This fact sheet offers broad information about autism and answers some of the more common questions that parents and families often have about the disorder. The following questions are answered in this document: (1) What is autism?; (2) What causes autism?; (3) How many people have autism?; (4) Is autism more common in certain groups of people?;…

A chart compares provisions regarding vision-related services of five major federal health reform bills. Comparisons cover general characteristics, vision services, inpatient rehabilitation, outpatient rehabilitation, durable medical equipment, long-term care, consumer information in accessible formats, and other provisions of interest. (DB)

Designed as the final step in a carefully articulated work-readiness program, Mentors provides students interested in health care careers with an opportunity to develop superior employability skills, while striking a balance between work and school. The Mentors program links the school community, the student, and host organizations in a mutually…

Shadows is an individualized, hands-on, real-world career experience that provides students with a structured look at the future world of work in health care. The program helps students build a bridge between school-based learning and established health care skills standards. Shadows focuses on expanding the student's horizons beyond the classroom…

Use of a child abuse case-finding checklist in the emergency department of a large children's hospital (Montreal, Canada) identified 39 (of 2,211 accident patients) for further evaluation of which 28 (1.3%) were presumed to be victims of abuse or neglect. Incidence of abuse was substantially lower than expected. (Author/DB)

The Insights program begins the journey of becoming ready to work by introducing students to the varied career opportunities, skills, and technologies in today's health care industry. Students travel as a class or group to the host site for a series of seminars. While on site, the students and their accompanying teachers meet with professionals…

The booklet presents papers from a December 1982 workshop on specific problems in caring for ventilator-dependent children (children with respiratory distress due to prematurity, low birth weight or developmental immaturity). Following excerpts from the keynote address by C. Everett Koop, the U.S. Surgeon General, model programs from Pennsylvania,…

The hemophilia community has been deeply affected by the catastrophe of AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). The use of blood products that had first restored the potential for normal survival now bring the threat of AIDS infection and fear and discrimination from others. Strong leadership has come from the National Hemophilia Foundation.…

This article identifies possible adverse effects of managed health care delivery systems on adults with mental retardation. It is noted that few primary care providers, the "gatekeepers" of such systems, have special training in examining and treating adults with mental retardation and that disincentives exist in such programs for…

The booklet explains ten principles of family-centered health care and six components of community based programs for children with significant medical problems. The principles are: The child and the family have basic rights of self-determination and autonomy. Health care services should be family oriented and maximize family control. Service…

This consumer education document is intended to provide a complete description of Medicare's Prospective Payment System (PPS) for hospitals from the consumer's point of view and to provide basic information on how consumers can protect their rights to appropriate hospital care under Medicare. The first section describes the PPS and also explains…

Ways hospitals can promote the psychological and social well being of young patients are explored in this paper. First, the importance of familiarizing the child with the hospital is emphasized. Second, emotions hospitalized children may feel and the possible causes of those emotions are listed. Third, methods hospital personnel can use to help…

Appropriate for secondary school social studies, this booklet covers the causes, problems, and possible solutions for the high cost of American health care. The topic is discussed in five sections. The first section, "The $350 Billion Health Care Bill," discusses how the nation's priority on health care has led to the emergence of medicine as…

This guide represents part of AARP's comprehensive consumer education effort in the area of long-term care. The purpose of the guide is to provide information for consumers as they look for a nursing home, arrange for admission, and adjust to life in the home after admission. Section 1 introduces the guide. Section 2 describes how to assess needs,…

The Connecticut Haitian American community has recently become large enough and sufficiently well established to develop programs to assist economic and educational development in the Republic of Haiti. Southern Connecticut became a destination for large numbers of Haitian emigrants and political refugees in the 1950s, in 1964, and again in 1971.…