As part of the work of New Jersey’s Learn the Signs. Act Early. team, the Governor’s Council on the Prevention of Developmental Disabilities provided support to have the following CDC Learn the Sign. Act Early. materials translated into Arabic, Korean, and Portuguese:

·        Developmental Screening Fact Sheet (a fact sheet that contains information for parents about developmental screenings)
·        Milestone Informational Card  (this includes some key milestones from 7 months to 4 years of age and questions parents can ask their child’s doctor)
·        Tips for Talking with Parents (a tip sheet to help early educators and childcare providers share concerns about a child with the parent)
These are available for free downloading from the CDC’s Learn the Signs. Act Early. website

New Jersey’s Learn the Signs. Act Early. state team is facilitated by The Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities, NJ’s University Center of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities.  For more information about this initiative, contact Kathy Roberson at kathy.roberson@umdnj.edu or 732-235-931

Click on this link and get immediate downloads for fact sheets, growth charts plus more that will help you Know the signs of a developmental disability and act early.

According to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, published in the February 28 issue of the jounal Pediatrics, maternal smoking in the 1st trimester of pregnancy is associated with an increase risk of congenital heart defects in infants.  To read the article click here.

REFERENCE POINTS: Health and Transition

1) HEALTHY TRANSITIONS, NY
Healthy Transitions teaches skills and provides tools for care
coordination, keeping a health summary, and setting priorities during the
transition process. It features video clips that demonstrate health
transition skills and interactive tools that develop self-determination and
collaboration. The curriculum and tools raise awareness about developmental
disabilities, improve communication, and build effective partnerships during
the transition process. This website is ADA accessible and is available with
audio for non-readers and in Spanish language translation. To see all the
resources and information about healthcare transition, visit:
Healthy Transitions

2) HEALTH AND TRANSITION
“Embedding Health Outcomes in the Individualized Education Program” is a
video recording of a 40 minute teleconference that provides information and
specific examples of health related goals for an IEP. This recording is
available, at no cost, from the:

Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction website.

3) HEALTH AND THE IEP
The Wisconsin Community on Transition Health Practice Group has developed
health-related training materials that can be used with schools, health
providers, families and directly with youth to help youth with disabilities
learn to more effectively manage their health care concerns. For more
information go to
The Wisconsin Community on Transition Health Practice Group site

4) DVD ON DOING SKIN SELF-EXAM FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE LOSS OF SENSATION
Gillette Children’s Hospital has developed a DVD for adults and another for
children on how to examine skin for those at risk of developing wounds due
to loss of sensation. Follow up research shows that for patients with
cognitive impairment the DVDs should not be considered a one-time, stand
alone intervention for teaching. It is a nice augment to the spoken
instruction or written word. For more information go to
Gillette Children’s Hospital

5) PREVENTING SECONDARY CONDITIONS
The Research and Training Center on Independent Living at the University of
Kansas has produced a series of consumer-friendly informational booklets on
preventing secondary conditions. The booklets contain information on the
prevention of secondary conditions affecting people with mobility
impairments and a glossary of terms. They now available in Spanish as well.
(see Health Conditions).

6) ACCESS TO MEDICAL CARE FOR INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH MOBILITY DISABILITIES
The US Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division has issued a new
technical assistance publication titled “Access To Medical Care For
Individuals With Mobility Disabilities”. This 19-page publication provides
guidance for medical care professionals on the ADA’s requirement to provide
accessible health care to individuals with mobility disabilities and
includes an overview of general ADA requirements, commonly asked questions,
and illustrated examples of accessible facilities, examination rooms, and
medical equipment. It is available on-line at:
Guidance for medical care professionals on the ADA’s requirements

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

REFERENCE POINTS is administered by PACER Center as a
technical assistance activity of the TATRA Project. The TATRA Project is
funded by the Rehabilitation Services Administration.

To SUBSCRIBE to REFERENCE POINTS go to
http://www.pacer.org/tatra/list/index.asp

To UNSUBSCRIBE, please go directly to
http://www.pacer.org/tatra/list/maildel.asp

Readers are invited to send information about new resources on secondary
education, transition and vocational rehabilitation topics to
tatra@pacer.org.

Reference Points received initial support from the National Center on
Secondary Education and Transition Visit their web
site for a wealth of information related to secondary education and
transition for youth with disabilities.

Note: There are no copyright restrictions on this document. However, please
credit the source and support of federal funds when copying all or part of
this material.

The NOFAS Weekly Roundup features news articles, research, event announcements, new materials and other highlights from around the world of FASD. The Roundup also includes the latest news from NOFAS and a link to the Calendar of Events page on the NOFAS website.

FEATURES

How much alcohol is safe?

Dr. Ira Chasnoff of the Children’s Research Triangle analyzes the recent study on light drinking.

Article, Dr. Ira Chasnoff, October 18, 2010

Drinking While Pregnant: Do women really need to abstain completely?

Examination of the recent study on light drinking during pregnancy.

Article, Slate, October 12, 2010

No safe drinking level in pregnancy, specialist asserts

Dr. Timothy Naimi recommends that pregnant women not change their thinking based on the recent light drinking study from the United Kingdom.

Article, The Boston Globe, October 7, 2010

Effects linger for children of women who drink during pregnancy

St. Louis University studies the long-term affects of alcohol-use during pregnancy and offers developing interventions for young people with an FASD.

Article, St. Louis Today, October 14, 2010

President Obama Signs in to law S.2781, “Rosa’s Law”

President Barack Obama recently signed in to law S. 2781,  “Rosa’s Law,” which changes references from “mental retardation” to “intellectual disability”.

Statement, The White House, October 5, 2010

CDC Vital Signs – Binge Drinking

The CDC presents the latest findings and data on the dangers of binge drinking.

Article, CDC, October 2010

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has launched a new Disabilities and Health website.   The site offers much information about disabilities, resources, and health data.  You can visit the wibsite at: http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/disabilityandhealth/index.html

The American Association on Health and Disability (AAHD) is accepting applications for the 2010 AAHD Scholarship Program, created in 2009 to support students with disabilities who are pursuing higher education. Preference will be given to students who plan to pursue undergraduate/graduate studies in the field of public health, health promotion, disability studies, to include disability policy and disability research. Royalties from the AAHD Disability and Health Journal and private donations fund the AAHD Scholarship Fund. Scholarships will be limited to under $1,000. The AAHD Board of Directors’ Scholarship Committee will evaluate each of the applicants and make a decision in December of each calendar year. The AAHD Scholarship Awards will be awarded January, 2011. Please visit the AAHD website to learn more.

Reproductive Healthcare for Women with Disabilities: Free, Web-Based Program for Clinicians

Through a cooperative agreement with NCBDDD, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has developed a free, six-part, web-based program for clinicians working with women who have disabilities. “Reproductive Healthcare for Women with Disabilities” is an interactive and searchable resource available on the ACOG website. Intended to provide guidance in working with individual patients and for professional education, the program will offer CE credit to practitioners. Among the topics are: Scope of Disability, Sexuality, Psychosocial Issues, The GYN Exam and Screenings, Contraception and AUB, Pregnancy and Parenting, Diet/Exercise/Weight, Adolescent Considerations, Aging and Osteoporosis, Specific Disabilities, Developmental Disabilities, Sensory Impairments, ADA Requirements, Disability Culture, Office and Practice Solutions, and Resources. Visit  the ACOG website and use the search term “disability.”