A Message From Our Founder and Chairman - Laura Meddens We have much to tell you about as we complete our Spring updates to our website. The past few months have seen earthquakes strike in Haiti and Chile with disastrous consequences, especially for persons with disabilities. In a country where anyone with a disability is considered bad luck for a family, and abandoned by society, the rebuilding effort also requires a rebuilding of attitudes, especially if Haiti is to cope with the thousands of people newly disabled by amputations because of crush injuries. We have also witnessed an increase in abuse of the disabled with violent consequences. Both topics are the subjects of special reports in our In Depth section. We also address how disabling peoples' attitudes can be to anyone with sensory, physical or learning disabilities with the panel of local and international participants from our ABLED Fundraiser in December. And to all who attended or helped with, sponsored or contributed to the event, a very big Thank You! You can read more detail about it on our ABLED Fundraiser page. On a personal note, I'd like to send heartfelt appreciation to everyone who was kind enough to send good wishes for the eye surgeries I've required since our event, Wagner's recovery from tick fever, and especially for the many kind condolences on the sudden passing of my father, Leo. He, along with my mother Beatrice have been great supporters of our Foundation's mission and I miss him very much. If you'd like to know a bit more about him, you can visit his online memorial at www.LeoMeddens.com. As we emerge from a sad beginning to 2010, we are progressing with the development of our ABLED system of software and digital devices to be able to utilize them to create new learning, training and job opportunities for persons with disabilities in Curaçao, who then provide ABLED services for the disabled community around the world. As a non-profit NGO (Non-Governmental Organization), we rely completely on financial contributions from businesses, Foundations and individuals to make all of this happen. Please visit our DONATE page to learn how you can support our ABLED initiative that will bring transformational change to the lives of persons with disabilities. Thank you!

Recall of snack & seasoning products The FDA (Food and Drug Administration in the U.S. has issued a recall of many products containing a food flavoring that has tested positive for salmonella. Dips, gravy and salad mixes, deli meats along with two flavors of Pringles potato chips are part of a massive recall. Read more here.

Medications linked to broken bones Investigative reports show more and more incidents of broken femurs (the strongest bones in the body) in certain women who have been taking osteoporosis medications like Fosomax for more than five years. But the FDA in the United States is stopping short of an official warning or recall. Read more here.

FDA & US Senate Raise Concerns Drug maker GlaxoSMithKline comes under fire for mis-representing data related to concerns that its Avandia medication for Type II Diabetes may put users at higher risk of a heart attack. But the FDA is also saying patients shouldn't stop taking the medication pending more tests. Read more here.

More brands added to Tylenol recall Affected lots of Roalids, St. Joseph Asprin, Motrin, Benadryl and others have been added to an expansion of an Johnson & Johnson recall of products because of a moldy smell that has made some patients sick. Affected lots have also been sold in Curaçao. Read more here.

Soft Drink Fountains Contaminated A major study finds some soda fountain machines may be squirting fecal bacteria containing E.coli and other forms of bacteria that can be resistant to antibiotics. The suspected source may be the plastic tubing within the machines that are used at many fast food restaurants. Read more here.

The Laura and Wagner Foundation presents special coverage of the catastrophic earthquakes that struck the island of Haiti and the coast of Chile and their impact on persons with disabilities in both countries.

In disasters like these, it is a sad fact that persons with disabilities are often the first to die. Thousands of people will now face a lifetime of disability, if they survived, because of overwhelmed medical systems that are unable to treat the crush injuries of broken bones, and disease-related disabling health conditions that result from earthquake disasters.

HAITI : The Necessity To Rebuild Attitudes Towards The Disabled As Amputations Rise

Prior to the January 12th earthquake, it was estimated that about 800 thousand people in Haiti were living with a disability.  Conditions for them were already a nightmare and many disabled babies and children were abandoned in sewers and in the streets.

We have compiled coverage from a number of sources that will track the fate of disabled persons of all ages in Haiti as recovery efforts evolve, and also let you know how you can contribute to the aid effort through reliable organizations.

In Curaçao, contributions to the Red Cross/Krus Kora Korsou can be made at any local bank. UTS, Digicel and Scarlet have reduced their tariffs by 50% for calls to Haiti and it is possible to donate to Haiti relief by texting the world HELP to 4357 via UTS, and by texting HELP to 5151 via Digicel.

Study: Fish Oil May Slow Genetic Aging        Researchers at the University of California San Francisco followed over 600  men with heart disease and found those taking the most omega-3 fatty  acid fish oil supplements appeared 'biologically younger.  Read more at ABC News.com >>