Disability Accessibility Included in National Dialogue for Improving Federal Websites

Join the conversation about federal websites!
The federal government wants to re-invent how it delivers information and services online, and we need your help. We want to bring the best of the web to the .gov domain. Share your ideas to help us answer: What practices, policies, and principles should guide federal websites. You can submit ideas on any of the campaigns from Sept 19 - Sept 30, but we will also be hosting one hour dialogue-a-thons with our discussion catalysts on each campaign. You can also follow comments about the dialogue on Twitter under the hashtag #dotgov.
Accessibility Dialogue-A-Thon
Monday September 26, 3:00 PM ET.
We invite you to participate in the one-hour long, live "dialog-a-thon" on Universal Access to have a targeted, real-time conversation with a critical mass of participants. Sharron Rush will be hosting the accessibility dialog-a-thon on Monday, September 26, from 3-4 pm ET. If you are unable to join, you can still participate in the National Dialog for the full 2 weeks. The dialogue-a-thon is a time we've devoted to specifically addressing ideas for improving accessibility of federal websites.
Two -Week National Dialogue on Improving Federal Websites
The National Dialogue for Improving Federal Websites is sponsored by the White House and the U.S. General Services Administration. The dialogue is a critical part of the .gov Reform Initiative launched in June 2011, to streamline how we manage federal websites and provide a better customer experience when people access government information and services online. The online conversation lasts from September 19 through September 30, 2011.
The online conversation features eight different discussion areas open for two weeks, including one on accessibility. You will have the opportunity to submit and vote on ideas for improving how people access government information and services online, with different devices and assistive technology. We hope this conversation will complement the ongoing work of our group and other public discussions that have happened recently around accessibility.
Please spread the word about the National Dialogue to your networks, friends, and colleagues. We're looking for a very broad and diverse set of ideas.
The 508 compliant IdeaScale platform is being used to host the Dialogue. Our 508 specialist has rigorously tested the platform; however, if you find things that aren't accessible, please let us know and we'll work to address them.
The purpose is to allow people to submit and vote on ideas for improving various aspects of improving federal websites, such as: content, search, usability, accessibility, social media, multilingual content, and online services. The .gov Task Force will review the ideas and consider them as they develop a National Web Strategy and make recommendations for streamlining federal websites, strengthening federal web policy, and improving citizens' experience with federal websites.
We know there is a goldmine of good ideas from the community, so we hope--and expect-- that you'll actively participate in the discussion and share your expertise and knowledge. We want to hear what's working well, what can be improved, innovative ways to rethink the federal web, and specific examples you have from your industry or organization.

A Gene For Lou Gehrig's Disease And Frontotemporal Dementia Identified

Medical News Today (Sept. 22, 2011)-Frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease -- two fatal neurodegenerative disease with distinct but sometimes overlapping symptoms -- are triggered by a common mutation in many cases, according to researchers who say they have identified the mutated gene.

In the study, reported in the September 21 online issue of Neuron, the scientists described the discovery of a genetic mutation that is accountable for almost 12 percent of familial FTD and more than 22 percent of familial ALS samples studied.

They also report that the defect is the strongest genetic risk factor found to date for the more common, non-inherited, sporadic forms of these diseases. It was found in 3 percent of sporadic FTD and 4 percent of sporadic ALS samples in the largest clinical patient series.

The study was led by scientists at the Mayo Clinic in Florida, in collaboration with researchers at UCSF, the University of British Columbia and UCLA. The finding emerged from the identification and study of a family stricken by both ALS and FTD, reported last year. In that study, led by the UCSF scientists and published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, the researchers honed in on the region in which the gene was located.

"Both clinically and at the molecular level this discovery is going to significantly improve our understanding of these diseases," said co-author Adam Boxer, MD, PhD, of the UCSF Memory and Aging Center, the lead author on the 2010 paper. The discovery makes it possible to develop a diagnostic test for the mutation, as well as to create animal models that may be used to help unravel the molecular mysteries connecting the mutation to the diseases, he said.

In the current study, a detailed molecular genetic characterization of the family that Boxer described was done in the laboratory of senior author Rosa Rademakers, PhD, from the Mayo Clinic. She and colleagues identified the gene and the specific mutation within it.

The mutation consists of from hundreds to thousands of extra copies of a six-letter DNA sequence GGGGCC strung end to end within a region of human chromosome nine. The mutation occurs within a gene of unknown function called C9ORF72.

After identifying the mutation, the Mayo researchers searched for it in DNA from other patients with both familial and sporadic forms of the diseases, where they found the strong associations.

FTD is characterized by disturbances in decision making, language skills, behavior and emotional expression, and is as common as Alzheimer's disease in people younger than 65, according to Boxer. ALS is a neuromuscular disease, leading to muscle paralysis and respiratory failure, often within three to five years. However, it is not unusual for patients diagnosed with one of the two diseases to exhibit symptoms of the other.
To read more about ALS and FTD, please click the above title.

Laughter Really is the Best Medicine

Discovery News (9/14/2011) -- "A rattling good laugh with friends will help you deal with pain thanks to opiate-like chemicals that flood the brain, according to a British study released on Wednesday.
Researchers carried out lab experiments in which volunteers watched either comedy clips from "Mr Bean" or "Friends," or non-humorous items such as golf or wildlife programmes, while their resistance to mild pain was monitored.
Another test was conducted at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where the volunteers watched either a stand-up comedy show or a theatrical drama.
In lab conditions, the pain came from a deep-frozen wine-cooler sleeve which was slipped onto the arm or from a blood-pressure cuff that was pumped to the threshold of tolerance.
For the Fringe Festival, the volunteers were asked to do a tough exercise -- leaning against the wall with their legs at right angles, as if sitting on a straight-backed chair -- before and immediately after the performance, to see if laughter had helped with the pain.
Just 15 minutes of laughter increased the level of pain tolerance by around 10 percent, the study found.
In the lab experiments, the neutral, non-funny programming had no pain-alleviating effect at all. Nor did watching drama at the Fringe Festival.
However, the study notes two important distinctions.
The only laughter that worked was relaxed, unforced laughter that creases the eyes, as opposed to a polite titter.
And this kind of belly laugh is far likelier to happen when you are with others, rather than being alone.
"Very little research has been done into why we laugh and what role it plays in society," said Robin Dunbar, head of the Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology at the University of Oxford.
"Using microphones, we were able to record each of the participants and found that in a comedy show, they laughed for about a third of the time, and their pain tolerance rose as a consequence."
The protection apparently comes from endorphins, a complex chemical that helps to transmit messages between neurons but also dulls signals of physical pain and psychological stress.
Endorphins are the famous product of physical exercise -- they help create the "buzz" that comes from running, swimming, rowing, yoga and so on."
NOTE: To read the entire article, click on the title above.

Quality Of Life For Individuals With Autism Worsened By Attention Deficit And Hyperactivity Symptoms

Medical News Today (Sept. 20, 2011)- Research supported by the Autism Speaks Autism Treatment Network (ATN), demonstrating that symptoms of attention deficit and hyperactivity worsen quality of life for individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), was presented at the Society for Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics Annual Meeting in San Antonio, Texas. Researchers Parul Vora, M.D., developmental-behavioral pediatric fellowat Nationwide Children's and Darryn Sikora, Ph.D., Director of the Autism Program at Oregon Health Sciences University, used data exclusively from the ATN Registry to examine whether the presence of symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) might have additional impact on the adaptive functioning and quality of life of children and adolescents with ASD. After reviewing measures of attention and hyperactivity, and measures of quality of life, for over 2,000 children and adolescents with ASD, they found that over half of this group had symptoms of either attention or hyperactivity problems. More than a third had significant symptoms of both.

Children with ASD frequently have other symptoms that may compound difficulties with communication, socialization and restricted interests. More than one in three children evaluated had symptoms suggesting that they might have ADHD. Approximately one in ten of the children studied were receiving stimulant medications typically used to treat ADHD. This suggests that most of these children and adolescents with ASD and ADHD symptoms are not being treated with medications for these inattentive and hyperactive symptoms.

Children with ASD frequently have other symptoms that may compound difficulties with communication, socialization and restricted interests. More than one in three children evaluated had symptoms suggesting that they might have ADHD. Approximately one in ten of the children studied were receiving stimulant medications typically used to treat ADHD. This suggests that most of these children and adolescents with ASD and ADHD symptoms are not being treated with medications for these inattentive and hyperactive symptoms.

Children with ASD have lower adaptive functioning - the ability to get along in daily situations - than typically developing children. Not only does the presence of ADHD symptoms compromise their adaptive abilities, quality of life is further reduced.

"Identification of ADHD symptoms in children with ASD is important so that health care providers can work to treat these issues. Further research is needed to determine whether stimulant medication improves ADHD symptoms in children with ASD," explained ATN Medical Director Daniel Coury, M.D.

Dr. Coury explained why this research is important to the ATN. "Because it's very common for children with ASD to present other medical symptoms and diagnoses, a primary goal of the ATN is to create a model of comprehensive medical care for children and adolescents with autism, and best practices to be shared with medical practitioners throughout North America and around the world."

To read the entire article, please click the above title

For Kids With ADHD, Regular 'Green Time' Is Linked to Milder Symptoms

ScienceDaily (Sep. 15, 2011) — "A study of more than 400 children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder has found a link between the children's routine play settings and the severity of their symptoms, researchers report. Those who regularly play in outdoor settings with lots of green (grass and trees, for example) have milder ADHD symptoms than those who play indoors or in built outdoor environments, the researchers found. The association holds even when the researchers controlled for income and other variables.The study appears in the journal Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 9.5 percent of children aged 4-17 had been diagnosed with ADHD as of 2007. Symptoms include severe difficulty concentrating, hyperactivity and poor impulse control.
Although many children with ADHD are medicated, most "would benefit from a low-cost, side-effect-free way of managing their symptoms," wrote University of Illinois crop sciences visiting teaching associate Andrea Faber Taylor and natural resources and environmental sciences professor Frances (Ming) Kuo, the authors of the study.
Previous research has shown that brief exposure to green outdoor spaces -- and in one study, to photos of green settings -- can improve concentration and impulse control in children and adults in the general population -- individuals without ADHD.
These findings led Taylor and Kuo to examine whether children diagnosed with ADHD, which is characterized by deficits in concentration and impulse control, might also benefit from "green time." In a study published in 2004, they analyzed data from a national Internet-based survey of parents of children formally diagnosed with ADHD and found that activities conducted in greener outdoor settings did correlate with milder symptoms immediately afterward, compared to activities in other settings."
NOTE: To read the entire article, click on the title above.

Preschoolers' Grasp of Numbers Predicts Math Performance in School Years

ScienceDaily (Sep. 14, 2011) — "A new study published in the online journal PLoS ONE reports that the precision with which preschoolers estimate quantities, prior to any formal education in mathematics, predicts their mathematics ability in elementary school, according to research from the Kennedy Krieger Institute.
Humans have an intuitive sense of number that allows them, for example, to readily identify which of two containers has more objects without counting. This ability is present at birth, and gradually improves throughout childhood. Although it's easier to compare quantities if the amounts differ greatly (such as 30 versus 15 objects), greater precision is needed when comparing items that are much closer in number. When this ability is measured during the school age years, it correlates with mathematics achievement. However, it has been unclear until now whether this intuitive ability actually serves as a foundation for school-age math abilities.
Results of the new study show that children's ability to make numerical estimates in preschool predicted their performance on mathematical tests taken in elementary school, more than two years later. The relationship appeared to be specific to math ability, because preschool number skills did not predict other abilities, such as expressive vocabulary or the ability to quickly name objects like letters or numbers.
"Children vary widely in both their numerical and non-numerical cognitive abilities at all ages," said Dr. Michele Mazzocco, Director of the Math Skills Development Project at Kennedy Krieger Institute and lead author of the study. "Based on earlier data showing a relationship between intuitive number skills and formal mathematics, we were interested to learn whether numerical skills measured prior to schooling predict the level of mathematics skills children demonstrate years later, in a formal educational setting."
Mazzocco, along with researchers Lisa Feigenson and Justin Halberda of Johns Hopkins University, examined the performance of 17 children (7 girls, 10 boys) who had taken part in an earlier study of numerical abilities as preschoolers. At ages three and four, the children had been asked to judge which of two sets of objects, such as blue or red crayons, had more items. In this new study, researchers measured the same children's math abilities more than two years later using a standardized mathematics assessment that involved a wide range of skills like counting, reading and writing numbers, and simple arithmetic."
NOTE: To read the entire article, click on the title above.

TV Found to Have Negative Impact On Parent-Child Communication and Early Literacy Compared to Books and Toys

ScienceDaily (Sep. 14, 2011) — "Since the first television screens lit up our living rooms scientists have been studying its affect on young children. Now scientists in Ohio have compared mother-child communication while watching TV to reading books or playing with toys to reveal the impact on children's development. The results, published in Human Communication Research, show that watching TV can lead to less interaction between parents and children, with a detrimental impact on literacy and language skills.
The study, conducted by Amy Nathanson and Eric Rasmussen from Ohio State University, focused on 'maternal responsiveness' to reveal differences in the way mothers communicate with their children while engaged with books, toys, and TV.
"Maternal responsiveness describes the quality of responses that a mother provides to an infant when they interact," said Nathanson. "When a mother and child are focusing on the same object, be that a book, toy or TV show, the mother's response can have an important impact on their child's understanding and self perception."
By explaining and describing objects or new words and images, or by prompting conversation through questions, maternal responsiveness can help to engage a child with the activity. The parent can also provide positive feedback and encouragement to a child, or repeat what the child has said to help familiarize them with certain words or sights.
"Mothers who are responsive to their infant's communication promote a positive self-perception for the child as well as fostering trust in the parent. Positive responses help the child learn that they can affect their environment," said Nathanson. "However, if maternal responsiveness is absent, children learn that their environment is unpredictable and may become anxious, knowing that their bids for attention or help may be ignored."
The authors explored the interactions of 73 mother-child pairs. The average mother was married, in their early thirties and had a bachelor's degree, while half were not employed. The children ranged in age from 16 months to 6 years.
Pairs were randomly assigned to one of the three activities for ten minutes. A researcher then offered the pair all three activities and left them for a further twenty minutes. Parents were also asked to fill in questionnaires based on their child's language development while interviews were held to discuss preschooler's literacy levels.
The results demonstrated that who mothers co-read books communicated significantly more with their children than mothers watching TV. The amount of communication involved in reading was not significantly higher than playing with toys. However, the quality of maternal responsiveness was higher in books than toys."
NOTE: To read the entire article, click on the title above.

"Tee Up" for Brain Injury

To register for the golf tournament, please click on the above title.

Buddy Walk

2011 Buddy Walk

The Buddy Walk is almost here! In less than a month we will return to Etiwan Park for the 8th annual Buddy Walk and a great day of inclusion and acceptance for all those living with Down syndrome. Come out and join us for the one mile walk, the dancing and music, food and fun.

The Buddy Walk was developed by the National Down Syndrome Society in 1995 to promote acceptance and awareness of people with Down syndrome. The Buddy Walk program has grown from 17 walks in 1995 to more than 300 walks in 2009 with our LOWCOUNTRY BUDDY WALK ranking third in the nation in attendance behind only New York and Chicago!We encourage people with Down syndrome to
invite “buddies” - everyone from friends and family to teachers and co-workers to join them atthe Buddy Walk. Whether you have Down
syndrome or know and care for someone who does, or just want to show your support, come and join our Buddy Walk.
Anyone can be a buddy!

Schedule of Events

12:30 - 3:00 Face painting, clowns, jump

castles, food and fun for the whole family!

3:00 - Walk! A fun 1-mile walk through one of

Daniel Islandʼs beautiful neighborhoods. Bring

strollers and wagons! All are welcome!!

After the walk, enjoy Etiwan Park on Daniel

Island with a hot dog eating contest, games

and fun until 4:30 p.m.

Parkinson's Awareness Day

Breaking News! The Spartanburg Parkinson's Disease Support Group is hosting a very special "PARKINSON"S AWARENESS DAY" free of cost. There will be several events happening. Among them is a presentation by Dr. Mark Stacy - Professor of Neurology & Associate Dean of Clinical Research at Duke University Medical Center - on "How to Live Well With Parkinson's Disease". Dr. Stacy directs the Movement Disorders Program at Duke; and is internationally recognized for his expertise in Parkinson's.

Date: September 29, 2011

Time: 1:30 - 3:00 pm --- Dr. Mark Stacy - Presentation of "How to Live Well With Parkinson's Disease" and Q & A
4:00 - 5:30 pm --- Special Event of a discussion of "Specific Treatment and Research Needs" with Dr. Mark Stacy. To participate in this Special Event, you must email Lisa Cox at sptgpd@gmail.com to reserve a seat

Other events include discussions about Parkinson's and how additional therapies such as Exercise, Massage Therapy, Dance Therapy, Music and Art Therapy, Physical and Occupational Therapy, and Speech Therapy can help in the treatment of this disease. Carlos Agudelo of Ballet Spartanburg will lead a Movement/Dance Class. Information Fair with vendors.
Cost: Admission is FREE - Everyone is invited to attend: Patients, Caregiver/Care Partners, Other Support Providers, and anyone interested in Parkinson's Disease

Location: The Chapman Cultural Center - 200 East St. John Street - Spartanburg, SC 29306 --- The cultural center telephone number is 864-583-0339

Contact Info: Lisa Cox at sptgpd@gmail.com - Telephone 864-579-4916
Attached is a PDF flyer with information about this event.
[Please do not contact Dottie Gantt for information, thank you!]

Note: To participate in the separate event at 4:00 - 5:30 pm of a discussion of "Specific Treatment and Research Needs" with Dr. Mark Stacy --- you must email Lisa Cox at sptgpd@gmail.com to reserve a seat.

Personal comment by Dottie - Those in our support group who have heard Dr. Stacy speak have said that he is an outstanding speaker.

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Rx News --- The National Institute for Neurological Disease and Stroke (NINDS) has announced that they have stopped the clinical trial of Coenzyme Q10, referred to as the QE3 study. The study was designed to test whether fairly high doses of Coenzyme Q10 were effective in slowing the progression of Parkinson's disease, or neuroprotective. The investigators of the trial determined that there was neither a neuroprotective nor a symptomatic benefit of Coenzyme Q10 for people with early Parkinson's disease. Everyone who participated in this trial has already been alerted and the open and forthright communications to both investigators and patients should serve as a model for future clinical trial communications. For more information visit their web site http://www.parkinson.org/ or to this link to the article http://parkinson-study-group.org/docs/Clinical_Trials_in_Progress
/QE3_Final_PSG_Post_May_27_2011_2.pdf

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Doctor News --- Dr. Tom Faber is back in Columbia and has joined USC Neurology - University Specialty Clinics. His office is located on the Palmetto Richland Hospital campus in the 8 Medical Park Bldg Ste 420, his email is tom.faber@uscmed.sc.edu and he is accepting patients.

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Tai Chi Classes - Janet Swigler is offering a 8-week introductory class, beginning Sept. 6 at Eastminster Presbyterian Church on Trenholm Rd. Attached is both a Word Doc and PDF flyer with all the details. Janet presented Tai Chi as an excellent Parkinson exercise at our May 18, 2008 meeting. She is very familiar with working with Parkinson patients. To learn more about the benefits of Tai Chi Exercise for Parkinson Patients http://www.michaeljfox.org/newsEvents_parkinsonsInTheNews_article.cfm?ID=255

Please contact Janet directly if you have any questions.

Tuesdays, September 6 - October 25, 2011
4:45-5:45 PM
Eastminster Presbyterian Church
3200 Trenholm Road

Contact Janet Swigler - jlswigler@aol.com - Telephone 252-2204

The Benefits of Yoga for Parkinson's

Meeting Reminder

Date: September 18, 2011

Topic: "The benefits of Yoga for Parkinson's" - While yoga cannot reverse PD, it can slow its progression and ease its symptoms by improving the practitioner's balance, flexibility, range of motion, strength and balance. As a Mind-Body Therapy it may also improve emotional well-being.

Below is are some links with additional information about Yoga and Parkinson's

http://www.ehow.com/way_5457215_yoga-parkinsons-disease.html

http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/aug05/wcmc_yoga.mh.html

http://www.parkinson.org/Parkinson-s-Disease/Treatment/Exercise/Dance-as-Exercise-for-People-with-PD Note: Scroll down this page for the article on Yoga

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/06/28/2412478/more-americans-are-embracing-yoga.html#storylink=misearch

Speaker: Diane Barnes, M. Ed., Owner & Director

Mindful Living Studio
1407 Cherokee Dr
West Columbia, SC 29169-6021
(803) 739-8701
Email mindbodyhealth@gmail.com
/http://www.mindfullivingstudio.com/

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Key Signal That Prompts Production of Insulin-Producing Beta Cells Points Way Toward Diabetes Cure

ScienceDaily (Sep. 12, 2011) — Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have identified the key signal that prompts production of insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas -- a breakthrough discovery that may ultimately help researchers find ways to restore or increase beta cell function in people with type 1 diabetes.

The work on the multi-year project was led by Prof. Yuval Dor of the Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada of the Hebrew University, researchers from the Hadassah University Medical Center and researchers from the diabetes section of the Roche pharmaceuticals company. The study was published in a recent issue of the journal Cell Metabolism.

"Our work shows that as the glucose level is increased in the blood, it tells the beta cells to regenerate," says Dor. "It's not blood glucose per se that is the signal, but the glucose-sensing capacity of the beta cell that's the key for regeneration." This was the first time that this sensing of a high level of glucose has been shown to be the "trigger" that induces beta cells to regenerate.

In persons suffering from type 1 (juvenile) diabetes, the immune system launches a misguided attack on the insulin-producing beta cells, resulting in the cells' decline of insulin production and eventual loss of function.

Without insulin, the body's cells cannot absorb glucose from the blood and use it for energy. As a result, glucose accumulates in the blood, leaving the body's cells and tissues starved for energy. That's why people with the disease must inject insulin and monitor their blood glucose levels diligently every day. To cure type 1 diabetes, it will be necessary to develop methods to increase beta cell replication and mass, hence the potential therapeutic importance of the current study.
To read more about a diabetes cure, please click on the above title.

Introduction to Website Accessibility and Usability Workshop

Date: Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Time: 10:00am – 12:00pm
Presenter: Janet Jendron, SC Assistive Technology Program, Web Accessibility Chair, SC Assistive Technology Advisory Committee
Location: Fast Forward Community Technology Center 3223 Devine Street Columbia SC, 29205
Description: Can people with disabilities and age related limitations access and use your web site? What does the law say? What are common web access barriers for people who use assistive technology to read a web site? How can these barriers be prevented and addressed? This training would be useful to anyone designing web sites. This training is interactive and participants will have hands-on experience using accessibility tools.
This training is limited to no more than 30 participants.
Registration: To register for this training contact Fast Forward, Dee Albritton, at 803-343-2577 or dee@fastforwardctc.com