Week in Review - February 22, 2013

Week in Review - February 22, 2013

WEEK IN REVIEW

New NASET Publications and Articles of Interest in Special Education and Disabilities That Were Reported This Week

February 22, 2013 - Vol 9, Issue 8


 

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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 the WEEK in REVIEW atnews@naset.org. Have a great weekend.

Sincerely,


NASETNews Team

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New This Week on NASET

Resource Review
February 2013

In this issue you will see topics on:
  • Behavior Management
  • College Students with Disabilities
  • Early Intervention
  • Families and Communities
  • High School Graduation
  • IDEA
  • Juvenile Justice for Girls
  • Participation Requests
  • Youth with Disabilities


To read or download this issue - Click here (login required)
______________________________________________________
Parent Teacher Conference Handout Series
Part II- Factors Affecting Curriculum for Children with Special Needs
Part II

Introduction

Part II of this Parent Teacher Conference Handout picks up where Part I left off. This issue will cover the other factors that affect curriculum.

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

Health-Care Ruling Affects Students, Adults with Disabilities

In particular for families of children with disabilities, Thursday's Supreme Court ruling upholding most of the Affordable Care Act may come as a huge relief. Other government health insurance programs, including Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program, or CHIP, have filled some of the gaps in health insurance coverage for people with disabilities before the health care law, but they didn't go far enough. Dr. Paul Lipkin, who works with children who have developmental disorders, and has also worked closely with children with cerebral palsy and premature infants, said these families may be especially grateful for some of the law's provisions. For one thing, the law removes lifetime limits on coverage that many insurance companies now pose. To read more, click here

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Wisconsin Private Schools not Getting Enough Funds for Children with Disabilities

Wisconsin's private schools are serving more students with disabilities than are officially reported, and the state should consider a new system of funding that would better "follow the child," according to a new report. The report from the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute, a conservative think tank, comes just days before Gov. Scott Walker's budget proposal is set to be unveiled Feb. 20. There are hints that the governor's proposal could include a provision for taxpayer-funded tuition subsidies for students with disabilities, which they could use to attend a private school. A group of parents of children with special needs who are opposed to that idea are planning to gather at the state Capitol Monday to ask Walker to leave out that proposal from his budget request. The WPRI report does not endorse any particular legislation, though it does lend support to the idea of allowing more public money to follow students with disabilities to the school of their choice, including private schools. To read more, click here

Did You Know That....

The terms "anosmia" refers to the decrease or loss of the sense of smell.

Washington Senators Consider Bonuses for Special Education Teachers

The Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee heard yet another education reform bill this morning, this time one that would create bonuses for math, science and special education teachers working in middle schools and high schools.Proposed by State Sen. Mike Carrell, R-Lakewood, Senate Bill 5278 would offer bonuses to teachers deemed "experts" by the state. The bonuses, paid in a lump sum, would be equal to 10 percent of the teacher's base salary. Committee Vice Chair Bruce Dammier, R-Puyallup, said the bill could be a good way to lure promising scientists and mathematicians into teaching. But Jerry Bender, spokesman for the Washington Association of School Principals, said the bonus isn't high enough to provide a real incentive. He opposed the bill, arguing that Washington schools have no difficulty in finding qualified math and science teachers. To read more, click here

Tucson Woman with Disabilities Travels the World to Inspire Others with Disabilities

Many of us believe we're too busy these days. We have way too much to do and not enough hands to get it all done. If you feel that way you should meet Jessica Cox. Jessica is a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do, a graduate of the University of Arizona, a surfer and the world's first certified pilot without arms. Now 30-years-old Jessica earns a living as a Motivational Speaker but her primary passion is fighting for kids with disabilities. Two roles that go hand in hand. "I guess you could say they go foot in foot," said Jessica with a chuckle. Jessica has traveled to 18 countries, sharing her story and inspiring others. In April she'll fly to Ethiopia where Jessica says many people still believe those born with disabilities are cursed. Jessica hopes to shatter that myth. "Letting them know, and their family, and community, know that they're going to be ok," said Jessica. To read more, click here

Millions in Disability Housing Aid on Way

Nearly $98 million in rental assistance is headed to states to help thousands of people with disabilities live in the community. The federal money is expected to fund 3,530 housing units in 13 states for people who require long-term services and supports to live independently, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development said this week. Housing agencies within the states are now working with Medicaid and Health and Human Services officials to identify very low-income individuals with disabilities who are in need of the rental assistance. Federal officials say they expect many people receiving the new funds to be transitioning out of institutions. To read more, click here

Bill Expands Autism Coverage with Specialized Care in Maine

When Addie Bowden was diagnosed with autism at nearly 3 years old, she still didn't speak and sometimes didn't recognize family members. She would slap herself repeatedly on the forehead and scream, trying to communicate her wants and needs. A decade later, Addie is an eighth-grader at Cony Middle School in Augusta, where she recently won the Spanish Student Award for her outstanding vocabulary skills. She also plays the baritone horn in the school band and she's earned a blue belt in karate. Addie's mother, Heidi Bowden, executive director of the Maine Autism Alliance, credits her daughter's success to various intensive, evidence-based therapies that Addie has received almost daily since she was diagnosed. "She learned there was such a thing called words and that if you speak, good things can happen," Heidi Bowden said. "It takes a lot of time and effort, and Addie still has autism; but my daughter's situation has changed from night to day." Now a bill in the Maine Legislature would help more families access the specialized speech, language, occupational and physical therapies that Addie receives, known as Applied Behavior Analysis, as well as other professional developmental services. To read more, click here

Ed. Department Eases School Access to Medicaid Funds

School districts now only need to get written consent one time from parents in order to tap Medicaid funds for some students with disabilities, according to new regulations from the U.S. Department of Education that will go into effect March 18. Occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, and mental health counseling are among the services that schools provide that are potentially reimbursable through Medicaid, if a Medicaid-eligible student requires them through his individualized education program. But since 2006, regulations in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act has required that schools get permission "each time" they attempt to get a Medicaid payment.  The National Alliance for Medicaid in Education has said the requirement has been expensive and burdensome for schools and districts. When the education department first proposed changing the rule, way back in September 2011, it cited data from the alliance that said some districts had sustained extensive administrative costs. Some districts chose not to seek reimbursement rather than continually ask for consent. To read more, click here

Autism Therapy Activates Brain's Social Side

Researchers have documented positive changes in brain activity in children with autism after they received a type of behavioral therapy. The team used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to measure the effect of Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT) on both lower- and higher-functioning children with autism receiving the therapy for the first time. The brain images allow researchers to see what areas are active while processing certain stimuli-in this case human motion. Comparing pre- and post-therapy data from the fMRI scans of their 5-year-old subjects, the researchers report seeing marked-and remarkable-changes in how the children were processing the stimuli. "The cool thing that we found was that these kids showed increased activation in regions of the brain utilized by typically developing kids," says Avery C. Voos, first-year graduate student at the Koegel Autism Center at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Voos co-led the study published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. To read more, click here

Did You Know That....

Legally blind refers to visual acuity for distance vision of 20/200 or less in the better eye after best correction with conventional lenses.

Folic Acid May Reduce Autism Risk

Taking folic acid before conception and early in pregnancy is associated with a significantly lower risk of the most severe form of autism, a new study suggests. Researchers tracked more than 85,000 mothers in Norway, finding that children of those who took folic acid supplements in the four weeks before becoming pregnant and up to eight weeks into their pregnancy were 40 percent less likely to develop autistic disorder. Whether or not a pregnant mother took the supplements, however, did not appear to alter a child's chances of having pervasive developmental disorder, not otherwise specified. And, researchers identified too few children with Asperger's syndrome to determine whether or not the supplement impacted a child's odds of developing the high-functioning form of autism. To read more, click here

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: Olumide Akerele, Ope-Oluwa Olubela, Jessica L. Ulmer, Kathleen George, Craig Pate, Mariltn Haile, and Mike Namian
who all knew the answer to last week's trivia question--

According to recent research, in the past decade, the rate of ADHD has "skyrocketed" 24 percent.

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
According to the latest research by the U.S. Department of Education, approximately what percentage of children with disabilities attend school and receive their appropriate education in the general education building (e.g., in the neighborhood school)?

If you know the answer, send an email to contactus@naset.org
All answers must be submitted no later than Monday, February 25, 2013 at 12:00 p.m.

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Public Smoking Bans Cut Risk of Preterm Births, Study Finds

Smoke-free legislation, including bans on lighting up in public places and restaurants, reduces the risk of babies being born prematurely, according to a large new study from Belgium. The study was published Feb. 14 in the BMJ. The researchers said their findings could have significant public health implications because preterm birth has been linked to health issues both early on and later in life. "Our study shows a consistent pattern of reduction in the risk of preterm delivery with successive population interventions to restrict smoking. It supports the notion that smoking bans have public health benefits even from early life," the study authors concluded. To read more, click here

FDA Approves 'Bionic Eye' to Help Against Rare Vision Disorder

An implanted, sight-enhancing device some are calling a "bionic eye" is the first to gain approval for use in the United States, officials announced Thursday. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the new Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System can help patients with a genetic eye disease called retinitis pigmentosa regain some sense of vision. About 100,000 Americans are believed to be affected by the illness, which causes a gradual deterioration of the eyes' photoreceptor cells. The new device uses a tiny video camera attached to eyeglasses that transmits images to a sheet of electrode sensors that have been sewn into the patient's eye. These sensors then transmit those signals to the brain via the optic nerve. The device helps replace the damaged cells of the retina and helps patients see images or detect movement. 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

Progesterone Shots May Not Prevent Preterm Birth of Twins: Study

Progesterone shots are not effective in preventing preterm delivery of twins, say French researchers, who found that the hormone injections could actually do more harm than good. The researchers were working with a form of progesterone called 17P. "We found that 17P was not effective in women with twin pregnancies and a short cervix (defined as less than 25 millimeters between 24 and 32 weeks)," study co-author Dr. Philippe Deruelle of the Hospital Jeanne de Flandre, Lille 2 University, in France, said in a news release from the March of Dimes. "We actually seemed to have found an increase in the rate of preterm delivery before 32 weeks in the treatment group when compared to the non-treatment group," Deruelle said. To read more, click here

'Bilingual Babies' Can Tell Languages Apart

Babies as young as 7 months can tell one language from another and begin to learn them even if they have very different rules of grammar, a new study suggests. The authors discovered that babies use pitch and the duration of spoken words to figure out that languages are different. "By as early as 7 months, babies are sensitive to these differences and use these as cues to tell the languages apart," study co-author Janet Werker, a University of British Columbia psychologist, said in a university news release. "If you speak two languages at home, don't be afraid, it's not a zero-sum game. Your baby is very equipped to keep these languages separate, and they do so in remarkable ways." To read more, click here

'Cyberbullying' as Harmful as Physical Threats, Study Finds

It may seem harmless to many, but for those who are targeted, online bullying is just as harmful as being bullied physically, according to a new study. A research team led by a Michigan State University professor found that children who faced "cyberbullies" or were bullied through their cellphone were just as likely to skip school or think about suicide as kids who were picked on in person. Parents, lawmakers and school officials should take all forms of bullying into account -- real world (physical bullying) and virtual world (cyberbullying) -- when shaping antibullying policies and procedures, the study authors suggest in the report published online Feb. 7 in the International Criminal Justice Review. To read more, click here

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Did You Know That....

Blunted affect is the failure of a person to display emotion in a culturally-appropriate way

First-Born May Be at Greater Risk for Diabetes, Hypertension

First-born children may be at greater risk for diabetes or high blood pressure, a new, small study contends. Researchers from New Zealand report that these children have reduced insulin sensitivity and higher daytime blood pressure than kids with older siblings. The study authors noted their findings could have serious public health implications for countries like China, where a one-child policy means first-born children comprise a large portion of the overall population. The study will be published in the March issue of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. To read more, click here

Praising Kids for Efforts, Not Qualities, May Help Them Succeed

Telling your young children that they are smart may not be all that wise. A new study found that it's probably not helpful for parents to shower their young daughters or sons with commentary meant to boost self-esteem. Instead, the right kind of praise and encouragement may help children be more open to change and eager for the harder tasks that provide opportunities to learn. The research suggests that toddlers whose parents regularly said things like "You tried really hard on that," rather than "Wonderful," may have an edge as early as five years later when it comes to taking on challenges. This type of praise sent by parents early on can affect how the children size up their capabilities, researchers said. To read more, click here

ADHD Treatments Not Working for Most Young Children

Most young children being treated for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD ) -- either with or without medication -- still have serious symptoms of their condition, according to a new long-term study. The neurobehavioral disorder interferes with the ability to concentrate. ADHD also causes restlessness, hyperactivity and impulsive behavior, which can have lasting effects on children's intellectual and emotional development. "ADHD is becoming a more common diagnosis in early childhood, so understanding how the disorder progresses in this age group is critical," study lead investigator Dr. Mark Riddle, a pediatric psychiatrist at the Johns Hopkins Children's Center, said in a Hopkins news release. "We found that ADHD in preschoolers is a chronic and rather persistent condition, one that requires better long-term behavioral and pharmacological treatments than we currently have." To read more, click here

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

Every student can learn, just not on the same day or in the same way.

George Evans

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