Education, Outreach and Training Workgroup

The Education, Outreach and Training Workgroup has focused its activities on writing fact sheets, educational pamphlets, and Journal Articles regarding the connection between toxic exposures and developmental disabilities for the medical community.

In the Fall of 2008, AAIDD and workgroup members published an article entitled “Environmental Health and Developmental Disabilities: A Lifespan Approach” in Family and Community Health. Family and Community Health (Lippincott Williams and Wilkins) is a peer-reviewed journal that provides practical information that addresses the common goals of health care practitioners, regardless of area of practice, in teaching the essentials of self-care, family and community health care, and health promotion and maintenance.

Past accomplishments of the workgroup include a four part environmental health series developed for Exceptional Parent Magazine published in October 2005. Other activities include periodic conference calls to generate ideas for articles and other writing projects as well as developing fact sheets for the website. Another activity has been to help design the program for a training conference for pediatricians and nurses regarding toxic exposures and developmental disabilities, Out of Harms Way.

So get involved today! To add your name to the Workgroup fill out this form and help raise awareness about the connection between toxic exposures and developmental disabilities! To find out more contact the Director of Environmental Health Initiative, AAIDD at laura@aaidd.org .