Determination of Eligibility for Physical Therapy in the Public School Setting

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1991 (IDEA) includes physical therapy as one of the related services which may be necessary for a student with disabilities to benefit from special education. The determination of eligibility is therefore an important part of the provision of physical therapy in a public school setting. This study investigates how this determination is made across the United States and makes recommendations for physical therapists in the state of North Dakota. This study consists of a literature review (including medical and educational journals) and two surveys. The requirements for special education and related services under IDEA, the educational relevance of physical therapy, the use of standardized tests and specific eligibility criteria, and related legal cases are discussed. Surveys were sent to the special education agency of each state and the District of Columbia. A second survey was sent to each State Representative for the Pediatric Section of the American Physical Therapy Association. All 50 states were represented in the responses. The District of Columbia did not respond. Four states indicated that they did use eligibility criteria which are more specific than IDEA and its regulations. Ten states indicated that they did use a rating scale to help determine frequency of therapy services. A brief report of each state\u27s response is provided. The conclusion drawn is that statewide guidelines for eligibility provide some consistency between school districts and are helpful to physical therapists and others involved in the education of children with disabilities. It is recommended that North Dakota adopt guidelines which are flexible, in order to allow for individualization according to each student\u27s needs, and which include functional assessment as well as developmental levels

Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis: an overview of current thinking and treatment

Human papillomaviruses (HPV) infection in benign laryngeal papillomas is well established. The vast majority of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis lesions are due to HPV types 6 and 11. Human papillomaviruses are small non-enveloped viruses (>8 kb), that replicate within the nuclei of infected host cells. Infected host basal cell keratinocytes and papillomas arise from the disordered proliferation of these differentiating keratinocytes. Surgical debulking of papillomas is currently the treatment of choice; newer surgical approaches utilizing microdebriders are replacing laser ablation. Surgery aims to secure an adequate airway and improve and maintain an acceptable quality of voice. Adjuvant treatments currently used include cidofovir, indole-3-carbinol, ribavirin, mumps vaccine, and photodynamic therapy. The recent licensing of prophylactic HPV vaccines is a most interesting development. The low incidence of RRP does pose significant problems in recruitment of sufficient numbers to show statistical significance. Large multi-centre collaborative clinical trials are therefore required. Even so, sufficient clinical follow-up data would take several years

How parents cope financially on marriage breakdown

Although divorce is central to debate on the family, little attention has been paid to the short-term challenges families face arising from a decision to end a marriage. This study redresses the balance by focusing on how separating couples cope financially before the ending of their marriage is legally resolved. It: - charts the changes in families' income and expenses, employment and housing circumstances; - looks at their responses to these changes, and their sources of advice, support and help; - collects information on the settlements divorcing parents made, their motivations and objectives in reaching them, and their attitudes to the legal process. The authors conclude by considering the legal and policy implications regarding marriage breakdown and financial provision on separation and divorce

Supporting adoption: reframing the approach

Directed by Professors Lowe and Murch at Cardiff Law School, this landmark research is concerned with the adoption of older children looked after by local authorities. It presents a critical review of the support available from diverse sources including educational, social work, legal, health and psychological services as well as that from informal networks and previous carers, to older children and their families as the former make the transition from being looked after by the local authority to a new life with adoptive parents. Supporting Adoption offers the most comprehensive review of adption services in England and Wales in this decade and the picture that emerges is of a highly variable adoption practice. The authors also consider how best to ensure a much higher overall standard of adoption agency practice and propose recommendations and outline measures which would help refurbish the system. This is a Summary of the report based on the research

Supporting adoption: reframing the approach

Directed by Professors Lowe and Murch at Cardiff Law School, this landmark research is concerned with the adoption of older children looked after by local authorities. It presents a critical review of the support available from diverse sources including educational, social work, legal, health and psychological services as well as that from informal networks and previous carers, to older children and their families as the former make the transition from being looked after by the local authority to a new life with adoptive parents. Supporting Adoption offers the most comprehensive review of adption services in England and Wales in this decade and the picture that emerges is of a highly variable adoption practice. The authors also consider how best to ensure a much higher overall standard of adoption agency practice and propose recommendations and outline measures which would help refurbish the system. This is a Summary of the report based on the research