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February 27, 2007 Monthly Network Volume 7, Number 2
News Brief
[ News from Central Office ]
[ AUCD Network News ] [ International Events & News ]
[ Requests ] [ Events/Notices ] [ Funding Opportunities ]
[ Current Policy Issues & Events ] [ Position Announcements ] [ Resources ]
NEWS FROM CENTRAL OFFICE
Ne w Autism Prevale nce Study Unde rscores Need for Research, Se rvices, and
Supports (AUC D Press Release). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) released a new study on the prevalence of Autism and related disabilities.
According to the recent study, approximately 1 in every 150 American children has a
potential diagnosis of Autism, a higher rate than previously reported just a year ago.
This study was based on in depth review of medical and school records for children
who were 8 years of age at multiple sites across the country. Several Centers
across the AUCD network collaborated with CDC on this important study. It is one of
the largest and most intensive studies to date.
Re designed Website Launc hed! AUCD announced the launch of a completely
redesigned website at the beginning of February. The new website has hopefully
provided you w ith more intuitive navigation, more focused content, and a cleaner
user interface for enhanced usability. The website uses a content management
system (CMS) w hich will allow greater flexibility in presenting information and faster,
more efficient updates and maintenance by AUCD staff and content owners. New
features include:
AUCD - A Guided Tour: An introduction to AUCD for new visitors
Member Spotlight: Highlights members and noteworthy events in the AUCD
Network
Spec ial features: An acronym dictionary, improved event listings, restructured
public policy sections, and a regularly updated list of funding opportunities
Health & Disability Digest: An online publication highlighting the AUCD-
NCBDDD Cooperative Agreement
Reorganized Council web pages
We invite you to tell us what you think by taking the Visitor Survey. This version of
the AUCD website is our next step to provide better organization and accessibility to
AUCD network-wide information. We want to continue to make improvements to the
information we provide to you so please let us know what you think and any
suggestions that you may have. We welcome all feedback! If you have questions
about the new website, please contact Evette Mezger, Director of Information
Services, 301-588-8252.
Aging Out of EPSDT: Issues for Young Adults with Disa bilities (Issue Brief).
This issue brief written by Bob Williams, Senior Policy Consultant at AUCD and
Jennifer Tolbert with the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured,
discusses the challenges and implications for young people w ith disabilities when
they become adults and lose their Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and
Treatment (EPSDT) benefits, and looks at how recent changes to the Deficit
Reduction Act (DRA) gives states an opportunity to increase the availability of
services that allow disabled individuals to lead as normal a life as possible as they
move into adulthood.
Re introduction of the AUC D Health a nd Disability Digest. We are happy to
reintroduce the quarterly, online publication highlighting the latest news about the
AUCD- NCBDDD Cooperative Agreement and public health and disability. This issue
features the following Project News and Updates:
2007 Research Topic Of Interest (RTOI) Opportunities
New NCBDDD-AUCD Fellow for CDC’s "Learn the Signs, Act Early" Campaign
For more information or submit questions, please contact Sue Lin, Project Director of
CDC Cooperative Agreement.
Curre nt Issue of LEND Links Availa ble. Announcing the February edition of
AUCD’s LEND Links, the newsletter for and about the nation’s 35 MCHB LEND
Interdisciplinary Leadership Training Programs. The next issue of LEND Links will be
produced at the end of the spring semester. *NEW: To submit articles and photos
for LEND Links, simply visit the LEND Links Submission webpage !
Central Office We lcomes Ne w Policy Fellow, Dav id Morrissey. AUCD is
pleased to announce that David Morrissey has been named as the 2007 Policy
Fellow. A recent graduate of the University of Arkansas’s Clinton School of Public
Service, David began his fellowship this month. While ea rning his master’s degree,
Morrissey worked as the lead author of Ar kansas youth with Spina Bifida:
Supporting independence through transition planning, a manuscript that was
presented before the CDC and Spina Bif ida Association’s joint annual meeting. He
served the Arkansas Disability Policy Consortium w ith legislative agenda crafting,
facilitating constituent focus groups, and communicating with state representative
offices to complete his Clinton School Capstone Project. David participated in a 12
week Vietnam-based internship, during which he served grassroots disabilities
organizations in creating developmental goals. He also taught grant writing
workshops at Ho Chi Minh City’s National University of Social Sciences and
Humanities, and to the Disabled Youth Association.
Thoughts from the 2006-2007 AUCD Virtual Trainee Re ne Jamison of the
Developmental Disabilities Center (KS LEND): I would like to extend an
opportunity for AUCD trainees to share their research interests and projects with
other trainees and faculty across the network. A “call for papers” will be sent through
the trainee listserv inviting trainees to submit summaries of their current or past
research projects, program evaluations, or proposals for upcoming research projects.
The selected research summaries will then be posted on the trainee section of the
AUCD website. The upcoming “call for papers” w ill outline specific guidelines fo r
submitting your summaries. This will provide a forum for trainees to share their
research accomplishments, ideas, and proposals and facilitate opportunities for
collaboration. I hope to hear from you, trainees! Best wishes, Rene Jamison.
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AUCD NETWORK NEWS
Hawaii Center on Disability Studies UCEDD Director Robert Stodde n Selected
as Dai Ho C hun Endowed Chair. The endowed chair position is in honor of Dr. Dai
Ho Chun, a public school teacher, supervisor of student teachers and principal of
University Laboratory School, faculty member in the College of Education, and
director of the International Cooperative Center. Dr. Stodden is a nationally
renow ned scholar in the areas of educational policy development and evidence -based
practice whose work has impacted educational systems and classroom practices on
local, national and international levels. His research explores the use of indigenous
and other cultural values and behaviors as a means of teaching and supporting
Native Hawaiian and other minority student groups who are most at risk for school
failure. “I am honored to serve as the Dai Ho Chun Endowed Chair and I look
forward to participating in educational leadership activities focused upon addressing
policy and practice issues which impact upon students in Hawaii’s public schools
most in need of assistance and support to succeed,” said Stodden.
National Center for Cultural Competence, in association with Center for
Child and Human Development (DC UCEDD), Hosting Leadership Initiative
on Cultural and Linguistic Competence in Systems. NCCC is pleased to
announce a new leadership initiative to advance and sustain cultural and linguistic
competence in systems, organizations, and programs concerned with children and
youth with special health care needs and their families. The initiative will be
comprised of a small group (15) of self-identified leaders. The group w ill be invited
to an initial meeting in Washington, DC on May 10 - 11, 2007 to learn, share, and
identify opportunities and challenges for advancing their leadership roles. The NCCC
will then continue the process of connecting the community of learners through a
series of teleconference calls and other forums. Please submit the completed
application by March 9, 2007 to cultural@georgetown.edu or FAX: 202-687-8899;
Attention: Elira Coja. For more information on selection criteria and receiving the
application, please contact Wendy Jones at 800-788-2066.
Montana Rural Institute (UCEDD) Develops and Demonstrates Transition
Planning Activities for Middle School Students with Developmenta l
Disabilities. Through the Partnerships for Transition project funded by the Montana
Council on Developmental Disabilities, the Rural Institute and the statewide parent
advocacy agency, PLUK (Parents, Let’s Unite for Kids) are creating and implementing
strategies to help families, schools, and communities prepare their middle school
youth for success in the rest of their school years and beyond. Ellen Condon and
Kim Brown are the lead persons in this developmental effort.
Kansas State Sc hool for the Blind (KSSB) Receives Outreac h Services from
Developmental Disabilities Center (KS LEND) with Mate rna l a nd Child Health
Funding. Staff and LEND trainees recently spent a day at KSSB evaluating seven
students referred by the school's staff for concerns ranging from eating/nutritional
needs to classroom behavioral challenges and social interaction difficulties. Staff
collaborated with parents and KSSB professionals to make diagnostic impressions
and develop appropriate plans of care. For more information, please contact Robyn
Haenisch.
Community Inclusion and Disability Studies ’ (ME UCEDD) Web Accessibility
Efforts Feature d in Ne ws. The UCEDD’s efforts in promoting website accessibility
were featured in the December 2006 edition of Interface TECH NEWS. "Inclusive
Internet access: making a website disability friendly" covered the Center's efforts to
help the University of Maine develop a web accessibility policy, develop an
accessibility helpsite, and promote full inclusion for users of University Webs. The
article targeted primarily the business community. Alan Parks, coordinator of
dissemination and technology at CCIDS and chair of the University of Maine's
Universal Design for the Web Subcommittee, was interviewed for article, and
provided details about the Unive rsity's use of HiSoftware products to help Web
designers create accessible sites. He also provided links to useful sites for designers.
He pointed out that websites don't have to look different to be accessible.
Ne ws from the Institute on Disabilities (PA UCEDD)
Faculty Diane Pe rry Appointed to the Pennsylvania Specia l Education
Advisory Panel. Ms. Perry was appointed by Governor Ed Rendell to serve a
three year term on the Advisory Panel. This panel works to improve special
education in Pennsylvania by advising the Secretary of Education on the
unmet needs of students with disabilities, developing policies to improve
coordination of services and review ing the Depart ment of Education’s Annual
Program Plan.
UCEDD Searc hing for Ne w Director. The current Executive Director, Dr.
Diane Nelson Bryen, will be retiring in June 2008. In making appropriate
preparations, the UCEDD has been interview ing candidates for the position of
Executive Director. For several months, a search committee has collected
and reviewed the CVs of many potential candidates. Five candidates were
invited to Temple University for a full day of interviews w ith the search
committee, the Dean, and the staff of the Institute during the third week of
February.
Ne ws and Activities from the Institute for Community Inc lusion (MA UCEDD)
Joe Marrone was a keynote speaker on mental health and employment issues
at the “Moving Forward Together” forum in Victoria, British Columbia. He also
presented at a February 28 conference In Syracuse, NY on Work—A Right
Versus a Privilege.
John Butterworth is working with New England TASH to host a conference
titled “Live, Learn, Work: The Journey to Inclusion” in Worcester, MA on
March 16.
Sheila Fesko, Elena Varney, and Cori DiBiase presented at the National
Association of Workforce Boards conference in February.
The New England Rehabilitation Continuing Education Program at the UCEDD
welcomed students and staff to our nationally certified training series,
Innovative Community Employment and Support Strategies. The training
series cover skills training, job coaching, career planning, marketing, and job
developme nt.
Through the upcoming March 29 seminar, the UCEDD will address barriers
concerning public and subsidized housing and employment, as they relate to
tenants with disabilities. During the event, strategies will be offered to
overcome those barriers.
The UCEDD provided training, technical assistance, and evaluation for a
Massachusetts Depart ment of Education initiative launched in January 2007.
The Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment pilot is for students with disabilities aged
18 to 22 who are still in high school.
For more information on ongoing trainings, seminars, and Technical Assistance
activities contact ici@umb.edu.
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INTERNATIONAL NEWS & EVENTS
Educational Opportunity
Study Abroad on Peruvian Culture a nd Disa bility in Lima and Cusco, Pe ru:
This program offers students the opportunity to gain an international perspective on
the social, educational, and non-governmental services available to Peruvian adults
and children with various disabilities and their families in the coastal and mountain
regions of Peru. The program is hosted by the Centro Ann Sullivan del Perú (CASP).
Participants will visit public and private centers and schools serving children w ith
special needs in both Lima and Cusco. Participants will also visit organizations and
groups that serve adults with disabilities. In addition, participants will visit several
universities in Lima to hear presentations by renow ned scholars on various aspects
of independent living and disability in Peru. Students will earn three hours of KU
credit in ABSC 479 Study Abroad Topics In: Peruvian Culture & Disability. For more
information, contact Dr. Glen White, Associate Director of the Kansas University
Center on Developmental Disabilities or visit the Study Abroad Webpage.
Requests
Disability Mate rials Requested for GLADNET INF OBASE. GLADNET (the Global
Applied Disability Research and Information Network on Employment and Training) is
launching a new initiative, with funding from the International Labour Organization,
to support the implementation of the new United Nations Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities. The initiative will involve the development of a repository,
on the GLADNET InfoBase hosted at Cornell University, USA, of practical, user-
friendly materials on different aspects of disability, training and work/employment
which have been developed in different countries around the world for use by
organizations and agencies dealing with disability issues. GLADNET requests
submission of disability-related materials, developed for use by policy-makers and
practitioners, for their database to be sent to Sara Van Looy.
World Health Organization (WHO) Req uesting Images of Health a nd
Disability. WHO invites photographers and video producers to participate in this
annual global photo and video contest in four categories: (1) Color photographs
(digital or prints); (2) Black and white photographs (digital or prints); (3) Digital Art
photographs (images created or drastically manipulated by computer software or
electronic filters); and (4) short video clips. In each category, prizes w ill be awarded
ranging from $100–$1,000. Submission Deadline: March 9, 2007.
Events
Visit the International Section of AUC D's Events Pa ge for detailed information
about the following events:
April 14-15, 2007: Unite For Sight's Fourth Annual International Health
Conference
New! April 17–19, 2007: VSA Arts Institute
May 21-23, 2007: International Association for the Scientif ic Study of
Intellectual Disability (IASSID) Special Interest Research Group Conference
on Physical Health
June 16-19, 2007: Festival of International Conferences on Caregiving,
Disability, Aging and Technology (FICCDAT)
June 17-21, 2007: Third International Conference on Birth Defects and
Disabilities in the Developing World
July 6-9, 2007: China-US Conference on Youth at Risk
August 1-4, 2007: China-US Conference on Disaster Management: Natural
and Technological Disasters
August 10-13, 2007: China-US International Education Leadership
Conference: Improving Teaching and Learning
New! August 27- September 7, 2007: Sida International Training
Programmes on Human Rights and Disability: Middle East/North Africa
October 10-13, 2007: American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and
Developmental Medicine (AACPDM) Annual Meeting
New! November 6–8, 2007: 2nd International Conference on Intellectual
Disabilities
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REQUESTS
Administration for Developme ntal Disabilities (ADD) Requests Stories from
UCEDDs. ADD is currently at work on its Bi-Annual Report to Congress, the
President, and the National Council on Disability for Fiscal Years 2005-2006. ADD is
currently gathering stories, case studies, and program prof iles for the Bi-Annual
Report, which is due to the Administration on Children and Families in early
summer. Send ADD stories that support your stated goals and objectives for Fiscal
Years 2005 and 2006. ADD needs case studies and program prof iles that highlight
your achievements in each area of emphasis. All stories should be concise and
outcome-based. You may submit descriptions for as many programs or case studies
as you like, but each submission should be no longer than one page. ADD is
especially interested in programs designed to meet the needs of traditionally
underserved or culturally diverse communities. In addition, this Bi-Annual Report
will highlight collaboration. Send your submissions to Rebekah Yeager by March 31,
2007.
FEMA Seeks Applicants for Nationa l Advisory Counc il. The Depart ment of
Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is seeking
applicants who wish to be considered by the FEMA Administrator to sit on the
National Advisory Council. The Council is being created to advise the FEMA
Administrator to help ensure effective and ongoing coordination of the federal
preparedness, protection, response, recovery and mitigation for natural disasters,
acts of terrorism and other man- made disasters.
Re quest from the Institute on Disability (NH UCEDD) to the UCEDD and
LEND Directors. The UCEDD is currently engaged in an initiative to enhance
student involvement through non-credit course opportunities such as independent
studies, honors’ projects, master’s and doctoral theses, internships, and research
projects. We would very much appreciate it if you would share w ith us any materials
that you have developed that have proved successf ul in similar efforts at your
UCEDD. Brochures or other marketing materials, web sites, videos, and especially,
samples of “learning contracts” between UCEDD staff/faculty and students would be
very helpf ul. We need to develop more formal processes for having initial
conversations with students interested in doing work w ith us and for supporting
accountability to their learning or project goals. If we adapt these materials for our
use, we will certainly cite you as the author or contributor. Please send electronic
materials or questions to Dr. Cheryl Jorgensen and mail any hard copy documents at
the following: Cheryl M. Jorgensen, PhD; Project Director; Institute on Disability;
University of New Hampshire; 10 West Edge Drive, Suite 101; Durham, NH 03824.
Re quests for Models to Access Se rvices. The Maryland Depart ment of Health
and Mental Hygiene seeks examples of innovative state (or local) models for
assisting CYSHCN and their families with finding and accessing needed services
(health, family support, education, etc.). Please send any information to Jamie J.
Perry, MD, MPH., Office for Genetics and Children with Special Health Care Needs,
Maryland Depart me nt of Health and Mental Hygiene and please copy Jill Ackermann
on your message.
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EVENTS/NOTICES
Visit AUC D's Events Page for a complete list of events of interest to the
AUC D network, inc luding events sponsore d by AUC D, UCEDDs, and LEND
programs:
March 3–4, 2007: Maternal and Child Health Burea u Joint Meeting
March 4-6, 2007: 2007 Disability Policy Seminar
March 12-14, 2007: 23rd Annual Pac Rim Conference; Sponsored by Center
on Disability Studies (HI UCEDD)
New! May 10–11, 2007: Employment Conference for People on the Autism
Spectrum; Supported by the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community
(UCEDD)
New! May 10–11, 2007: Leadership Initiative on Cultural and Linguistic
Competence in Systems; Sponsored by the National Center for Cultural
Competence (NCCC), in association with the Center for Child and Human
Development (DC UCEDD)
New! May 15-16, 2007: 20th Annual National Maternal and Child Health
Leadership Conference; Sponsored by the University of Illinois at Chicago
Maternal and Child Health Program
June 15-16, 2007: Utah Center for Persons with Disabilities (UCEDD) 35th
Anniversary Celebration - Save the Date
New! June 25–28, 2007: Courage to Teach: Relationships as the Basis for
Excellence in Education Summer Institute; Sponsored by Center on Disability
and Community Inclusion (VT UCEDD)
Other Ne w/Updated Events
March 13, 2007: Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and the Developing Fetus: Links
to Developmental Disabilities (Webinar)
March 24–25, 2007: 24th Annual Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
Conference
April 16–21, 2007: 16th National Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect
May 14, 2007: Accessibility Coordinator Training: Accessibility Management
for Parks and Recreation
June 13–15, 2007: Bridges to Employment Conference: Exploring Career
Opportunities for Latinos with Disabilities
October 3, 2007: National Respite Conference
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FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
The Funding Opportunities Webpage is updated with new funding opportunities
on a regular basis, so please check this site frequently. Feedback and questions are
welcomed and should be directed to Mat McCollough. Recent additions to the
webpage include:
Department of Education
4/30/2007: NIDRR Disability Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRPs) (4
Opportunities) (Multiple Dates)
4/30/2007: NIDDR Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers (RERCs) (7
Opportunities) (Multiple Dates)
Department of Health & Human Se rvices
3/30/2007: Healthy People, Places & Practices in Communities Project
4/10/2007: CDC Optimal Resources and Care for Children with Craniofacial
Malformations
4/10/2007: CDC Public Health Research Grants on Orofacial Clefts and
Craniosynostosis
National Institutes of Health
5/10/2007: Nursing Science Centers of Excellence in Self -Management or
End-of-Life Research
5/10/2007: Nursing Scienc e Centers in Self-Management or End-of-Life
Research: Building Research Teams for the Future
6/12/2007: Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient -Oriented Research
6/12/2007: NEI Career Transition Award
6/12/2007: NINR Career Transition Award
7/19/2007: Mentored Career Development Award to Promote Faculty
Diversity in Biomedical Research
9/10/2007: Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA)
Institutional Dental Research Training Program
12/5/2007: NIDCR Individual Predoctoral Dental Scientist Fellowship (Multiple
Dates)
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
7/17/2007: Improving the Health of Immigrant and Refugee Communities
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CURRENT POLICY ISSUES & EVENTS
Curre nt and past editions of AUCD Le gislative Ne ws In Brief are posted
through the AUC D Website. These weekly 1–2 page updates are intended to keep
association members informed about federal legislative and regulatory issues
affecting people with disabilities, their families and the network of AUCD programs
and centers.
Current and Recent Policy Issues and Events
Solicitation from Department of Education: Improving the Postseconda ry
and Employment Outcomes of Youth With Disabilities. The Assistant Secretary
for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) proposes a priority and
definitions under the Special Demonstrations Program administered by the
Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA). The Assistant Secretary may use the
priority and definitions for competitions in fiscal year 2007 and later years.
Comment submission deadline: March 19, 2007.
Solicitation from Department of Labor: Ne w Freedom Awa rd Honoring
Programs that Advance Employme nt of People With Disabilities . U.S.
Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao has called on nonprofits, small businesses,
corporations, and individuals who have demonstrated exemplary and innovative
efforts in advancing the employment and workplace environment of people with
disabilities to submit their entries for the 2007 Secretary of Labors New Freedom
Initiative Award. The award recognizes public -private partnerships and programs
that have had a positive impact on the employment of people with disabilities
through access to assistive technologies, the use of innovative training, and hiring
and retention techniques. Deadline: April 30, 2007.
National Counc il on Disabilities (NC D) Conducting Researc h on Policy Issues
on Foste r Care for Youth with Disabilities. NCD is exploring the policy issues
surrounding foster care for with disabilities. NCD has contracted with the American
Youth Policy Forum (AYPF) to conduct this research. As part of this study, NCD held
a panel discussion at its San Diego board meeting to explore several issues
surrounding this vulnerable population in terms of demographics, services available,
and laws in place to improve services for foster youth with disabilities in the United
States. Discussion included promising practices in child welfare and placement, as
well as education, workforce, and transition issues.
U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Announces $2.5 Million Competition for
Long- Term Care Training. February 16, DOL's Employment and Training
Administration (ETA) today announced a grant competition for approxima tely $2.5
million to be invested in training for the healthcare industry's long-term care sector
under the President's High Growth Job Training Initiative. Awards made through this
competition will support industry-driven training solutions that address t he long-term
care sector's workforce challenges. Chief among them are high turnover rates and
the need to build a pipeline of skilled workers for the future. Each solution must take
place as part of a regional strategic partnership among long-term care e mployers,
education and training providers, and the workforce invest ment system, as well as
other public and private sector partners who bring critical assets to the table.
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POSITION ANNOUNCEMENTS
Go to the Employment Opportunity Section of the AUCD website for the updated
list of open positions in the field. Job postings are listed for 90 days. If you would
like to post a job announcement on the AUCD website, please send a one page (or
less) document in a word processing file to Gwendolyn Clark. More information of
recent position announcements include:
In Ne twork Opportunities
Program Associate I - College of Education, in association with the Center for
Disabilities and Development , University of Iowa
Business Manager - Center for Disability & Community Inclusion, University of
Vermont
Part-Time Project Coordinator - Institute for Life Span Studies, University of
Kansas
Associate Director for Operations - Partnership for People with Disabilities,
Virginia Commonwealth University
Director of Psychology - Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Autism Educational Consultant - Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt
University
Assistant Professor, Special Education - Paul V. Sherlock Center on
Disabilities, Rhode Island College
Assistant/Associate Professor - Human Development Center, Louisiana State
University
Dean - School of Health and Human Services, in association with the Institute
on Disability, University of New Ha mpshire
Instructors/Assistant Professors - Elizabeth M. Boggs Center on
Developmental Disabilities, University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey
AUC D Central Office
Director of Operations/Office Manager
Out of Network Opportunities
White House Internship Program - Washington, DC
Government Relations Information Specialist; Easter Seals Office of Public
Affairs – Washington DC
Social Policy Internship – Washington, DC
Tester for the Equal Rights Center – Washington, DC
Deputy Commissioner – Mayors Office for People with Disabilities, Chicago, IL
Director, Depart ment of Disability Services – Washington, DC
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RESOURCES
Network Related Resources
ADD Update. The 2007 winter and spring issue, developed by the Administration
on Developmental Disabilities, is currently available. The Wyoming INstitute for
Disabilities (UCEDD) and Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (TN UCEDD) are highlighted in
this issue.
Oral Health Professional’s Guide to Se rving Young Childre n with Special
Health Care Nee ds (F ree Online Course). This web-based continuing education
course is designed for oral health professionals (dentists, dental hygienists, and
dental assistants). The Web-based curriculum was prepared by the National
Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center at Georgetown University and
designed by the Center for Advanced Distance Education at the University of Illinois
at Chicago with support from the Mate rna l a nd Child Health Bureau. Four CE
credits through the Indian Health Service or through the American Dental Hygienists’
Association will be awarded upon successful completion of the course.
Mental Retardation and Developmenta l Disabilities Resea rch Revie ws
(Volume 13, Issue 1, 2007). The latest issue of MRDD Research Reviews on
Language and Communication Development was edited by Dr. Steve Warren of the
Schiefelbusch Institute for Life Span Studies (KS UCEDD) and Dr. Len Abbeduto at
the Waisman Center (WI UCEDD). This edition consists of the following eleven (11)
articles:
1. Introduction to communication and language development and intervention
2. Language and communicative development in Williams syndrome
3. Early communication development and intervention for children with autism
4. Language and communication development in dow n syndrome
5. Language development and fragile X syndrome: Profiles, syndrome -
specificity, and within-syndrome differences
6. Language phenotypes and intervention planning: Bridging research and
practice
7. The state of research and practice in augmentative and alternative
communication for children with developmental/intellectual disabilities
8. Differential treat ment intensity research: A missing link to creating optimally
effective communication interventions
9. Word-attack skills in individuals with mental retardation T
10. he study of autism as a distributed disorder
11. Genes, language development, and language disorders
Vanderbilt Kennedy Cente r (TN UCEDD) Tennessee Disability Pathfinder. At
the UCEDD’s Tennessee Disability Pathfinder, families are able to receive statewide
bilingual disability information and referrals. All disabilities and ages are covered.
Pathfinder has phone, web, and print resources in English and Spanish to connect
the Tennessee disability community with service providers. Referral services, free of
cost, are provided to person with disabilities, family members, service providers, and
advocates. Pathfinder publishes the Tennessee Disability Services & Supports
Directory, a statewide directory in three regional volumes. The Pathfinder site also
has easy to access topics with state and national resources, e.g., Employment,
Housing; and a calendar of disability-related events. Pathfinder is a project of the
VKC UCEDD and the Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities. For more
information, contact 1-800-640-INF O [4636] or tnpathfinder@vanderbilt.edu.
Curre nt issue of the Intellectua l & Developmenta l Disabilities Journal
Available. Several of the articles published in the current issue were written by
representatives of the AUCD Network:
Cell Phone Use by Adults with Intellectual Disabilities – Dr. Diane
Ne lson Bryen, Allison Carey and Mark Friedman (Institute on Disabilities,
PA)
Project MED: Effects of a Medication EDucation Booklet Series for Indiv iduals
With Intellectual Disabilities – Dr. Michae l G. Aman, Betsey A. Benson,
Cristan A. Farmer*, Kristy L. Ha ll*, and Krista M. Malone (Nisonger
Center, OH; *Graduate Students)
Including Students With Moderate and Severe Intellectual Disabilities in
School Extracurricular and Community Recreation Activities – Dr. Harold
L. Kleinert, Sally Miracle, and Dr. Kathy Sheppard-Jones
(Interdisc iplinary Huma n Development Institute, KY)
Ne w Publications from Around the AUC D Network
Quick-Guides to Inclusion: Ideas for Educating Students with
Disabilities (2nd Ed.) Developed by Three UCEDDs. Ten faculty
members the Center on Disability and Community Inclusion (VT UCEDD),
Institute on Disability (NH UCEDD) and Kansas Center on Developmental
Disabilities (KS UCEDD) have collaborated with 31 other authors from across
the country to produce this second edition publication, scheduled for
publication in April 2007 by Paul H. Brookes Publishing. The audience for this
book is primarily general education teachers and other school leaders who are
collaborating with special educators, related services providers and families to
successfully include students with a full range of disabilities in general
education classes.
Indiana Institute on Disability and Community’s (UCEDD) F irst
Responder Training: Strategies for Interacting with Indiv idua ls on the
Autism Spectrum. The Indiana Resource Center for Autism at the UCEDD
was partially funded by the Autism Advocates of Indiana to create training
modules to inform F irst Responders (e.g., fire, police, and paramedics) about
issues and strategies for interacting with individuals on the spectrum.
Through collaboration w ith Homeland Security, eleven (11) regional trainings
have been scheduled to begin to disseminate this information across Indiana.
These training are designed to build capacity of statewide training entities,
parent support group leaders, and autism team leaders to deliver this
information in their local communities. Material development reflects a
collaborative statewide effort with guidance from Dennis Debbaudt, a
nationally recognized expert in First Responder training. For more
information, contact Brian Ketzner at (812) 855-6508 or visit the ACCESS
Autism website.
Ne w Publication from the Institute on Disa bilities (PA UCEDD). Dr.
Mary Segal, research scientist, was author of an article published in the
journal Human Genetics. Co-authors were Dr. Marcia Polansky, Associate
Professor of Public Health at Drexel University, and Dr. Pamela Sankar,
Associate Professor of Medical Ethics at the University of Pennsylvania. Full
citation: Segal, M., Polansky, M. & Sankar, P. (2007). Predictors of uptake of
obesity genetic testing among affected adults. Hum Gen 2007; 120: 641-652.
Ne w Publication from the Westcheste r Institute for Human
Development (NY LEND Program). Healthy Development: Health and
Wellness for Families is a new publication written by LEND Faculty Dr. Wendy
Breitner and Anne Farrell, former LEND Faculty. It is a handbook about child
development designed to be used by caseworkers and others working closely
with families to help promote child and family well being. The handbook
describes typical developmental expectations for each age group, warning
signs for developmental lags and information about referrals for assessments
and services for each age group. It also describes parenting practices that
promote healthy development at each developmental stage. Kudos to both
Wendy and Anne for a job well done! Thank you both for developing an
excellent and useful tool for both families and professionals!
Ne w Publications from the Rural Institute (MT UCEDD). Rosemary B.
Hughes is on the research staff of the Res earc h and Training Center on Disability in
Rural Communities.
Hughes, R.B., Nosek, M., & Robinson-Whelen, S. (2007,
January/February). Correlates of depression in rural women with
disabilities. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic and Neonatal Nursing,
36, 1, 105-114.
Nosek, M.A., Hughes, R.B., Taylor, H.B., & Taylor, P. (2006,
September). Disability, psychosocial, and demographic characteristics
of abused women with physical disabilities. Violence Against Women,
12, 9, 1-13.
Ne w Products and Resources from Wyoming Institute for Disabilities
(UCEDD)’s Victims of C rime with Disabilities Resource Guide.
Disability Groups Publish Legislative Goals for the 110th Congress -
Includes C riminal Justices Goals. The goals set by the Arc of the United
States, United Cerebral Palsy (UCP), American Association on Intellectual and
Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD), American Network of Community Options
and Resources (ANCOR), and AUCD are organized into a three tiered system:
critical goals, priority goals, and additional important goals. Although criminal
justice issues are not listed as critical goals, the report does include many
important issues related to ending violence and crimes against people with
disabilities.
Safety Issues in the Lives of Childre n with Learning Disabilities
(Study). Quantitative and qualitative data were collected from 116 special
education students aged 11-17 years (61 females and 55 males) who had
been identified as 3 or more years behind their peers in all aspects of the
curriculum. The study confirmed the vulnerability of children with learning
disabilities to the risks of drugs, violence, psychological bullying, pornography
and sexual abuse. Significant levels of violence were found in both schools
and homes. The findings suggested those children with learning disabilities
require more vigilant and more intensive, explicit forms of protection than
other children. Full Citation: Briggs, Freda. Safety Issues in the Lives of
Children w ith Learning Disabilities. Social Policy Journal of New Zealand, 29
(2006): 43 - 59.
Cases from the Headlines. To bring attention to the serious issue of crimes
against people with disabilities, the Resource Guide has begun developing an
online collection of news stories involving victims with disabilities. S elected
from newspaper and news channel web sites, articles have been abstracted
and posted in the Online Discussion section of the Resource Guide website.
Rece nt Products Added to the Searc h Resources Database
Unequal Justice for South Carolinians w ith Disabilities: Abuse and
Neglect Investigations
Forensic Interviewing Skills for Working w ith Child Abuse Victims with
Cognitive and/or Communication Impairments
Interagency Collaboration Guidebook: A Strategic Planning Tool for
Child Welfare & Part C Agencies
Justice Advocacy Guide: An Advocate's Guide on Assisting Victims and
Suspects/Defendants with Intellectual Disabilities
Serving Persons Who Have Developmental Disabilities in the
Healthcare Setting
The School Violence Dilemma: Protecting the Rights of Students with
Disabilities While Maintaining Teachers' Sense of Safety in Schools
Drawing the Line: Professional vs. Unprofessional Behavior in the
Wor kplace When Wor king w ith People Who Have Developmental
Disabilities
Ne w Products and Resources from Nationa l Cente r on Physical Activity a nd
Disability, in assoc iation with Institute on Disability a nd Human
Development (IL UCEDD)
Physical Activity to Reduce Obesity in Children with Disa bilities (Fact
Sheet). Children and adolescents with disabilities have a higher prevalence
of overweight compared to their non-disabled peers. This health risk can lead
to a greater number of obesity-related secondary conditions and can impose
significant personal and economic hardship on t he child and family. Several
studies have reported that people with disabilities are more likely to be
sedentary and experience substantially more barriers to physical activity
participation compared to the general population.
Karate for Persons with Disabilities (Video Fact Sheet). Martial Arts is
a term that encompasses Karate, Judo, Tai-Chi, and Taekwondo, to name a
few. Karate, one of the oldest types of Martial Arts, focuses on both physical
and mental power. It combines smooth, flowing movements with sudden
kicks and strikes. Karate covers a broad spectrum of self -defense activities,
and is practiced by men, women, and children of all ages and abilities. People
practicing karate do not have to have full use of their limbs, and it can be
practiced from a sitting position or even from the floor. Karate only requires
some ability to move, a desire to learn, and a commit ment to hard work.
Core and Stability Exerc ises for Stroke Surv ivors and People with
Multiple Sc lerosis (Video Fact Sheet). NCPAD presents a great new
resource for stroke survivors, persons w ith multiple sclerosis, and/or
wheelchair users, as well as rehabilitation centers and fitness centers! The
DVD, which includes "Core and Stability Exercises for Stroke Survivors and
People with Multiple Sclerosis," as well as "How to Prevent Rotator Cuff
Injuries for Wheelchair Users," is a compilation of exe rcises produced by
NCPAD and the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC), and funded by the
Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Resource Center.
Resources from the Partners of the Institute on Community Inte gration (MN
UCEDD)
Use of Chunking and Questioning Aloud to Improve the Reading
Comprehe nsion of English La ngua ge Learne rs with Disabilities
(Report). This report is examining how an instructional reading strategy
specifically identif ied by classroom teachers who work with English language
learners w ith disabilities could improve the students' grade-level standards-
based reading achievement. It is important to examine how educational
specialists (in this case, a special educator and speech-language specialist)
might use teacher-identified reading strategies in more individualized settings
such as a special education resource classroom. Published by the Institute’s
National Center on Educational Outcomes.
Impact: Feature Issue on Supporting Success in Sc hool and Beyond
for Stude nts with Autism Spectrum Disorde rs (Ne wslette r). This issue
provides information on strategies and resources that can assist educators,
families, and others to support the academic, social, and vocational success of
PreK-12 students with Autism Spectrum Disorders.
NCSET Publications Cata log. This resource is a comprehensive list of the
publications developed by the Institute’s National Center on Secondary
Education and Transition (NCSET), including Essential Tools, Information
Brief, Issue Brief, NLTS2 Data Brief, Parent Brief, Policy Update, Research to
Practice Brief, What Works Data Brief, and other publications and resources.
Frontline Initiative (Ne wsletter) Highlights Crede ntia ling of Direct
Support Professionals. This issue describes the National Alliance for Direct
Support Professionals’ (NADSP) new credentialing framework while also
profiling various credentialing programs and credentialed DSPs in different
states. Published by NADSP and the Institute’s Research and Training Center
on Community Living. Cost: $10 per year for a 3-issue subscription. Available
at: Frontline Initiative, P.O. Box 13447, Minneapolis, MN 55414 (make checks
payable to Frontline Initiative).
Research to Know
CDC Re leases Ne w Data on Autism Spectrum Disorde rs. February 2007, the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported findings from the first
and largest summary of prevalence data from multiple U.S. communities
participating in an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) surveillance project. The results
showed an average of 6.7 children out of 1,000 had an ASD in the six communities
assessed in 2000, and an average of 6.6 children out of 1,000 having an ASD in the
14 communities included in the 2002 study. This equals approximately 1 in 150
children in these communities.
Researchers Discover a Fourth, Complete ly Ne w Genetic Clue on the
Occurrence of Alzhe imer’s Disease. Variations in a gene known as SORL1 may
be a factor in the development of late onset Alzheimer's disease, an international
team of researchers has discovered. The research was mainly funded by the
National Institute on Aging and the National Human Genome Research Institute.
Other Resources
Assessing the Impact of Katrina on Persons with Disabilities (Report). This
research, funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research,
represents the most recent in-depth effort to understand how persons w ith
disabilities prepared for, reacted to, and recovered from the devastating impact of
the storm in portions of the Gulf Coast most affected. In addition, this w ork sought
to understand the roles and relationships that Centers for Independent Living (CILs)
played in all phases of the disaster, with a special emphasis on their relationship to
the emergency management system.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Se rvices (CMS) Launches Tec hnical
Assistance Database. CMS has just launched an exciting new database to
showcase the efforts of many of the technical assistance providers serving CMS
grantees. The database will contain important information regarding existing and
upcoming research products, conferences, and significant meetings as well as a wide
variety of toolkits, surveys, and policy briefs, intended to be of interested to the
disability and long-term care community. All stakeholders will be able to view the
database. CMS grantees, however, will be given access passcodes to enable them to
post requests for technical assistance to the vast cadre of experts supporting CMS
initiatives. The user name for the database is TAdatabase and the passcode is
Readonly#1.
Tool Kit on Teaching and Assessing Students With Disabilities . Designed to
assist parents and states in their efforts to work together to raise t he achievement of
all students with disabilities, the Depart ment of Education Tool Kit offers a collection
of resources on the same substantive areas addressed, including assessment,
instructional practices, behavior and accommodations. These new document s were
written specifically for parents and include information they need as they work with
schools to ensure that their children are receiving a quality education.
Re port Highlights Rac ial and Ethnic Dispa rities in Opportunity in U.S.
Metropolitan Areas. Children Left Behind: How Metropolitan Areas Are Failing
America's Children profiles the 100 U.S. metropolitan areas with the largest child
populations and reflec ts a picture of disparities across many dimensions of well-
being. The report is the first in a series of reports derived from diversitydata.org, a
new Web site developed by the Harvard School of Public Health in conjunction with
the Center for the Advancement of Health, and w ith support from the W. K. Kellogg
Foundation. The Web site uses data from multiple sources to bring together a range
of indicators on many dimensions of well-being including housing, neighborhood
conditions, residential integration, ed ucation, and health. The report concludes with a
discussion of the policy implications, a brief overview of the levers that might be
employed to improve prospects for children, and a detailed description of several
promising models for action.
Federal Counc il Celebrates 3rd Anniversary of United We Ride. The Federal
Interagency Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility met to review
accomplishments since 2004, when the Executive Order on Human Service
Transportation was signed by President Bush. During the meeting, the Council
released a Progress Report: Implementation of Executive Order 13 330. The report
outlines collective accomplishments, including the adoption of two policy statements,
as well as the United We Ride Logic Model and Performance Measures on coordinated
human service transportation. In addition, the Council launched ONE VISION: ONE
CALL, a new campaign to simplify access for consumers in every community.
Resources from the Community Living Exc hange Collaborative
Impact of Medicare Special Needs Plans on State Procurement Strategies for
Dually Eligible Beneficiaries in Long-Term Care. Special Needs Plans (SNPs),
authorized by the Medicare Modernization Act, offer state Medicaid programs
a new potential vehicle for coordinating Medicare and Medicaid benef its for
dual eligibles. This report investigates the degree to which states (and plans)
are using this option to develop more fully integrated Medicare -Medicaid
models for dual eligibles needing long-term care services.
State Policy in Practice: Challenges Posed by Waiver Waiting Lists . More
states are using money follows the person and institutional transition
programs to rebalance their long-term care systems. One major challenge
they face is the decision to give certain individuals priority access to services
when there are home and community-based services (HCBS) waiver waiting
lists. This State Policy in Practice brief describes how selected states develop
and maintain waiting lists and whether they are giving service priority to
certain groups of people on a waiting list.
Advocating Through Letter Writing. When accessing health care for children,
there is another level of advocacy and information needed. Learning to
advocate, learning to research and learning how to communicate with
multiple systems are all skills to be acquired. Many times we are asked to
“Put your request in writing”; for the parents of children with disabilities,
there are even more reasons. The New York CMS F2F grantee developed this
booklet with hints, suggestions or models for families to use when writing
letters.
Social Marketing Approach to Challenging Stigma. This article is aimed at
developing tools to help human service providers form partnerships to
address and prevent stigmatization of people with disabilities. The Idaho
State University Institute of Rural Health (ISU-IRH) developed two anti-
stigma social marketing campaigns that incorporated methods to empower
people, campaign design and distribution, and methodology for evaluating the
effectiveness of the campaign.
Various Resources
Journal Name Change Announced. After almost 5 decades of being called
Mental Retardation, this influential journal in special education changed
names to Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities under the leadership of
Editor Steven J. Taylor. The new name comes close on the heels of the name
change of its publisher, the American Association on Intellectual and
Developmental Disabilities, formerly AAMR, the world's oldest organization
representing professionals in developmental disabilities.
Childre n in Vulnerable Families: Facts a nd Figures (Fact Sheet). A new
fact sheet from the Urban Institute reviews trends in some of the most significant
risk factors in families today: child maltreat ment, domestic violence, children's
disabilities, substance abuse, and parental mental illness.
National Children's Study Announces Plans to Expand Study and Begin
Rec ruitment (February Update). The National Children's Study is moving
forward and stepping up preparations to recruit eligible women and their families.
As a first step in the Study’s expansion, the National Institute of Child Health and
Human Development at the National Institutes of Health will post a Request for
Proposals (RFP) in the coming weeks to award contracts to 15 to 20 new Study
Centers. These Centers will manage operations in up to 30 additional Study
locations. In total, the Study has designated 105 locations across the United
States where it will recruit and enroll eligible participants, and track them from
before birth until their 21st birthdays.
Medicaid Spe nding Growth Sustained by Expected Increases in
Government Revenues (Ne w Study). As Congress prepares to debate the
Presidents budget and looks ahead to address the growing federal deficit and the
future sustainability of Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, a new study of
future funding require ments for Medicaid by the Kaiser Family Foundations
Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured (KCMU) projects a less dire situation
than suggested by conventional wisdom. The study concludes that expected
growth in government revenues is likely to be large enough to sustain Medicaid
spending increases over the next 40 years, while also allow ing substantial real
growth in spending for other public services.
SCHIP Reauthorization: Weighing the Options (Report). At the end of the
2007 fiscal year, congressional authorization for the State Children's Health
Insurance Program (SCHIP) is set to expire. In a new report prepared for The
Commonwealth Fund Commission on a High Performance Health System, the
report examines the array of policy options that Congress is li kely to consider for
SCHIP, a program w idely hailed for assisting children whose families have too
much income to qualify for Medicaid but too little to afford private insurance.
Toolkit on Reduc ing Disparities in Me dica id Mana ged Ca re. A new
Commonwealth Fund-supported toolkit developed by the Center for Health Care
Strategies, aims to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in Medicaid managed care
by offering case studies, as well as "key lessons" on using data to identify
disparities; developing patient -centered approaches to care; and collaborating
with key stakeholders.
Proyecto Visión Re leased Report Outlining Priorities to Improve
Employment Opportunities for Latinos with Disabilities. Latinos w ith
Disabilities in the United States: Understanding & Addressing Barriers to
Employment presents a snapshot of this grow ing population. It outlines factors
affecting the extent of participation, and degree of success, of disabled Latinos in
the service delivery system; highlights innovative research and employment
projects that are working to reduce barriers; and presents profiles of individuals
and families who have attained success and others who have fallen between the
cracks.
New Websites
Office on Disability. The Depart ment of Health and Human Services Office on
Disability (OD) is pleased to announce the launch of the completely redesigned
website. The new website provides comprehensive yet easy-to-access information
supporting the seven domains; housing, education, information technology,
transportation, health, employment, and community integration; identified by the
President’s New Freedom Initiative–plus, information on advocacy, entitlements, and
emergency preparedness.
National Institute of Nursing Researc h (NINR). Want to find out how nursing
research is working to improve the health of the nation? Access to information about
this vital area of science and the programs of NINR, one of 27 Institutes and Centers
at the National Institutes of Health, just got easier with the recent launch of the
Institute's improved website. Improved design, graphics, and navigational tools will
help visitors to the website more easily find a wide array of information about NINR,
including the NINR history, mission, and budget; capsules of signif icant research
findings; and upcoming NINR events. A new feature added to the website gives
visitors access to NINR podcasts of pre-recorded audio and video presentations,
interviews, and meetings that can be viewed or listened to from their computer or
portable media player.
Center for Early Literacy Learning (CELL). CELL is a research-to-practice
technical assistance center funded by the U.S. Depart ment of Education, Office of
Special Education Programs, Research to Practice Division. Its main goal is to
promote the adoption and sustained use of evidence-based early literacy learning
practices by early childhood intervention practitioners, parents, and other caregivers
of young children, birth to five years of age, with ident ified disabilities,
developmental delays, and those at -risk for poor outcomes.
Rural Health Care Pilot Program. The Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) has announced plans for a new Rural Health Care (RHC) Pilot Program to
facilitate the creation of a nationwide broadband network that will support dedicated
to health care, connecting public and private non-profit health care providers in rural
and urban locations. The FCC has also established a new web site for the RHC Pilot
Program that provides extensive information about program goals, applying for
funding, etc.
Learning Disabilities and Assistive Tec hnologies. Assistive technology is an
important piece of the whole support system individuals with learning disabilities
require to achieve success. Exactly what is assistive technology (AT)? AT is any
item, piece of equipment, or product that is used to increase, maintain or improve
the abilities of individuals with disabilities: tools to promote independence across all
areas of daily living. These common tools extend from low -tech, low-cost items to
high-tech, more expensive devices.
DisabilityWORK.com. Access Solutions, LLC has announced the launch of
DisabilityWork.com, a service that brings employers and people with disabilities
together. This site consists of several different services for both employers and
people w ith disabilities. Employers can search a database of resumes to find
prospective candidates to fill needed positions. Employers can also post their job
openings on this website and utilize DisabilityWork.com's headhunting services.
People with disabilities not only can post their resumes on this website, but they also
can make use of an array of services ranging from resume -writing and career
coaching to job placement and job coaching.
RETURN TO TOP
AUC Digest Editor: Mat McCollough, M. P.A.
We look forward to receiv ing your items for upcoming issues.
Submission of ne ws items (8-10 lines) for conside ration in
future AUC Digest issues can be sent to mat@aucd.org.
Back issues of the newsletter a re arc hived
at the AUCD website at http://www.aucd.org/resources/digest/issues.cfm.
Association of University Centers on Disabilities
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