Philip B. Stafford, director of the Center on Aging and Community at Indiana University Bloomington, will be a featured panelist on "When Did I Get Old? Reflections on Aging Today," a one-hour television documentary that premieres tonight (Nov. 19).

A national report revealing that 1 percent of U.S. children ages 3-17 have an autism spectrum disorder points to the need for a greater investment in understanding and responding to autism, according to Cathy Pratt, an Indiana University expert and Autism Society official.

Indiana University Bloomington holds more than 560,000 audio and video recordings and film reels, many of which are historically significant, all of which are actively deteriorating. And the window of time to save these materials is closing fast.

What ideas do people with disabilities in Indiana have about transportation issues? IU's Indiana Institute on Disability and Community, in conjunction with the Governor's Council for People with Disabilities and Indiana Protection and Advocacy Services, is conducting a survey to answer the question.

The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), in conjunction with the Autism Society of America (ASA), has announced the publication of professional competencies for teaching students with autism spectrum disorders. The Indiana Resource Center for Autism at Indiana University Bloomington played a key role in their development.

All interested stakeholders are invited to help define the design of future Medicaid Waivers for people with developmental disabilities in Indiana. One way to provide input is to complete the online Medicaid Waiver Survey, currently being conducted by the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community for the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration

The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) has asked the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community to host a series of community discussions to gather public opinions that will guide the development of Medicaid waivers administered by the FSSA.

A far-reaching survey of Indiana residents age 60 and older reaffirms the high level of civic activity engaged in by this population. Conducted by researchers at Indiana University, the telephone survey of 5,000 older Hoosiers revealed that 85 percent had voted in the previous local election. Moreover, nearly four out of 10 seniors had contacted a local representative to express a concern or state an opinion.

As the election season moves into its final weeks, a newly released 2008 Indiana Disability Poll weighs in on the voting behaviors and political activities of Hoosiers with disabilities, their family members, and advocates. The poll found that most members of the disability community, including their their caregivers and advocates, are voters. However, many reported encountering barriers to the polls.

The back-to-school issue of IU Health & Wellness discusses the following topics: Printing letters and brain development in preschoolers, a parents' guide to high-tech cell phones, hairstyles deterring exercise, talking to children about sex, weight gain during the college years and resources for families of children with disabilities.

Researchers from Indiana University's Indiana Institute on Disability and Community are conducting interviews with older parents and/or siblings of adults with developmental disabilities around the state. Specifically, the institute is seeking to interview parents or siblings aged 70 and older to learn about possible supports to help them care for family members at home.

A Minnesota case in which an autistic 13-year-old boy was barred from church points to the need for public awareness of autism and the importance of resources and support to enable individuals with autism spectrum disorders and their families to take part in day-to-day activities, says Cathy Pratt, director of the Indiana Resource Center for Autism at Indiana University Bloomington.

Family members and others interested in learning more about supporting children on the autism spectrum will meet Saturday, May 17, in Bloomington for a conference titled "Strengthening Our Roots: A Conference For, and About, Families of Children on the Autism Spectrum."

Residents of the Bloomington area will have multiple opportunities to share and savor stories next week in connection with the International Day for Sharing Life Stories, a worldwide celebration scheduled for May 16. Local activities include weeklong exhibits and displays on themes related to community, memory and story circles, roundtables and exercises designed to facilitate the sharing of memories and the telling of stories.

Family members and those interested in learning more about supporting children on the autism spectrum should mark their calendars for Saturday, May 17, and plan to attend a conference titled "Strengthening Our Roots: A Conference For, and About, Families of Children on the Autism Spectrum."

The Indiana Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services has asked the Early Childhood Center at Indiana University to conduct an independent evaluation and audit of the Indiana First Steps Early Intervention System. The audit is intended to assess the impact of recent changes to First Steps and generate information for improving early-intervention services.

The Indiana Resource Center for Autism at Indiana University is sponsoring one-day workshops in central and northern Indiana with a focus on providing information and strategies for law enforcement and school corporation police officers regarding autism risk and safety management.

The Center on Aging and Community at Indiana University Bloomington is a partner in the Indiana Advantage Survey. The purpose of the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration study is to collect information from Indiana's senior population in order to evaluate communities and prepare future plans to enhance quality of life for this growing population.

Living Well for February discusses online dating, elite college basketball players and academics, and emergency preparedness planning for people with intellectual disabilities.

A grant awarded to the Indiana Resource Center for Autism, which is part of the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community at Indiana University, will fund research to develop methods for helping improve the social skills of children with autism spectrum disorders. The $26,848 grant comes from the Organization for Autism Research in Arlington, Va.

The state of Indiana should develop a support structure that helps schools work better on their own specific issues with discipline, according to a new report by the Center for Evaluation and Education Policy and the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community, both at Indiana University.

A recent survey led by Vicki Pappas of the Indiana Insitute on Disability and Community at IU Bloomington identified top health care problems and needs for people with disabilities. Respondents said that choice of health care providers was the most important feature to include in health care reform legislation, followed by coverage for specialists, low co-pays, dental coverage and preventive care. Coverage of prescription drugs and mental health services were also top issues for people with disabilities.

For parents of typical children, leaving the babysitter with a list of emergency contacts and a basic bedtime routine may be sufficient. But for parents of children with autism or other developmental disorders, there's a great deal more information to convey, said Beverly Vicker, a speech pathologist with the Indiana Resource Center for Autism at Indiana University's Indiana Institute on Disability and Community.

This back-to-school tipsheet discusses the pitfalls of online courses, parental tools for sharing important information with caregivers about children with disabilities, the future of college rankings, preparing young children for school, parental tips for monitoring kids' online activities, the challenges of running afterschool programs in poorer neighborhoods, and an argument for allowing children to be creative on the internet.