Week in Review - May 10, 2013

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WEEK IN REVIEW

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

May 10, 2013 - Vol 9, Issue 19


 

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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

The Practical Teacher
May 2013

A Review of Financial Literacy Programs for K-12 Students with Intellectual Disabilities: Utilizing the Principles of Universal Design for Learning

 

Written by Joanne Caniglia Ph.D. and Scott Courtney Ph.D.

This issue ofNASET'sPractical Teacherexamines financial literacy resources and programs at the K-12 level that incorporate principles of Universal Design for Learning.  Six programs from financial institutions, non- and not-for-profit organizations, post-secondary institutions, and agencies of the federal government will be described from a sample of more than 150 resources.  Although many online resources exist, few include students with intellectual disabilities.  By utilizing Universal Design for Learning as a framework, these programs provide an illustration of learning for all students with multiple means of representation, engagement, and expression. A list of web resources is included with a criteria instrument from the Center of Assistive Technology.


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Discipline of Students In Special Education Series
May 2013
How to Prepare for a Manifestation Determination Review: A Handout for Parents

One of the most devastating calls parents can receive is the school district calling to tell them it has initiated an expulsion proceeding against their child due to poor behavior. If their child has an Individualized Education Program ("IEP") before the expulsion process can start they must hold a Manifestation Determination review. This review must be held within 10 days of the conduct. At which time the IEP team must review the complete file and consider all relevant information, including the IEP, any teacher observations, and any information supplied by the parents.

 

This issue ofNASET'sDiscipline of Students in Special Education series, written by Doug Goldberg (and reprinted with permission from him at The Special Education Advisor at www.specialeducationadvisor.com/how-to-prepare-for-a-manifestation-determination-review/ ), is a handout to give to parents regarding how to prepare for a manifestation determination review.

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See NASET's Latest Job Listings

UCLA to Test Drugs for Autism in Weeks not Years

In an effort to find a treatment for autism, scientists at theUniversity of California, Los Angeles, are leading a $9 million experiment that aims to evaluate the effectiveness of drugs within weeks rather than years. It's part of a push bythe National Institutes of Healthto fast-track the pace of discovery that hopefully will lead to new therapies for several neurological disorders. Besides autism, the federal agency is also backing rapid efforts to seek treatments for schizophrenia and mood and anxiety disorders. Typically, the path to getting drugs approved is long and costly and often littered with setbacks. The goal of this new approach is to test several potential drugs in small groups of people and then decide which one merits further investigation. To read more,click here

Did You Know That....

The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) are an effort by states to define a common core of knowledge and skills that students should develop in K-12 education, regardless of the state they live in, so they will graduate high school prepared for college or careers.

Jury Awards $240 Million For ADA Violations

A federal jury has awarded $240 million to 32 men with intellectual disabilities for what government attorneys described as years of abuse and discrimination at the hands of their employer. The men worked at an Iowa turkey processing plant known as Henry's Turkey Service for 20 years. During that time, they were forced to live in substandard conditions and were subject to verbal and physical harassment, according to a lawsuitbroughtby the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission against the Texas-based owner of the facility. On Wednesday, a jury in Iowa sided with the EEOC, agreeing that the company violated the Americans with Disabilities Act and awarded each of the men $2 million in punitive damages and $5.5 million in compensatory damages. To read more,click here

PTSD Research: Distinct Gene Activity Patterns from Childhood Abuse

A study of adult civilians with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) has shown that individuals with a history of childhood abuse have distinct, profound changes in gene activity patterns, compared to adults with PTSD but without a history of child abuse. A team of researchers from Atlanta and Munich probed blood samples from 169 participants in the Grady Trauma Project, a study of more than 5000 Atlanta residents with high levels of exposure to violence, physical and sexual abuse and with high risk for civilian PTSD. 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

Harvard Student's Suicide as a Case Study

Alawsuit against Harvardprovides rare detail on the issues involving a diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder from a student-health department.  Johnny Edwards, who had just finished his freshman year, received his diagnosis in June 2007 and was prescribed Adderall after a single examination at Harvard University Health Services. Mr. Edwards killed himself six months later after he was also prescribed antidepressant medications at the clinic. Mr. Edwards's father, John, contends, among other accusations, that his son had never had A.D.H.D. and that Harvard's original diagnostic procedure, and subsequent prescriptions for Adderall, did not meet medical standards. To read more,click here

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South Carolina Entitled to Hearing on Special Education Funding

South Carolina scored a victory in court last week when a federal court said that the U.S. Department of Education would have to hear the state's appeal of a decision to cut its special education funding. Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, states are not allowed to cut their special education funding from year to year without permission from the U.S. Department of Education. South Carolinamade cuts in three academic years, earning it a $36 million penalty in federal special education funds that was set to stay in place permanently. However, Congresstweaked the rules last month, and now the penalty only lasts as long as a state was out of compliance with funding mandates. To read more,click here

SPECIAL EDUCATION LAW SYMPOSIUM AT LEHIGH UNIVERSITY, JUNE 23-28, 2013

Designed for a national audience, this intensive one-week, well-balanced program is available on both a non-credit and graduate-credit basis and provides a thorough analysis of the leading issues under the IDEA and Section 504. Among the 19 symposium sessions are the following "hot topics": RTI; discipline, including a mock manifestation determination hearing; child find; transitional services; tuition reimbursement and other remedies; disability-related bullying; and autism.

Special features include:

  • Parallel tracks for basic and advanced practitioners, starting with a keynote dinner presentation by Dr. Melody Musgrove, Director, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), U.S. Department of Education and ending with a post-luncheon crystal-ball culminating presentationled by national consultant and trainer Julie Weatherly, Esq., recipient of the 2012 National CASE Award for Outstanding Service.
  • Balance of district, parent, and neutral perspectives with a specialized set of topics and presenters for the advanced track.
  • Knowledgeable national faculty including attorneys Laura Anthony (Ohio), Emerson Dickman (New Jersey), Andrew Faust (Pennsylvania), Joshua Kershenbaum (Pennsylvania), Michele Kule-Korgood (New York), Deborah Mattison (Alabama), Marsha Moses (Connecticut), Michael Stafford (Delaware), Julie Weatherly (Alabama), Mark Weber (Illinois), and Dr. Perry Zirkel (Pennsylvania).
  • The symposium will take place on the beautiful campus of Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa., located just 60 miles north of Philadelphia and 70 miles south of New York City, with access from Lehigh Valley (ABE), Newark, and Philadelphia International airports.
  • CLE and ACT 48 credits available.
  • Non-credit: $995 full week; or $295 per day.  Lehigh University Graduate Credit (3): $1,695
Special Education Law Symposium ~ June 23-28, 2013 ~ Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA ~ coe.lehigh.edu/law

 

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Parents Protest the 'Burden' of English-Learners on Schools

The 200 or so English-learner students atMarblehead Elementaryin San Clemente are an unfair burden on the teachers, parents and students who live in the neighborhoods surrounding the suburban school, parents told theCapistrano Unifiedschool board Wednesday. In response, Trustee Anna Bryson said she was concerned that too many English learners are coming in with such a limited vocabulary that parents need to be taught to speak to their children. Four moms whose children go to Marblehead say that students bussed in from theLas Palmas Elementaryattendance boundaries and a predominately Hispanic neighborhood within Marblehead's territory are "stressing" teachers and parents alike. One even said she would probably be taking her twin first graders to another school come fall. To read more,click here

Baby Knows Best: Fetuses Emit Hormone Crucial to Preventing Preeclampsia

In a study using mice, researchers from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine found that a hormone, adrenomedullin, plays a crucial role in preventing the pregnancy complication preeclampsia. Surprisingly, this hormone protects women from preeclampsia when emitted by the fetus, not the mother, during the most critical times in pregnancy. "We've identified the fact that the baby is important in protecting the mom from preeclampsia," said the study's senior author, Kathleen M. Caron, PhD, assistant dean for research at the UNC School of Medicine and an associate professor in the Department of Cell Biology and Physiology. "If the baby's cells are not secreting this hormone, the mother's blood vessels don't undergo the dilation that they should." To read more,click here

Did You Know That....

To date, states have individually decided what knowledge and skills students should have by the time they graduate from high school. Having common standards across the United States will help ensure that students are receiving a high-quality education consistently, from school to school and state to state. For military families, common standards can be a way to increase consistency of schooling as they relocate to new duty stations.

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HOW TO TEACH CHILDREN TO THINK AND ACT FAIRLY

How to Teach Children to Think and Act Fairly, a recently published book, uses a time-honored classic story to point out certain behaviors that children need to know and understand. Teachers should find this book a valuable resource for class discussions on many unfair issues that can be devastating to children, such as bullying, rejection, mocking and other problem behaviors. For further information go towww.teachingchildrenaboutfairness.com

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Want to Build a Better Teacher Evaluation? Ask a Teacher

Reformers have invested massive financial resources and political capital in new teacher-evaluation systems, but early results show that these policies won't lead to improvements on their own. To generate more effective teaching through evaluations, teachers, principals, and school system leaders need to embrace a culture of ongoing two-way feedback and a commitment to continuous improvement. Surveys are a critical component of well-designed continuous-improvement systems, which high-performing organizations inside and outside the education sector have adopted as a reliable, cost-effective means of gathering and valuing front-line perspective. Surveying teachers, and acting on the results, respects teachers' voice, provides diagnostic information regarding principals and schools, and provides an invaluable, authentic lens into classroom implementation. Used well, teacher surveys just might save evaluation reform from itself. 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: Karen Bornholm, Pattie Komons, Ope-Oluwa Olubela, Prahbhjot Malhi, Kerry Drossos, Marilyn Haile, Coryn Villanti, Olumide Akerele, Pamela R. Downing-Hosten, Jennifer Klump, Ellen Karnowski, Nancy G. Johnsen, Kathleen George, Mike Namian,
who all knew the answer to last week's trivia question: Although breast-feeding is generally considered the best way to nourish an infant, new research suggests that in the long term it may lead to lower levels of what important chemical element?   ANSWER:  IRON

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
Depending on the research source reviewed, William House, Adam Kissiah, and Graeme Clark have all been credited for being the first to create what medical piece of technology?

If you know the answer, send an email tocontactus@naset.org
All answers must be submitted no later than Monday, May 13, 2013 at 12:00 p.m.

More Kids Diagnosed With Mental Health Disabilities, Study Finds

Significantly more U.S. children have a neurodevelopmental or mental health disability than did a decade ago, according to new research. Disabilities that impair a child's day-to-day living have risen 16 percent, with the greatest increase seen in richer families, according to the study. Conditions such as autism or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder appear to lie behind the increase, experts said. But the surveys of parents in 2001-'02 and 2009-'10 also revealed some good news: The rate of disability due to physical conditions went down, according to the study, which is scheduled for presentation Sunday at the Pediatric Academic Societies' annual meeting in Washington D.C. Data and conclusions presented at meetings are typically considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed medical journal. To read more,click here

Want Tots Without Allergies? Try Sucking on Their Pacifiers

A new Swedish study suggests that parents who want to protect their infants from developing allergies should try a simple approach to introducing their children to the wide world of microbes: Just pop their pacifiers into their own mouths before giving them back to their babies. Although that may sound disgusting or even risky to some, researchers found that the transfer of oral bacteria from adults to infants seems to help train the immune system to ignore germs that don't pose a threat. "The immune system's purpose is to differentiate between harmless and harmful," said Dr. Ron Ferdman, a pediatric allergist at Children's Hospital Los Angeles. "If your immune system is not presented with enough microbes, it just defaults to doing harmful attacks against things that are not harmful, like food, cat dander or dust mites." To read more,click here

Outdoor Recess Time Can Reduce the Risk of Nearsightedness in Children

Two new studies add to the growing evidence that spending time outdoors may help prevent or minimize nearsightedness in children. A study conducted in Taiwan, which is the first to use an educational policy as a public vision health intervention, finds that when children are required to spend recess time outdoors, their risk of nearsightedness is reduced. A separate study in Danish children is the first to show a direct correlation between seasonal fluctuations in daylight, eye growth and the rate of nearsightedness progression. To read more,click here

Family Sues Over Altered Photo Of Son With Down Syndrome

In what's believed to be a first-of-its-kind case, a family is bringing a federal lawsuit after a photo of their son with Down syndrome was doctored and spread across the Internet. Adam Holland was 17 in 2004 when he was photographed taking part in an art class at the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, which serves people with developmental disabilities. In the image, Holland is seen smiling, holding up a piece of paper with a picture that he drew. Nearly a decade later, however, Holland's parents, Pamela and Bernard Holland of Nashville, Tenn., say in court papers that they were stunned to find the image of their son altered and reposted numerous times across the Web. To read more,click here

Extreme Birth Weights Tied to Autism in Swedish Study

A much larger or much smaller birth weight than average may be associated with an increased risk of autism, according to a large new study. Researchers examined data from more than 40,000 children in Sweden, and found that those who weighed more than 9.9 pounds or less than 5.5 pounds at birth were more likely to have autism than those with a normal birth weight. Specifically, smaller babies had a 63 percent greater risk, and larger babies had a 60 percent greater risk. The link between birth weight and autism risk was independent of whether or not a baby was born premature or past the normal delivery date. To read more,click here

Implanted Device May Predict Epilepsy Seizures, Study Suggests

An implanted device that monitors brain activity may offer a way to predict seizures in people with uncontrolled epilepsy, a small pilot study suggests. The findings, reported online May 2 in the journal Lancet Neurology, are based on only 15 patients, and the device worked far better in some than others. But experts said the results are promising, and should prompt further studies. "We just wanted to see if this is feasible, and this study shows that it is," said lead researcher Dr. Mark Cook, of the University of Melbourne and St. Vincent's Hospital in Australia. The prospect of being able to predict seizures is "very exciting," he said, in part because it's the uncertainty of the disorder that can dim people's quality of life. To read more,click here

Humor Styles and Bullying in Schools: Not a Laughing Matter

There is a clear link between children's use of humor and their susceptibility to being bullied by their peers, according to a major new study released today by Keele University. Funded by the Economic and Social Research Council and supported by academics at the University of Strathclyde and Oxford Brookes University, the research examined the links between how 11-13 year olds use different styles of humor and the problem of bullying in schools. The findings reveal that children who use self-defeating forms of humor -- eg. self-disparaging language / putting themselves down to make other people laugh -- are more likely to be bullied than those who use more positive forms of humor. The study also found that peer victimization led to an increase in the use of self-defeating humor over time, showing that victims of bullying are often trapped in a vicious cycle, where being bullied deprives them of the opportunities to practice positive humor with peers and leads them to rely on self-defeating humor, perhaps as a way to get others to like them. To read more,click here

Did You Know That....

States are leading the CCSS initiative, which is being coordinated by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). The federal government has not been involved in initiating or developing the CCSS.

Girls With Autism May Need Different Treatments Than Boys

With four to five times more males affected by autism spectrum disorders than females, much less is known about girls with autism. Fortunately, more research is beginning to focus on autism in girls, said Geraldine Dawson, chief science officer of Autism Speaks, with two such studies set to be presented Saturday at the International Meeting for Autism Research in San Sebastian, Spain. "Autism affects boys much more frequently than girls. But, we may be missing some girls. The diagnostic criteria were developed using symptoms in boys, and symptoms in girls and boys may be different," Dawson explained. 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

Study Looks at Vitamin D Needs in Breast-Fed Babies

Ideal amounts of vitamin D supplementation for breast-feeding infants are unclear, according to a new study. Vitamin D is important for infant bone growth, but breast-feeding infants are susceptible to vitamin D deficiency due to low levels of the vitamin in breast milk, according to background information included in the study, which was published in the May 1 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. The study, by Hope Weiler and colleagues at McGill University in Montreal, included 1-month-old healthy breast-fed infants who were followed for 11 months after being randomly assigned to receive different dosages of oral vitamin D supplements. Doses were either 400, 800, 1,200 or 1,600 international units per day. To read more,click here

Preemies' Increased Survival Comes With No Rise in Disabilities: Study

Extremely premature infants are more likely to have mental and physical disabilities than full-term infants, but rates of such disabilities aren't rising, new research says. The study included almost 500 children in Sweden who were born extremely premature (before 27 weeks of gestation) and assessed when they were 30 months old. The children, born between 2004 and 2007, were checked for disabilities such as cerebral palsy, impaired mental development, and vision and hearing problems. Forty-two percent of extremely premature children had no disability (compared with 78 percent of full-term children), 31 percent had a mild disability, 16 percent had a moderate disability and 11 percent had a severe disability. To read more,click here

Why Johnny Can't Add, Even After Tutoring

Whether your child will benefit from math tutoring may depend more on brain structure than intelligence, a small study suggests. The size and wiring of certain brain structures predicted how much a child would benefit from individual instruction in arithmetic, the Stanford University School of Medicine researchers found. They said traditional measures of intelligence, such as IQ and scores on math ability tests, did not predict improvement. The findings could further the understanding of math-learning disabilities and lead to new targeted learning programs for children, the study authors suggested. To read more,click here

jobsNASET's Latest Job Listings

* 3-6 Special Education Reading Resource Teacher - DC Bilingual is recruiting a special education reading resource teacher with Wilson and/or Orton Gillingham experience to provide academic services to our students. To Learn More- Click here

 

* Master Middle School Teachers $125,000 Salary- Charter School : Join a team of master teachers at The Equity Project (TEP) Charter School, recently featured on the front page of the New York Times. TEP is a 480-student 5th through 8th grade middle school in the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York City. To learn more - Click here

 

* Assistant Professor, Childhood Education - The College of Mount Saint Vincent (Riverdale, New York) seeks an Assistant Professor of Teacher Education with a strong student-centered focus and an earned doctorate to start in Fall 2013. To learn more  - Click here

 

* Assistant Professor, Special Education - The College of Mount Saint Vincent (Riverdale, New York) seeks an Assistant Professor of Special Education with a strong student-centered focus, an earned doctorate and a strong record of teaching experience in collegiate and K-12 school settings to start in Fall 2013. To learn more  -Click here

 

* Video Feedback Reviewers - Tools for Teacher - We are seeking Video Feedback Reviewers with certification in bilingual education, math, science, English, special education or social studies. Reviewers will be TNTP employees based out of a home office anywhere in the United States (flexible location). To learn more - Click here


 

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

Live so that when your children think of fairness, caring, and integrity, they think of you.

H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
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