Health Workers Who Ignore Abuse Rarely Punished

Thorough story from The Des Moines Register on abuse in a nursing home and a reluctance to report it. With the need for more Direct Support Professionals in all types of programs -- nursing homes, group residences, etc. -- abuse is one area that organizations cannot ignore or tolerate.


http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20090125/NEWS10/901250335/1011

Lawyer Is Accused of Stealing Disabled People's Assets He Was Assigned to Protect

Unbelievable story in today's New York Times. Maybe in light of everything going on with Bernie Madoff, we shouldn't be surprised. Basically the system that was designed to protect people with disabilities failed big time. Any ideas on how to fix it?

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/29/nyregion/29lawyer.html?scp=1&sq=disabled%20+%20lawyer&st=cse

A Booming Business Serves Special Needs Families

Corporate America is waking up to the fact that parents of children with special needs can benefit from access to information. It's going to promote goodwill if these companies can provide these parents with access to experts.

In what have become the latest benefit programs, companies including PepsiCo (PEP), KPMG, JPMorgan Chase (JPM), and Northrop Grumman (NOC) are offering services that range from parent networks to Web seminars to meetings with financial planners and educational consultants. In addition, a growing crop of advisers is emerging to guide families through the financial, medical, and educational labyrinth.

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/09_03/b4116058945406.htm

Trying Anything and Everything for Autism

Check out Jane Brody's column on a family's struggle to cope with their autistic child.


http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/20/health/20brod.html

Justice Department Reaches Settlement with Georgia Regarding State Hospitals

Georgia is working to improve the conditions in seven state hospitals caring for people with mental illness and developmental disabilities.

http://news.prnewswire.com/ViewContent.aspx?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/01-15-2009/0004955811&EDATE=

University of Arizona Developing Tests That Could Improve Lives of People with Down Syndrome

Interesting research going on in Arizone to assess the cognitive abilities of people with Down syndrome.

http://uanews.org/node/23348

Olmsted on Autism: Autism Explosion Followed Big Change in MMR Shot

Check out Dan Olmsted's recent investigation on a significant but little-noticed change in the MMR vaccine.
http://www.ageofautism.com/2009/01/olmsted-on-autism-autism-explosion-followed-big-change-in-mmr-shot.html