Tobacco use among individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities: a brief review.

Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States. Although few tobacco control efforts target individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities, this population may be especially vulnerable to the deleterious effects of tobacco use and dependence. Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities suffer from the health, financial, and stigmatizing effects of […]

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Conceptualizing community: a comparison of neighborhood characteristics of supportive housing for persons with psychiatric and developmental disabilities.

Housing and services for persons with developmental disabilities (DD) have been shaped by the normalization approach, a commitment to full integration within the general community. In contrast, housing and services for persons with psychiatric disabilities (PD) have had various and sometimes conflicting goals, including provision of custodial care, promotion of therapeutic community, and community integration. […]

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Initial outcomes of a mental illness self-management program based on wellness recovery action planning.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined changes in psychosocial outcomes among participants in an eight-week, peer-led, mental illness self-management intervention called Wellness Recovery Action Planning (WRAP). METHODS: Eighty individuals with serious mental illness at five Ohio sites completed telephone interviews at baseline and one month after the intervention. RESULTS: Paired t tests of pre- and postintervention scores […]

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The benefits of physical activity for youth with developmental disabilities: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: Analyze evidence of the benefits of physical activity for youth with developmental disabilities. DATA SOURCES: Key word searches for “disability,” “physical activity,” “exercise,” “fitness,” and “sport” in major databases. A total of 3263 citations was found. STUDY INCLUSION/EXCLUSION CRITERIA: Systematic reviews and articles about studies quantitatively examining the effects of physical activity in youth […]

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Intersectoral action to employ individuals with mental illness: lessons learned from a local development initiative.

BACKGROUND: Intersectoral action is now widely recognized as an effective approach to addressing the social determinants of health. In particular, collaboration between different sectors of the community has been recommended as a strategy for developing employment opportunities for persons diagnosed with mental illness. However, there is limited evidence on the actual implementation of intersectoral action […]

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Health Education Research: Education of Caregivers, Consumers, & Families

Sexuality issues and gynecologic care of adolescents with developmental disabilities. Greydanus DE, Omar HA.  Pediatrics and Human Development, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University/Kalamazoo Center for Medical Studies, 1000 Oakland Drive, Kalamazoo, MI 49008-1284, USA. Greydanus@kcms.msu.edu  Pediatr Clin North Am. 2008 Dec;55(6):1315-35, viii. All human beings are sexual from birth to […]

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Environmental Toxins Research: Lead

Blood lead concentrations < 10 microg/d: and child intelligence at 6 years of age. Jusko TA, Henderson CR, Lanphear BP, Cory-Slechta DA, Parsons PJ, Canfield RL. Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.  Environ Health Perspect. 2008 Feb;116(2):243-8.  Comment in:   Environ Health Perspect. 2008 Feb;116(2):A60-1. BACKGROUND: […]

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Health Education Research: Health Communication

Computer and internet use by persons after traumatic spinal cord injury. Goodman N, Jette AM, Houlihan B, Williams S.  Department of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA. naomirgoodman@yahoo.com  Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2008 Aug;89(8):1492-8. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether computer and internet use by persons post spinal cord injury (SCI) is sufficiently prevalent and […]

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Healthcare Transition Research: Access to Care

Access to care for youth with special health care needs in the transition to adulthood. Lotstein DS, Inkelas M, Hays RD, Halfon N, Brook R.  Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90024, USA. dlotstein@mednet.ucla.edu  J Adolesc Health. 2008 Jul;43(1):23-9. Epub 2008 Apr 25.  Comment in: J […]

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