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April 2005, Vol.5, No.4

AAMR F.Y.I.
April 2005, Vol.5, No.4

Visit http://www.aamr.org/FYI/ to access current and past issues of this monthly newsletter.

Dear AAMR Friends and Colleagues:

IN THIS ISSUE:

TRAINING HELPS WOMEN WITH COGINITIVE DISABILITIES RESIST ABUSE AND BECOME EFFECTIVE DECISION MAKERS, SAYS NEW STUDY
Incidences of abuse are generally higher among children and adults with mental retardation as compared to the general population. A new study published in the American Journal on Mental Retardation found that women who participated in an abuse-prevention curriculum were more knowledgeable and had superior decision-making skills as compared to their untrained peers.

Read “Evaluation of a Decision-Making Curriculum Designed to Empower Women With Mental Retardation to Resist Abuse” athttp://www.aamr.org/Reading_Room/pdf/AJMRMay05abusetraining.pdf

TEACHING READING TO CHILDREN WITH MENTAL RETARDATION IS GOAL OF NEW $9 MILLION DOLLAR RESEARCH STUDY
Can children with mental retardation learn to read? What’s the optimal way to teach reading to this special population? A national study funded by the U.S. Department of Education seeks to find answers to these questions. “Most educators believe children with mental retardation cannot learn to read, but that idea has never been empirically tested," said Patricia Mathes, director of the Southern Methodist University’s Institute for Reading Research, one of the three centers chosen to conduct this study.

Read more about the study athttp://www.smu.edu/smunews/education/NationalStudyMain.asp andhttp://www.smu.edu/smunews/education/NationalStudyFacts.asp.

CALL FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON NEW NATIONAL STANDARDS IN NEWBORN SCREENING
A new report released by the U.S. Maternal and Child Health Bureau outlines model policies, procedures, and minimum standards for state newborn screening programs. Newborn Screening: Toward a Uniform Screening Panel and System is available for public comment for 60 days starting March 8, 2005 at http://mchb.hrsa.gov/screening. The lack of uniformity in newborn screening programs, changing technologies, and the complexity of genetics prompted a fresh look at the state of the art in newborn screening in the United States. For questions, contact Dr. Michele Lloyd-Puryear atscreening@hrsa.hhs.gov

STUDY LINKS POLLUTION TO BIRTH DEFECTS
A study of newborns in New York City has revealed that prenatal exposure to combustion-related urban air pollutants alters the structure of chromosomes (the carriers of genes) of babies in the womb. This is the first study to show that environmental exposure during pregnancy to such pollutants can cause a modest but significant increase in chromosomal abnormalities in fetal tissues.

Read more about this study athttp://www.columbia.edu/cu/news/05/02/pollution_pregnacy.html

LEARN HOW PROPOSED CHANGES IN SOCIAL SECURITY WILL AFFECT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Social security provides benefits to 47 million people in the United States, including 7 million people with disabilities. Current talk on privatization of social security will have a significant impact on the benefits received by people with disabilities. The Consortium of Citizens with Disabilities has put together 7 fact sheets “to educate people about the potential devastating effect of major program changes” athttp://www.aamr.org/Policies/legislation.shtml

GRANT NEWS AND RESOURCES YOU CAN USE
Up to $5.1 million in grant funds are available from the Corporation for National and Community Service to engage youth and veterans with disabilities in community service. Learn more athttp://www.nationalservice.org/news/pr/05_0228.html

How do you engage people with disabilities in planning for natural or man-made emergencies? Find out what leading authorities in the field had to say at the first national conference on emergency preparedness of people with disabilities at http://www.nod.org/epiconference2004/index.html

A report by the General Accountability Office examines trends in special education and autism. Read Education of Children with Autism athttp://www.gao.gov/new.items/d05220.pdf

The National Council on Disability has launched a new disability listserv. Learn how to subscribe at http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/news/2005/a05-480.htm

AAMR F.Y.I. is compiled by Anna Prabhala, Editor. Please submit comments, suggestions, tips, and news to annap@aamr.org

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