This study revealed a beneficial use of Snoezelen therapy with children recovering from severe brain injury. However, there continues to be a critical need for evidenced-based research for this patient population and others in this multi-sensory environment.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of the WalkSafe program, an elementary school-based pedestrian safety program in a single high-risk district in Miami-Dade County.Methods: Sixteen elementary schools were identified in a single high-risk district and enrolled in a one-year study. All schools implemented the WalkSafe program on the last week of January 2003. A pre, post, and three-month post testing of pedestrian safety knowledge was conducted. An observational component was also implemented at four schools that were randomly chosen. Engineering recommendations and law enforcement initiatives were also performed.Results: A total of 6467 children from K-5th grade from 16 elementary schools participated in the program. Of these 5762 tests were collected over three different testing times. A significant difference (p-value < 0.001) was found between the pre and post testing conditions across all grade levels. There was no significant difference found between the post and three-month post testing conditions across all grade levels (p-value > 0.05). The observational data collected at four schools across the different testing times demonstrated a significant difference found between pre and post testing conditions for Group A (stop at the curb and look left, right, left) and also for Group B (midstreet crossing and darting out) (p-value < 0.05). There was no difference found between comparing the pre-test or post-test condition with the three-month post-test time. There were many environmental modifications that were recommended and actually performed.Conclusion: The WalkSafe program implemented in a single high-risk district was shown to improve the pedestrian safety knowledge of elementary school children. The observational data demonstrated improved crossing behaviors from pre-test to post-testing conditions. Future research will focus on sustaining the program in this district and expanding the program throughout our county.Each year in the United States approximately 25,000 children 0-15 years of age are struck by motor vehicles. This accounts for 22% of total injury by this population (NCSA, 2000). According to the U.S Department of Transportation for 2000, the age groups with the highest percentages of pedestrian injury are the elderly population older than 59 years (10%) and the children less than 16 years (30%); this accounts for 24,000 pedestrians injured. The 5-9 age group accounted for 50% of the total children pedestrians injured in this population and 30% of the fatalities. Most school-age pedestrians are killed in the afternoon rather than the morning, with 42% of the fatalities occurring in crashes

Inflammatory, adiposity, and immune-related markers could help to differentiate a LADA diagnosis from that of classic adult-onset type 1 diabetes, and also LADA from that of type 2 diabetes, along with islet autoantibody positivity.

Motorcycle riders at one year post-injury continue to experience physical deficits related to their accidents. There is a small percentage of riders that resume riding a motorcycle after injury. Being involved in a motorcycle accident has deterred the injured rider from riding a motorcycle again at one year post-injury.

The WalkSafe program was shown to improve the pedestrian safety knowledge of elementary school children. Future research will include implementing the WalkSafe program at each elementary school within a single high-risk district.