To readers:- Go to: <http://www.globalgenealogy.com/census> Scroll down to "Other Sites" -- click on Genetically Inherited Diseases This was a submission from myself, with assistance from all listed there, (some names have been withheld) to the Expert Panel -- mailed in April, 2000. The Recommendations are my own -- will be anxious to learn if any will be accepted for the future. Muriel M. Davidson <davidson3542@home.com> Canada Census Committee >>>>>>>>>>>>>>..............................<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Recommendations --A question to be added (or substituted) to the 2001 census questions, asking for people to list known Genetically Inheritable Diseases with a YES or NO. Reason: The present question, " deaf, dumb, blind, insane" and others have been criticized by many. Instead, should I find a YES to any one of these, it would be treated as an answer to a possibly previously unexplained medical condition. --At present children being adopted are received in basically the WYSIWYG -- What You See Is What You Get -- manner and adoption system. Complete medical history of both father and mother (if possible), blood types, known genetically inheritable diseases, should be part of the adoption process. Names of real parents, locality of birth are NOT part of a medical history. --Census records of people in institutions of long term care:- Back in 1901 and 1911, also earlier, many family members were admitted to "poor farms", county homes or insane asylums. To my knowledge, there are no census records of these members of a family -- they were locked away as if they never existed. Mental illness seems to be a taboo subject - but one that needs diagnosis. NOTE:- I have learned SOME institutions provided records, others did not.