While the medical home has proven effective at improving continuity of care among other populations, there is a paucity of literature testing the effectiveness of medical homes in serving the healthcare needs of autistic adults. We conducted a retrospective cohort study to compare the continuity of care of autistic adult patients at a specialized…

Timely data on service use and needs across the lifespan are essential to developing an effective and efficient service delivery system that is responsive to developmental issues. This study uses data from one of the largest statewide surveys conducted between 2017 and 2018 to compare service use and unmet needs among individuals on the autism…

Introduction: People with intellectual disability (ID) experience barriers in accessing mental health care. Recommendations have been made to implement specialist intellectual disability mental health (IDMH) services in Australia. However, there is limited evidence to inform service development. Method: Family members and support persons of people…

Specialist intellectual disability inpatient units have come under increased scrutiny, leading to questions about the quality of service provision in this sector. A care pathway-based approach was implemented in such a unit and its impact on outcome variables was measured. The care pathway-based approach resulted in the turnover of more patients,…

Background: Secondary prevention involves the early detection of disease while it is asymptomatic to prevent its progression. For adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, secondary prevention is critical as they may not have the ability to recognize the early signs and symptoms of disease or lack accessible information about these.…

Experience with provision of optimal health services to mentally retarded individuals in institutional settings can be applied and adapted to design services for such adults living in the community. Coordination of health care by a team of nurses, primary care physicians, and special medical services is recommended. (Author/DB)

This article identifies possible adverse effects of managed health care delivery systems on adults with mental retardation. It is noted that few primary care providers, the "gatekeepers" of such systems, have special training in examining and treating adults with mental retardation and that disincentives exist in such programs for…

Participants from five states (Colorado, Minnesota, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin) met to establish a national network to promote state and community-based models of comprehensive coordinated planning and service delivery to adults who survived pediatric disorders in their childhood. Results of state caucuses, which discussed and listed…

As agencies and programs serving individuals with developmental disabilities are called upon to serve a new population of individuals with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, they will be forced to confront complex legal questions. This paper discusses the legal frameworks in which individuals with HIV infection are considered eligible…

The mental health needs and services available in the United States were investigated by the President's Commission on Mental Health. Results indicated that: (1) mental health services are primarily located in urban areas; (2) the needs of racial and cultural minorities, children, adolescents, and older adults are not being met; (3) national…

Comparison of risk-adjusted odds of mortality of people with mental retardation living either in institutions or in the community in California from 1980 through 1992 estimated that mortality was 72% higher in the community than in institutions. Problems with health care delivery in the community were suggested as a reason for this difference.…

This report of the National Council on Disability (NCD) examines root causes of the crisis in mental health, specifically the dysfunction of fragmented public systems charged with providing mental health services and supports for children, youth, adults, and senior citizens diagnosed with mental illnesses. Following an introductory chapter,…

A survey questionnaire of 32 adult deaf subjects evaluated their knowledge of and interest in audiology and services of audiologists. Issues examined included communication, practices in audiology, deafness, hearing, the auditory system, delivery of specific services to the deaf community and general interrelationships in the deaf community.…

This proceedings contains commissioned background papers used by conference work groups focusing on nine aspects of farmworker substance abuse, and the action plan developed by the work groups. The keynote address by Felipe G. Castro examines risk factors for substance abuse and addiction among Chicano farmworkers, particularly adolescent and…

This compilation brings together various conference papers and a working group report on health and psychosocial aspects of transition for people with deaf-blindness and other profound disabilities. The title paper by Sharon Hostler focuses on health service needs of the individual, including health planning, a transition health assessment, and an…