Whistler Resort and the Paralympics

Whistler Village, British Columbia is getting an accessibility makeover in preparation for the 2010 Paralympics. The village, which is a resort-style city, will be the site of the medal ceremony and other Olympic-related events.

Some of the upgrades include transportation improvements, with an addition of 21 new accessible vehicles to the public system, wheel-chair accessible taxi services, barrier-free pathways to get around the city, and the creation of a database of accessible lodging establishments.

For more information about the transformation, see the Able Traveler article on Whistler. For more information about barrier-free travel, see some of our past posts on the subject.

National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped

The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped is a national network of cooperating libraries that provide braille and audio materials circulated to eligible borrowers in the United States by postage-free mail. A US resident is eligible if they have a visual acuity of 20/200 or less or limited range of vision with correcting lenses, or those certified by a competent authority as unable to use standard print materials as a result of visual or physical limitations.

The service can provide books in English or Spanish. The NLS also publishes biweekly reviews of the most recent additions to their braille and talking book collections.

To find a local participating library, consult this search engine. To sign up for mail-order library service, visit this page. To browse their collection, you can utilize their online catalog.

Faith and Disabilities

The turkeys have been carved and the trees are going up; the holiday season is upon us. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or others, CeDIR has resources to help create inclusive faith communities this holiday season.

-Praying with Lior
-Including people with disabilities in faith communities : a guide for service providers, families, & congregations
-Believing, belonging, becoming
-Faith communities and inclusion of people with developmental disabilities

Support Groups

Are you looking for a support group for yourself or loved ones? The Bloomington Hospital has established several tailored to specific conditions (all phone numbers with area code 812):

Adolescent Bereavement: 353-9818
For children and teens who have lost a loved one

Adult Bereavement: 353-9818
For adults who have lost a loved one

ALS: 353-9299
For anyone with ALS and their family or friends

Alzheimer's: 353-9299
For caregivers fo individuals with Alzheimer's and other dementias

Breast Cancer: 353-5669
Support for women undergoing treatment for breast cancer

Cancer-all types: 353-5669
For individuals undergoing treatment for any cancers and their families

Celiac: 339-3424
For individuals with gluten intolerance

Diabetes: 353-9258
For individuals with diabetes

Fibromyalgia: 353-5534
For individuals with Fibromyalgia syndrome

HIV/AIDS: 353-3261
For individuals with the human immunodeficiency virus

Postpartum Depression: 337-8121
For women experiencing depression following the birth of their babies--family members welcome

RTS: 353-5482
Fr people who have experienced miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirth or newborn death

Stroke: 353-9818
For individuals who have had a stroke and their caregivers

Tobacco: 353-5811
For individuals in the process of quitting or who have quit tobacco products

Arthritis Myths

Do your bones creak because of the cold? Because you slouch? Probably not. Causations like these are largely myths, as the Harvard Medical school points out in their article "Top 10 Things that Don't Cause Arthritis". Here are some mythical reasons for joint pain:

1) Overuse. Unless you're a jack-hammer operator or professional athlete, you are not at increased risk for arthritis.

2) Cold, damp weather. This belief is common, but scientifically unsupported.

3) Medications. The type of medicine that causes bone death is very, very rare.

4) Infections and vaccinations. Infectious diseases can cause arthritis, but only a small fraction of cases can be attributed to them.

5) Diet. What you eat has almost nothing to do with arthritis--though shoveling in the pie and french fries can lead to obesity, which worsens joint symptoms.

For the full list of myths with more extensive explanations, follow the link above.

Getting Closer to a Treatment for Down Syndrome

Researchers from Stanford and the University of California San Diego have found a way to restore learning in mice with a Down syndrome-like condition.

The scientists administered xamoterol to mice who had three copies of one of their chromosomes (similar to the origin of Down syndrome). Before the tests, mice suffered neural degeneration and had difficulty learning to adapt to new environments; for example, they did not build nests when transferred to new homes and could not recognize patterns in audio tones. After the drug took effect, the nest-building and pattern recognition was restored.

The xamoterol worked by being converted by the body into norepinephrine, which is a natural neurotransmitter.

To read more about the discovery, read the press releases at the University of California or MedPage Today.

Introduction to Special Education in Indiana

An Introduction to Special Education in Indiana is a pamphlet developed by Cathy Beard at the IIDC's Early Childhood Center. The handy booklet details laws and services for parents of children in special education or burgeoning SE teachers.

The ECC is offering free copies until our stock runs low. Contact 812-855-6508 to obtain a copy. The CeDIR library also has several copies available for borrowing when the department runs out; email us if you're interested and an Indiana resident.

Make sure to check out the ECC's other publications on their site.