A rare disease or condition is defined by federal legislation such that it: (1) affects less than 200,000 persons in the U.S.; or (2) affects more than 200,000 persons in the U.S. but for which there is no reasonable expectation that the cost of developing and making available in the U.S. a drug for such disease or condition will be recovered from…

In the last few decades, there has been an alarming and disturbing increase in infant and childhood behavioral and physiologic disorders. These include, but are not limited to, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, dyspraxia, autism, cerebral palsy, mental retardation, and Down syndrome to name just a few. The society has…

This article is a synopsis of a presentation offered by the author at the recent United States Autism and Asperger Association Conference in Park City, Utah. During the USAAA conference, the author voices his concerns over the current autism epidemic. He opines that the failure of the medical profession and many governmental and other public…

In 1982, the author became the foster mom to Rick, a small child who got a pretty rough start to life and an even rougher "pre" start. Rick's birth mother was addicted to alcohol and for most of his time in her womb she drank heavily. The author was a single, special education teacher, and worked with children with developmental…

Programs and centers which use a multidisciplinary approach to treat the special developmental and biomedical needs of individuals with Down's syndrome are described, and the locations of several centers are presented as well as a guide to medical problems common in such individuals. (CB)