Government

A new study in "The Journal of Pediatrics" finds that a child's risk for developing an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is not increased by giving the child "too many vaccines too soon." More than 1 in 10 parents refuse or delay vaccinations for their young children, despite scientific proof that vaccines do not cause autism. These parents fear that the total number of vaccines given in early childhood may increase the risk of autism.

President Barack Obama officially proclaimed April 2, 2013 World Autism Awareness Day. The president wants this day to raise awareness about autism spectrum disorders that affect 1 out of 88 children in America. The proclamation commits to helping individuals with autism to reach their full potential.

President Barack Obama has announced the "BRAIN" Initiative, a new research effort to understand how the mind works and find ways to treat, prevent and cure brain disorders like Alzheimer’s, schizophrenia, autism, epilepsy and traumatic brain injury. BRAIN (Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies) is one of the Administration's "Grand Challenges" that calls to achieve advances in science and technology which will save lives and also create jobs and industries of the future.

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that 6.4 million children aged 4 to 17 have been diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) disorder at some point in their lives. The number of children diagnosed with ADHD has increased significantly over the past 10 years, with two-thirds taking prescription drugs for the disorder.

The Deaf Seniors of America conference will be held August 21 - 27, 2013 in Baltimore, MD. The conference will bring together deaf senior citizens from across the United States, Canada and other countries to participate in workshops, seminars and presentations. Sessions will cover health issues, government services and programs, Social Security, deaf history, travel and money management. Register by downloading and completing this PDF form.

April is National Autism Awareness Month and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has released a statement on the progress made in helping people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Initiatives include the Administration for Community Living, which works to improve the lives of people with disabilities and the Affordable Care Act, which is helping to meet the health care needs of people living with ASD, among many others.

The American Council of the Blind's (ACB) 52nd annual conference and convention will be held July 4 - 12, 2013 in Columbus, OH. "Discovering New Worlds" will feature seminars, workshops, programs and technology. Suscribe to the ACB convention email list to receive convention information announcements. Pre-registration will be available June 1, 2013.

The U.S. Department of Labor has issued two briefs that give recommendations to state and federal policymakers, employers and health care industry leaders on retaining experienced, older workers in the workforce. The recommendations come from the Department's Office of Disability Employment Policy, which gathered experts on aging, disability and employment to discuss the impact of aging on the national workforce and health care systems. 

The National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic brings together Veterans and active duty servicemen and women with disabilities for an exciting week of adaptive winter sports. This year the Clinic will be held March 31 - April 5, 2013 in Snowmass, CO. It will feature skiing, cross country, rock climbing, scuba diving, kayaking, trapshooting and snowmobiling. The Clinic is co-sponsored by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Disabled American Veterans.

The Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) will hold its 2013 Convention on June 27 - 30, 2013 in Portland, OR. This year's convention will feature seminars and workshops related to hearing loss and creating adaptive workplaces. Plan to attend the research symposium to learn about the latest developments in hearing rehabilitation research. Register online.

The U.S. Department of Justice has intervened in a pending class action lawsuit against the state of Oregon. DOJ alleges that Oregon has violated Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act by unnecessarily segregating individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) in sheltered workshops when they could be served in integrated employment settings.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new drug called Tecfidera to treat adults with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). For most MS patients, periods of worsening disability (relapses) are usually followed by recovery periods (remissions). Over time, these recovery periods may be incomplete, resulting in a progressive increase in disability. Tecfidera may help protect the body from infection and decrease the number of relapses.

The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) annually offers blind college students in the United States and Puerto Rico the opportunity to win one of 30 national scholarships worth from $3,000 to $12,000. Winners will receive assistance to attend the 2013 NFB Annual Convention in Orlando, FL, providing an opportunity for networking with active blind persons in many different professions and occupations. Application deadline is March 31, 2013.