STYLISH AND SAFE Eighty percent of senior citizens suffer some impairment to their mobility, which often forces them to give up their homes or install ugly ramps and rails. But a new book, High-Access Home, by Charles A. Riley II, suggests other options that combine aesthetics and accessibility for people with all sorts of disabilities. Using what he calls "universal design," Riley shows how barrier-free living can be both easy and attractive.
ON THE ROAD Researchers have found that for teen drivers, the risk of fatal injuries in a car crash increases with the number of passengers. Sixteen-year-old drivers carrying one passenger are 39% more likely to get killed than those driving alone, and 182% more likely with three or more passengers. Researchers link the increase to distraction rather than alcohol or drugs. Some states place limits on passengers for young drivers, but parents should consider making their own rules about who can ride with whom.
A SMALL PROBLEM Short boys often get picked on in more ways than one. According to a recent study, short boys who have academic problems in elementary school are more likely to be held back a year than taller boys with similar problems. Researchers--who found that height did not affect the progress of girls--say that adults tend to treat children at a level appropriate to their size rather than their age, and that parents and teachers should take care not to be "sizeist."
--By Lisa McLaughlin