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Mental
Retardation Awareness Month
DEFINITION OF MENTAL
RETARDATION
Mental retardation is not something you have, like blue eyes, or a bad
heart. Nor is it something you are, like short, or thin .It is not a medical
disorder, nor a mental disorder. Mental retardation is a particular state
of functioning that begins in childhood and is characterized by limitation
in both intelligence and adaptive skills. Mental retardation reflects
the "fit" between the capabilities of individuals and the structure
and expectations of their environment.
THERE IS HOPE…
Within each mentally
retarded individual, limitations often coexist with strengths. With appropriate
individual assessment and personalized supports over a sustained period,
the life functioning of the person with mental retardation generally will
improve.
Further information
about mental retardation issues can be obtained from the following organizations:
AAMR,
the American Association of Mental Retardation
AAMR promotes
progressive policies, sound research and effective practices that support
people with mental retardation and their families. The website includes
basic information, link to local Northeast Ohio chapters, and the RADAR
database that tracks key issues and emerging trends at local, state, and
national levels by scanning over 150 professional journals and newspapers.
The
Arc
The Arc is a
national organization of and for people with mental retardation. This
organization develops support and services for people with mental retardation,
and fosters education and research for preventing mental retardation in
infants and children. Their site contains resources including local chapters
in the Northeast Ohio area, an event calendar, information about mental
retardation and related topics, and advocacy information.
National
Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
Colorectal cancer,
or cancer of the colon or rectum, is the third leading cause of cancer-related
deaths in the United States. The good news is that prevention and early
detection through screening has a significant impact on mortality rates
RESOURCES
The National
Colorectal Cancer Roundtable
For more information about early detection, screening informational and
scientific articles visit the National
Colorectal Cancer Roundtable.The
NCCRT is a national coalition of public, private, and voluntary organizations
dedicated to reducing the incidence and mortality from colorectal cancer
in the U.S. through leadership, strategic planning, advocacy, coordination
and data gathering. The ultimate goal of the roundtable is to increase
the use of proven colorectal cancer screening tests among the entire population
for whom screening is appropriate.
The Cancer
Research and Prevention Foundation
For further
information on protecting your family, visit The
Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation. This national, non-profit
health foundation has a single mission: the prevention and early detection
of cancer through scientific research and education. It focuses its energies
and resources on those cancers—including lung, breast, prostate,
colorectal, cervical, skin and testicular—that can be prevented
through lifestyle changes or detection and treatment in their early stages.
The foundation provides
useful information about ways to protect against certain cancers. You
can order materials online: brochures, videos and fact sheets in English
and Spanish.
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