June 7, 2001

Contact: Karen Henry, Schiefelbusch Life Span Institute, (785) 864-0756.

KU's Warren elected president of national association

LAWRENCE -- Steven F. Warren, director of the Kansas Mental Retardation and Developmental Disability Research Center and director designate of KU's Schiefelbusch Institute for Life Span Studies, became the president of the American Association on Mental Retardation (AAMR) June 1 at the organization's 125th annual meeting in Denver.

"I will work to realize the AAMR mission to promote development and dissemination of progressive policies, sound research, effective practices and universal human rights for people with intellectual disabilities," Warren said.

Founded in 1876, AAMR is the oldest and largest interdisciplinary professional organization in the United States concerned with mental retardation and related disabilities.

Warren, nationally recognized for his contributions to understanding language development in children and leadership in the field of developmental disabilities, was associated with Vanderbilt University's John F. Kennedy Center for Human Development for 17 years as a professor of special education and deputy director before he came to KU in December 1999.

He will succeed Stephen R. Schroeder as the Life Span Institute's third director Aug. 1.

The Life Span Institute strives to improve the quality of life for Kansans of all ages with or without disabilities through research, training, technical assistance, consultation, and direct services.

The institute's affiliated centers and projects engage in wide-ranging research on problems and disorders that affect human development. The institute disseminates research findings, technical assistance and training throughout Kansas and the nation. Affiliated projects and centers are based on the Lawrence and Medical Center campus in Kansas City as well as the Parsons Research Center in Parsons, and the Juniper Gardens Children's Project in Kansas City, Kan. The overall program of the Life Span Institute is the largest and most comprehensive of its type in the nation.