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Employing People With Autism Could Save The UK Economy Billions Each Year
A unique event to discuss Autism and employment was held at Goldsmiths, University of London this week. For the first time charities, researchers, business and government were brought together to look at how people with Autism, and related disorders, can be supported effectively into employment.

Lawmakers Seek Compromise On Health Overhaul Proposals
Democrats and Republicans are saying that they will need to compromise on a government-run public plan if they are to meet the deadline of having a bill on the Senate floor by the August recess, The Associated Press reports.
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Opinion Piece Examines Abortion-Rights Opponents' Response To Connection Between Recession, Abortion
In response to recent news reports from Reuters, the Associated Press and other media outlets tying the recession to an increase in demand for abortion, the antiabortion-rights community is arguing that women are "choosing their own material comfort over the life of their unborn children" -- an interpretation that is "wrong on several accounts" -- Double X contributor Anna Murphy Paul writes in an opinion piece."No one wants her most intimate decisions to be driven by money," but, at the same time, "opting not to have a child you can"t afford to raise can be a realistic and responsible -- if painful -- choice, one often based on taking good care of the kids you already have" Murphy Paul says. She continues, "Nor is the intrusion of economic concerns on childbearing a phenomenon of this recession, or even the loosening of sexual mores over the past half-century; historically, financial hardship has been an ever-present motivation for ending a pregnancy."Murphy Paul cites the results of a 2005 Guttmacher Institute survey that found that nearly three-fourths of respondents said that the reason they decided to have an abortion was that they "could not afford a baby right now," which was the second-most common reason. The report found that the top reason for having an abortion was that children would interfere with women"s education, work or ability to care for dependents, all "concerns that are also largely economic in nature," Murphy Paul writes. She notes that at the time the study was published, "the Dow was still riding high, and the housing bubble seemed it would never pop." Murphy Paul adds that a 1987 Guttmacher survey on the same subject produced results "almost identical" to the 2005 survey.However, "to hear the pro-life activists tell it, women aren"t really struggling with difficult choices -- they just don"t want to give up the luxuries to which they"ve become accustomed," Murphy Paul writes. Abortion-rights opponents promote offers of counseling and no-cost infant supplies provided through "pregnancy re centers" to support women who choose not to have an abortion, but such centers often provide misleading information or offer little assistance beyond the first few months after birth, she says."Pro-life activists are surely right about one thing: It"s tremendously sad when a woman decides that she can"t bring into the world a child whom under better circumstances she would have welcomed," Murphy Paul continues. However, the "harsh rhetoric about selfishness and irresponsibility help far less than an acknowledgement of -- and lasting aid with -- the true costs of raising a child," she writes. According to Murphy Paul, in "the absence of such help, the most responsible act is to face economic reality head-on. For some women, that may mean abortion" (Murphy Paul, Double X, 5/15).
Mental Health

'We Want Sex, Not AIDS'

Health workers fail to understand the importance of sex for Tanzanian children Community health organisations working on AIDS prevention projects in Tanzania, frequently fail to understand how children in Tanzania deal with sex. Miranda van Reeuwijk followed a large group of children in order to help change this situation. The children mainly view sex as something from which they can personally benefit, but frequently hide their relationships from parents and health workers. They are more scared of their strict parents than of HIV. The Tanzanian children, mainly schoolchildren between the ages of 10 and 16, told Van Reeuwijk that sex was important for their sense of self-esteem, for their status amongst peers and because they wanted to be seen as "older". Girls in particular view sex as a way of gaining independence from their parents. As girls have few other opportunities for obtaining money, they find themselves a boyfriend to provide this for them. Shrewd negotiators Both the boys and girls court each other and both are active negotiators regarding the costs and benefits of a potential sexual relationship. The boys attempt to persuade the girls of their love and devotion with money and presents, and at the same try to find out if the girl is only after their money. Van Reeuwijk heard from a large number of boys who complained about girls who would take their hard-earned cash, but in the end wanted nothing to do with the boy. The girls meanwhile are keen to find out whether a boy is not only interested in getting them into bed but is also suitable for a longer-term relationship. Money plays a fundamental role in these negotiations for both parties. Since new negotiations are required for each sexual encounter, temporary relationships can however quickly follow on one from another, or be formed alongside a long-term relationship. Reputation management These negotiations do not take place in public however. Van Reeuwijk discovered that the most important reasons for not having sex are the fear of being caught by parents and the risk of being expelled from school. Apart from strict parents and teachers, who often tell them that sex is bad, the children are also often warned by health workers of the dangers of sex. However, these messages do not tally with their own experiences and with the things they hear from their peers. The numerous conflicting messages the children hear results in them trying to fulfil all expectations; they adjust their outward behaviour in response to the situation and the expectations of others. They also hide their sexual relationships. Consequently there are fewer opportunities for boys and girls to "date" and to get to know each other better. From the stories told by the children it would appear that they place more value on negative feedback from parents and peers than on the risk of becoming infected with a disease such as HIV. However, teachers and NGOs concentrate almost exclusively on this last aspect. Many prevention programmes and healthcare intervention projects in Tanzania only achieve limited success. According to Van Reeuwijk this is because they are targeted solely at the possible dangers of sex and not at how children approach sex and relationships. Moreover, teachers are often inadequately trained in giving the children sex education; they are uncomfortable discussing certain subjects, for example. Van Reeuwijk pleads for an approach that involves the children in intervention programmes. She also says that prevention should not only target adolescents but younger children as well. Miranda van Reeuwijk followed the groups of children in Tanzania between 2004 and 2008. This was partly made possible by a grant she received from WOTRO Science for Global Development. WOTRO Science for Global Development is a division within NWO that supports scientific research on development issues, in particular poverty alleviation and sustainable development. Van Reeuwijk"s thesis will be published in book form by AMB publishers in the autumn of 2009. Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research


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