Week in Review - October 5, 2012

WEEK IN REVIEW

NewNASETPublications and Articles of Interest in Special Education and Disabilities That Were Reported This Week

October 5, 2012 - Vol 8, Issue 37

 


 

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TRIVIA QUESTION OF THE WEEK

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Dear NASET News,

Welcome toNASET'sWEEK in REVIEWHere, we provide you with the latest publications fromNASETto read and or download, as well as some of the most interesting articles that have happened this week in the field of special education. We hope you enjoy this publication.  Feel free to send us articles for this publication or let us know your thoughts about theWEEK in REVIEWatnews@naset.org.Have a great weekend.

Sincerely,


NASETNews Team

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New This Week on NASET

NASET's Special Educator e-Journal

October 2012

Table of Contents

*             Calls to Participate

*             Special Education Resources

*             Update From The National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities

*             Latest Employment Opportunities Posted on NASET

*             Upcoming Conferences and Events

*             Funding Forecast and Award Opportunities

*             Book Review:  Teach Like Your Hair's On Fire: The Methods and Madness Inside                 Room 56--By Heather Johnson, Florida International University

*             Let Them Read with You: Support for the Inclusion of Children with Autism in                           Classroom Reading Programs-Written by Lola Gordon, Ed.S.

*             Acknowledgements

*             Download a PDF Version of This Issue


To read or download this issue -Click here (login required)
______________________________________________________

The Practical Teacher Series

October 2012

IS THERE ONLY ONE WAY TO TEACH READING?

LEARNING TO READ IN A DIFFERENT WAY

 

By:Matthew Glavach, Ph.D.

Warren Pribyl, M.A.

 

Some students learn to read nearly on their own.  But most students need reading instruction.  That instruction is often phonics based.  Although phonics works well for most students, it does not work for all students.   In spite of giving their best effort, some students cannot grasp phonics as initial reading instruction.  Is there only one way to teach reading? This issue of NASET's Practical Teacher (written by Matthew Glavach, Ph.D. and Warren Pribyl, M.A.) will look at the issue of learning to read in a different way. In their article, they present a successful reading instruction program that uses a different way to teach these students, one that is compatible with the way they learn.  Unlike reading programs in which students struggle to sound out words, the program builds on students' natural language abilities to develop word recognition and reading fluency in the context of interesting reading books.  It includes a list of books used in the program. It also includes the books grade levels for teachers to use in designing a program.

To read or download this issue -Click here (login required)

Report: Parents With Disabilities At Risk

A federal agency is warning the White House that more protections are needed to ensure the parental rights of those with disabilities. Even as an increasing number of Americans with special needs choose to become parents, laws across the country routinely undermine their rights, according to a National Council on Disabilityreportwhich was sent to President Barack Obama on Thursday. In two-thirds of states, courts are allowed to deem a parent unfit solely based on their disability. And, disability can legally be taken into account in every state when assessing what's in the best interest of a child, the council found. To read more,click here

Did You Know That....

Certain members of the IEP team may be excused from an IEP meeting under specific conditions. These conditions will vary depending on whether or the the team member's area of expertise is going to be discussed or modified in the meeting.

Burden of Epilepsy in Developing World Described

The burden of epilepsy in poorer parts of the world could be readily alleviated by reducing the preventable causes and improving access to treatment, according to a review article published September 27 in the Lancet. The researchers call for greater recognition from international and national health agencies to address the management of epilepsy in the developing world. Despite being one of the most cost-effective disorders to treat, there are twice as many people living with epilepsy in low- and lower-middle-income countries than higher income nations and more than 60% of those affected in these regions are not accessing any appropriate treatment. To read more,click here

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Untreated Food Allergies More Likely in Poor, Minority Children

It is vital that food allergies be recognized, diagnosed and treated, but some children are falling through the cracks, according to a new study. Clinicians must teach parents and caregivers to recognize non-visual symptoms of severe allergic reactions, and children should receive allergy testing so their condition can be managed properly, the researchers said. "Every child with a food allergy should be diagnosed by a physician, have access to life-saving medication such as an epinephrine autoinjector and receive confirmation of the disease through diagnostic testing," study lead author Dr. Ruchi Gupta, associate professor of pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, said in a university news release. "Not all children are receiving this kind of care." To read more,click here

Unique Genetic Marker Discovery May Help Predict Multiple Sclerosis Relapse

Scientists may be one step closer to predicting the uncertain course of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS), a disease that can lay dormant for months or years, thanks to the discovery of a unique genetic marker. The marker, detailed by researchers in the August edition of The Journal of Immunology, is the first of its kind to be directly linked to MS. The study, supported by funding from both the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Ohio State Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS) was conducted by a team of scientists with The Ohio State University using blood samples from patients with MS, as well as mouse models. Researchers uncovered the molecule miR-29, while working to identify a biomarker in the blood that could indicate if a patient had an ongoing inflammatory response, such as MS. To read more,click here

Did You Know That....

The chief condition for excusing a member of the IEP team whose area of expertise is not going to be discussed or modified at the meeting is this: The parent and the school system must both agree in writing that the member's attendance is not necessary.

Prescription Drug Abuse Drops Among U.S. Young Adults

Prescription drug abuse among young adults ages 18 to 25 in the United States fell 14 percent between 2010 and 2011, according to a federal report released Monday. During that time, the number of young adults who reported using prescription drugs for non-medical purposes in the last month decreased from 2 million to 1.7 million. However, prescription drug abuse among children ages 12 to 17 and among adults 26 and older remained unchanged. The 2011 National Survey on Drug Use and Health also found that rates of drinking, binge drinking and heavy drinking in the past month among underage people continued to decline from 2002, the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration said. To read more,click here

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TRIVIA QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Guess the answer to this week's trivia question and we'll recognize you in next week's Week in Review.
Congratulations to: Jessica L. Ulmer,Miya Sindle, Dildreda Willy, and Olumide Akerele who knew that in 1997 IDEA mandated that parents be a part of the team that determined their children's eligibility for special education services?

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
What is the name of the U.S. Supreme Court case (1999) that held that a school district is responsible for paying for services of a specially trained nurse required by a child while attending school? In its decision, the U.S. Supreme Court held that continuous nursing services were considered a "related service" and that school districts had to provide them under IDEA.

If you know the answer, send an email tocontactus@naset.org
All answers must be submitted no later than Monday, October 8, 2012 at 12:00 p.m.

New Insights Into Functionality of Cystic Fibrosis Protein

CFTR is an important protein that, when mutated, causes the life-threatening genetic disease cystic fibrosis. A study in The Journal of General Physiology (JGP) details how an accidental discovery has provided new understanding about CFTR functionality. From a scientific standpoint, CFTR is unique in that it is the only known ion channel -- a protein pore that enables the passive diffusion of ions across cell membranes -- in the enormous superfamily of ABC proteins, which normally operate as active transporters. As active transporters, ABC proteins use energy derived from ATP hydrolysis to move substrates across the cell membrane against a concentration gradient. Although CFTR is equipped with the same structural elements as that of its ABC family "brethren," it has been unclear whether the ion channel also functions in the same way. To read more,click here

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NASET MEMBER'S BENEFIT -

Board Certification in Special Education Available to NASET Members

Through an agreement with The American Academy of Special Education Professionals(AASEP), NASET members now have the opportunity to achieve AASEP Board Certification in Special Education - (B.C.S.E.) at a reduced fee.  AASEP Board Certification in Special Education - (B.C.S.E.) is a voluntary choice on the part of the candidate. The candidate for Board Certification wishes to demonstrate a commitment to excellence to employers, peers, administrators, other professionals, and parents. From the standpoint of the Academy, board certification will demonstrate the highest professional competency in the area of special education. Board Certification in Special Educationestablishes a much needed standard for professionals, across disciplines, who work with exceptional children.

 

For more information on Board Certification in Special Education,click here

Families Who Adopt Should Use Extra Health Services, School Support: Experts

A school project that requires a baby photo, classmates who tease, well-meaning counselors who say the wrong thing, uncommon medical conditions -- these are just a few of the challenging issues families with adopted children experience in their day-to-day lives. A new report summing up adoption research shows that the portrait of adoptive families in the United States is changing and so are the needs of those families, said lead author Dr. Faye Jones, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Louisville. Jones said the research suggests that families would benefit if their pediatricians were more aware of their unique needs -- specialized counseling and emotional support, connections to other adoptive families and tutoring service recommendations, for example. Adoption experts say educating schools and communities would help too. To read more,click here

High-Tech Tools Created to Study Autism

Researchers in Georgia Tech's Center for Behavior Imaging have developed two new technological tools that automatically measure relevant behaviors of children, and promise to have significant impact on the understanding of behavioral disorders such as autism. One of the tools -- a system that uses special gaze-tracking glasses and facial-analysis software to identify when a child makes eye contact with the glasses-wearer -- was created by combining two existing technologies to develop a novel capability of automatic detection of eye contact. The other is a wearable system that uses accelerometers to monitor and categorize problem behaviors in children with behavioral disorders. To read more,click here

More Than Half of Severe Mental Disability Cases Not Inherited: Study

More than half of the cases of severe intellectual disability are the result of random genetic mutations that are not passed down from parents, researchers from Switzerland and Germany report. Severe intellectual disability, also known as nonsyndromic mental retardation, is the most common form of mental retardation. Children or adults with the condition have no physical abnormalities, but have IQs of less than 50. It affects up to 2 percent of kids worldwide. The new study, which appears online Sept. 27 in The Lancet, suggests that many of the gene variants associated with the condition show up for the first time in the affected children. To read more,click here

Cuba's Prenatal Program Improves Low Birth Weights

Comprehensive prenatal care can decrease the rate of low birth weights, according to a study led by Dr. Yasmin Neggers, a University of Alabama researcher and professor of human nutrition and hospitality management. Neggers and her colleague, Dr. Kristi Crowe, UA assistant professor of nutrition, traveled to Havana, Cuba during February 2012 to conduct research on the relationship between comprehensive prenatal care and rate of low birth weight in this developing country. Low birth weight, or LBW, -- less than five and a half pounds at birth -- is a significant factor affecting neonatal mortality and predictor of newborn health. To read more,click here

TV for Kids Filled With Social Bullying, Study Finds

Long before Hollywood introduced the concept of "Mean Girls," people knew that childhood can be full of name-calling, manipulation and we-won't-talk-to-you freeze-outs. Now, a new study finds that "social bullying" isn't just a real-life phenomenon. It's also common in the TV shows popular among kids aged 2 to 11. From "American Idol" to "The Simpsons," the study authors found, the people and characters who appear on these shows are often mean. They insult one another, connive to get what they want and bully others in non-physical ways. The researchers said 92 percent of 150 episodes reviewed featured some form of "social aggression" -- on average about 14 incidents per hour. To read more,click here

Little Evidence Supports Medical Treatment Options for Adolescents With Autism, Researchers Say

Vanderbilt University researchers are reporting today that there is insufficient evidence to support the use of medical interventions in adolescents and young adults with autism. Despite studies that show that many adolescents and young adults with autism spectrum disorders are being prescribed medications, there is almost no evidence to show whether these medications are helpful in this population, the researchers said. These findings are featured in the Sept. 24 issue of Pediatrics. "We need more research to be able to understand how to treat core symptoms of autism in this population, as well as common associated symptoms such as anxiety, compulsive behaviors and agitation," said Jeremy Veenstra-VanderWeele, M.D., assistant professor of Psychiatry, Pediatrics and Pharmacology and Vanderbilt Kennedy Center investigator. To read more,click here

Did You Know That....

A written agreement between the parent and school is not required to excuse an IEP team member who has knowledge or special expertise regarding the child, such as a related service provider. This is because that individual attends the meeting at the discretion of the parents or the public agency and is not a required team member.

Research Suggests Possible Vaccine to Prevent Premature Birth

New research suggests it might someday be possible to create a vaccine that could protect a growing fetus from premature birth and related complications. The problem: Because fetal tissue contains material inherited from both the mother and the father, it raises the risk that the mother's immune system may sometimes recognize the fetus as a foreign invader that must be rejected. The result: premature birth, the study authors contend. In most cases, however, this doesn't happen and the baby is safely carried to term. But why? A team of researchers from the University of Minnesota and Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center believe they've found the key: CD4 T cells. To read more,click here

Psychology Can Explain and Improve Bad Classroom Behavior

A new monograph published by the British Journal of Educational Psychology published September 21, 2012 brings together evidence from psychological research to help readers understand the causes of anti-social behavior and what can be done to curb it. Psychology and Antisocial Behaviour in School looks at the evidence from psychology for understanding troublesome behaviour in schools, dealing with behaviour in general, specific types of behaviour such as bullying, developmental disorders such as autistic spectrum disorder and ADHD, and with different explanations for social emotional and behavioural difficulties such as social identity, information processing and social competence. To read more,click here

'Fragile X Syndrome' Researchers Boost Social Skills in Mice

Scientists in search of greater understanding of fragile X syndrome, a genetic condition tied to intellectual impairment, or "mental retardation," say they've found a way to boost the ability of mice with a similar condition to become more socially adept. In the new study, the researchers report that they did so by stepping up the brain's ability to process chemical compounds called endocannabinoids. Mice aren't humans, of course, and the scientists are a long way from finding a possible treatment for the condition. Still, the dream -- and the goal -- is to transform the lives of affected people. To read more,click here

Food For Thought..........

Never let the fear of striking out get in your way.
George Herman "Babe" Ruth

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