Human Genome Project Accelerates – The international Human Genome Project has announced the completion of the pilot phase of sequencing the human genome. These pilot projects to define the entire genome began 3 years ago and are using new and improved technologies and strategies.

The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) currently is projecting that at least 90% of the entire sequence will be in “draft form” by the spring of the year 2000. This is 18 months ahead of their schedule which they announced last fall. The completed, final version of the sequence should be available by 2003, they announced.

Mark Your Calendars — For those of you that plan ahead, make certain you have placed the next national Arc convention on your calendar. This year’s meeting will be held in Nashville, Tennessee at their Stouffer Renaissance and Crown Plaza hotel. The dates are: October 21 through 23, 1999.

As part of each annual conference, the Arc Health Promotion and Disability Prevention committee organizes various workshops and other sessions which are focused on improving the health of consumers, or curtailing the causal factors of mental retardation.

Who Is Responsible For Shaking Babies — While shaken baby abuse is not limited to any special group of people, males tend to predominate as perpetrators in 65 to 90 percent of cases.

A recent study from Utah (reported in 1998) found that men shook 79% of the shaken baby victims. Sixty-seven percent of these men were fathers, stepfathers and live-in boyfriends.

In the United States, adult males in their early 20s who are the baby’s father or the mother’s boyfriend are typically the shaker.

Females who injure babies by shaking them are more likely to be baby-sitters or child care providers than mothers.

Targeting young men and women at an early age can teach them that nurturing and caring for an infant is the responsibility of both men and women. It is healthy and natural for men to be gentle in handling a child whether they are the parent, caregiver, sibling or friend to the infant.

Advice About Head Protection — Last winter, the US Consumer Products Safety Commission focused on reminding everyone to wear safety helmets when skiing or snowboarding.

Now that the season has moved along into spring and summer , it is appropriate to update the advice to include the wearing of safety helmets during bicycle riding, skateboarding, ATV riding, and especially motorcycle riding.