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March 2005, Vol.5, No.3

AAMR F.Y.I.
March 2005, Vol.5, No.3

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

Dear AAMR Friends and Colleagues:

IN THIS ISSUE:

AAMR MEMBERS

Here’s your chance to participate in a Supports Intensity Scalereliability study.

POPULATION IN STATE INSTITUTIONS ON A STEADY DECLINE, SAYS NEW STUDY
A 2004 survey of developmental disability agencies and state institutions in the U.S. revealed a steady decline in residents, according to a new study published in the April issue of Mental Retardation.

Read more at http://www.aamr.org/Reading_Room/pdf/LakinMarch05MR.pdf

CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL LAUNCHES PROGRAM TO HELP PARENTS IDENTIFY EARLY SIGNS OF AUTISM AND OTHER DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
“Learn the Signs. Act Early” is a public awareness campaign launched by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to educate parents about early childhood development, including early warning signs of autism and other developmental disabilities. In the United States, an estimated 17 percent of children have a developmental or behavioral disability such as autism, mental retardation, or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Two percent of children have a serious developmental disability, such as mental retardation, cerebral palsy, or autism.

Learn more at http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/actearly/

DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS FAIRNESS AND SECURITY ACT OF 2005 BRINGS WAGES OF DIRECT CARE WORKERS TO THE LEGISLATIVE FOREFRONT
Wages of direct support professionals continue to gain prominence on the U.S. legislative agenda, with the introduction of Direct Support Professional Families and Security Act of 2005, a bill introduced by Representatives Lee Terry (R-NE) and Lois Capps (D-CA). The legislation aims at making wages of direct care workers competitive and attractive.

To read a press release on the bill, visithttp://www.ancor.org/2004/issues/shortage/DSP_Terry_Capps_press_release_3-05.doc

Read a copy of the bill athttp://www.ancor.org/2004/issues/shortage/HR1264.doc

X CHROMOSOME REVEALED: SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY SHEDS LIGHT ON THE ROLE OF CHROMOSOMES IN HEALTH AND DISORDERS
More than 300 disorders have been linked to the X chromosome, including varied forms of mental retardation and Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Now the National Institutes on Health (NIH) has released the first comprehensive analysis of the sequence of the human X chromosome, crowning it “a monumental achievement for biology and medicine.” Even though the X chromosome contains only 4 percent of all human genes, it accounts for almost 10 percent of inherited disorders caused by a single gene.

To read a press release on the discovery by NIH visithttp://www.nih.gov/news/pr/mar2005/nhgri-16.htm

A detailed analysis of the X chromosome’s DNA sequence and a survey of its gene activity, are published in the current issue of the journal Nature athttp://www.nature.com/index.html

INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESOURCES IN THE NEWS
Mercury and Learning Disabilities, a new publication by the National Education Association, the Arc of the United States, and the Learning Disabilities Association of America helps parents identify the causes of mercury pollution and how exposure to this potent neurotoxicant can adversely affect a child's learning potential. Learn more athttp://www.thearc.org/publications/mercury.pdf

A new brochure by the Arc of the United States athttp://www.thearc.org/ideachanges/crsanalysis.pdf helps parents families, providers, and advocates understand the revisions to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act enacted in the 108th Congress.

For a Frequently Asked Questions on aging and developmental disabilities, visit the home page of the American Association on Mental Retardation athttp://www.aamr.org/Policies/faq_aging.shtml For position statements on critical issues facing the field of mental retardation, visithttp://www.aamr.org/Policies/position_statements.shtml

HERE’S YOUR CHANCE TO PARTICIPATE IN A SUPPORTS INTENSITY SCALE RELIABILITY STUDY
If you have attended training on the Supports Intensity Scale (SIS) and/or have experience administering SIS, the American Association on Mental Retardation would like you to participate in a new SIS reliability study. Participants will be asked to complete 1 or 2 SIS forms and mail these forms to the researchers. All names will be kept confidential.

If you are interested in participating in this study, please contact Dr. Jim Thompson at jrthomp@ilstu.edu

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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