Other objectives also target prevention of mental retardation. Mental retardation in children due to traumatic brain injury can be reduced by measures to reduce motor vehicle, bicycle and other injuries. Several objectives address prevention of injuries. The risk of mental retardation among children born in families with psychosocial deprivation can be reduced through the objective calling for intellectual enrichment provided by high quality early intervention and preschool programs. HIV infection is a cause of mental retardation in children that can be reduced through interventions which help women avoid contracting HIV infection.
Babies contract the infection from their mothers during the pregnancy and when nursing.
Several objectives outline actions to reduce the incidence of HIV infection. The Arc participated with four other organizations in an advisory task force which focused on objectives affecting people with disabilities. The task force sponsored a 1991 conference which resulted in a manual covering systems of health care, service models, standards, resources and additional needs such as research, data collection, financing and training. The plan specifically calls for reducing the incidence of fetal alcohol syndrome and alcohol-related birth defects by 25 percent. To accomplish this, The Arc is conducting a national public awareness and education campaign on prevention of fetal alcohol syndrome and is disseminating information and materials for its chapters to assist them in their local prevention efforts.