LIFESPAN
On September 19, 2007, from 1 pm-3 pm U.S. Eastern Time, the New Freedom Initiative Subcommittee on Caregiving will present a broadcast designed to bring awareness to the range of programs and services offered by the Department of Health and Human Services offers that support caregivers across the lifespan. To learn more, download a flyer athttp://www.cms.hhs.gov/partnerships/downloads/NFIflyer.pdf.

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 /Membership/index.shtml. To purchase AAIDD products, visit http://bookstore.aaidd.org.

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