Week in Review - December 6, 2013

IEP Goals and Objectives for the iPhone and iPad

 

Special Education Dictionary

To learn more, Click Here

Parent Teacher Conference Handout

To learn more, Click Here

WEEK IN REVIEW

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

December 6, 2013 - Vol 9, Issue 48


 

Find us on Facebook

 

Forward this issue to a Friend

 

Join Our Mailing List!

In This Issue

TRIVIA QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Quick Links

ReadWeek in ReviewonNASET-Click Here

Renew Your Membership onNASET-Click Here(login required)

NASETResources -Click Here

NASETe-Publications -Click Here

Forgot your User Name or Password? -Click Here

Update/Manage Your Member Profile -Click Here(login required)


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

OMEGA GAMMA CHI

Omega-gamma-chi-logo

Honor Society for Special Education Teachers

To learn more -Click here

NASET Sponsor - Liberty Mutual

Liberty_Mutual_Bear

To learn more -Click here

New This Week on NASET

The Practical Teacher
December 2013

Supports, Modifications, and Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

For many students with disabilities-and for many without-the key to success in the classroom lies in having appropriate adaptations, accommodations, and modifications made to the instruction and other classroom activities.

 

Some adaptations are as simple as moving a distractible student to the front of the class or away from the pencil sharpener or the window. Other modifications may involve changing the way that material is presented or the way that students respond to show their learning.

 

Adaptations, accommodations, and modifications need to be individualized for students, based upon their needs and their personal learning styles and interests.  It is not always obvious what adaptations, accommodations, or modifications would be beneficial for a particular student, or how changes to the curriculum, its presentation, the classroom setting, or student evaluation might be made. This issue ofNASET'sPractical Teacheris intended to help teachers and others find information that can guide them in making appropriate changes in the classroom based on what their students need.

 


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

______________________________________________________
NASET's Special Educator e-Journal
December 2013

Table of Contents

*             Update from the U.S. Department of Education

*             Calls to Participate

*             Special Education Resources

*             Update From The National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities

*             Article: Universal Design for Learning and the Transition to a More Challenging                         Academic Curriculum: Making it in Middle School and Beyond

*             Latest Employment Opportunities Posted on NASET

*             Upcoming Conferences and Events

*             Funding Forecast and Award Opportunities

*             Acknowledgements

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


______________________________________________________

See NASET's Latest Job Listings

Mental-Health Disorders Growing Faster Among Kids Than Adults

Young people are increasingly more likely than adults to be diagnosed with a mental health disorder, according to a large new study. Researchers analyzed data from nearly 450,000 patient visits to U.S. doctors' offices between 1995 and 2010 for the study, which was published online Nov. 27 in the journal JAMA Psychiatry. Between the periods from 1995 to 1998 and 2007 to 2010, visits that led to diagnoses of mental-health problems increased faster for patients younger than 21 than for adults. Visits to psychiatrists also rose faster for youths than for adults, according to a journal news release. To read more,click here

Oxygen Treatment May Help Some With Spinal Cord Injuries

Breathing treatments that provide low levels of oxygen may help people with certain types of spinal cord injuries walk longer distances at faster speeds, new Canadian research indicates. After the low-oxygen treatment, people with less severe spinal cord injuries were able to walk approximately 33 feet about four seconds faster than those on a placebo treatment. They also were able to increase the distance they could walk in six minutes by about 328 feet. "The rehabilitation world after a spinal cord injury can be frustrating and limited," said study author Randy Trumbower, an assistant professor in the division of physical therapy at the Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta. To read more,click here

ADHD Study: Expensive Training Programs Don't Help Grades, Behavior

Many parents spend thousands of dollars on computer-based training programs that claim to help children with ADHD succeed in the classroom and in peer relationships while reducing hyperactivity and inattentiveness. But a University of Central Florida researcher says parents are better off saving their hard-earned cash.Psychology professor Mark Rapport's research team spent two years analyzing the data from 25 studies and found that those programs are not producing significant or clinically meaningful long-term improvements in children's cognitive abilities, academic performance or behavior. "Parents are desperate for help," said Rapport, who runs the Children's Learning Clinic IV at UCF. "If they can afford it, they are willing to spend the money, and some parents even enroll their children in private schools because they offer these cognitive training programs. But there is no empirical evidence to show those investments are worthwhile." To read more,click here

Tongue Piercing Helps Paralyzed People Drive Wheelchairs

Tongue piercings may be stylish in some circles, but they also are central to the latest innovation in wheelchair mobility for folks paralyzed from the neck down. Researchers have developed a new navigation system for powered wheelchairs in which patients use a magnetic tongue piercing to steer their chair about, according to new research published Nov. 27 in Science Translational Medicine. The "Tongue Drive System" uses sensors located near a person's cheeks to track the movement of the magnetic tongue piercing. Signals from the sensors are picked up by a smartphone, which then relays them to the powered wheelchair. To read more,click here

AASEP Logo

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 Clears Certain Antibiotics of Serious Eye Risk

Cipro and other drugs in the same class of antibiotics don't appear to raise the risk of an eye problem called retinal detachment, according to a new study that contradicts previous research. Retinal detachment -- separation of the retina from its connection to the back of the eye -- can cause vision loss. A group of researchers recently concluded that use of antibiotics called fluoroquinolones was associated with a significantly increased risk of retinal detachment. This new study challenges that finding. The latest investigation involved an analysis of data from millions of people in Denmark. Of nearly 600 people diagnosed with retinal detachment, 72 had used fluoroquinolones. Most had taken Cipro (ciprofloxacin), while others had used ofloxacin (Floxin, Ocuflox), fleroxacin (Quinodis and Megalocin) or moxifloxacin (Moxeza, Avelox, Vigamox). To read more,click here

Brain Connections Strengthen As Kids Sleep

As young children sleep, the connections between the right and left sides of their brains strengthen, according to a small new study. Researchers measured the brain activity of eight children while they slept at ages 2, 3 and 5 years. They found that connections in the brain generally became stronger during sleep as the children aged. The strength of the connections between the left and right sides of the brain increase as much as 20 percent over a night's sleep, according to the study, which was published online Nov. 12 in the journal Brain Sciences. To read more,click here

Preemies Show Subtle Differences in Brain Development

Premature infants with no obvious problems in the structure of their brains may still have subtle chemical differences compared with full-term babies, a new study finds. Researchers said it's not clear if these microscopic differences are actually signs of trouble. But they hope that a deeper understanding of preemies' brain development will eventually be useful in improving their outlook. "Many premature infants are healthy, but they are at increased risk of problems," said lead researcher Stefan Bluml, of Children's Hospital Los Angeles. Those problems can include learning disabilities, behavioral issues -- such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder -- and autism. To read more,click here

Thalidomide May Help Kids With Crohn's Disease

Thalidomide, a drug made infamous after it caused devastating birth defects in the 1950s, may help treat children with Crohn's disease who haven't responded to other medications, new research suggests. After eight weeks of treatment, more than 46 percent of children taking thalidomide had reached remission, compared to about 11 percent of those given an inactive placebo. And remission lasted longer for the children on thalidomide -- an average of 181 weeks compared to just 6.3 weeks for those who took the placebo. The Italian researchers published their results in the Nov. 27 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. Funding for the study was provided by the Italian Medicines Agency, while the drug's manufacturer, Celgene, provided the drug for the study. To read more,click here

Taking Antidepressants During Pregnancy May Not Raise Autism Risk

Children of mothers who take a widely used class of antidepressants during pregnancy are not at increased risk for autism, a large new study finds. Autism, a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects communication and social skills, is estimated to affect about one in 88 children in the United States. Previous research has suggested that women who take antidepressants during pregnancy are up to five times more likely to have children with autism. This study focused on antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as Prozac (fluoxetine) and Paxil (paroxetine). Researchers followed more than 600,000 Danish children born between 1996 and 2006. 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.

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
What is the difference between a disability and a handicap?

If you know the answer, send an email tocontactus@naset.org
All answers must be submitted no later than Monday, December 9, 2013 at 12:00 p.m.

Steroids for Preemies May Raise ADHD Risk

Giving steroid injections to pregnant women before premature birth may increase the child's risk of developing attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and other behavioral and emotional disorders, a small study suggests. Pregnant women who are expected to give birth prematurely often receive glucocorticoids, which mimic the natural hormone cortisol. This treatment is important to help a premature baby's lungs mature, the researchers explained. However, their findings suggest that steroid injections may also increase a child's risk of developing ADHD and other mental health problems. Children with ADHD have trouble paying attention and following through on tasks. They may also talk excessively and behave impulsively. To read more,click here

'Mixing' of Senses More Common in Autism

People with autism are more likely to have a condition called synesthesia -- a "mixing of the senses" -- a small new study finds. For example, people may see colors when they hear sounds, or notice different tastes when they hear musical notes. Researchers tested 164 adults with autism and 97 adults without the disorder. They found that nearly 19 percent of those with autism had synesthesia, compared with about 7 percent of those without autism. Among the 31 people with autism who also had synesthesia, 21 said that sound caused them to see colors. Meanwhile, 18 saw black and white letters as colored, and 18 said that tastes, pain or smells caused them to see colors, according to the study published Nov. 20 in the journal Molecular Autism. To read more,click here

Teen With Down Syndrome Walks Red Carpet With Katy Perry

As some of the biggest names in music turned out for the American Music Awards, there was a teen with Down syndrome in their midst, all thanks to pop singer Katy Perry. Megan Squire, 17, caught Perry's eye as the star of her Buckeye, Ariz. high school's video entry to the "Good Morning America" Katy Perry "Roar" contest earlier this year. In the video, Squire, who has Down syndrome, is shown trying out for the school's cheerleading squad. Though Squire's school did not win, Perry said she was inspired by the teen's spirit and wanted her to be a special guest at an upcoming concert. To read more,click here

Canine Named 'Dog Of The Year' For Helping Boy With Autism

A puppy that was once abandoned and left for dead has now been named "Dog of the Year" for changing the life of a boy with autism. The pit bull who came to be known as Xena, the Warrior Puppy, was discovered in Georgia last year severely malnourished. A rescue group brought the pooch back to health before she wasadopted by Jonny Hickey, 8, and his family. Xena had an instant connection with Hickey, who has autism. Once closed-off, the dog helped the boy come out of his shell. "We have laughter in our home where it used to be silent before," Hickey's mother Linda Hickey told NBC News. To read more,click here


Liberty Mutual Savings

NASET MEMBER'S BENEFIT -

Group Savings Plus from Liberty Mutual

As a member ofNASETyou qualify for a special group discount* on your auto, home, and renter's insurance through Group Savings Plus® from Liberty Mutual. This unique program allows you to purchase high-quality auto, home and renters insurance at low group rates.

 

See for yourself how much money you could save with Liberty Mutual compared to your current insurance provider. For a free, no-obligation quote, call 800-524-9400 or visit

www.libertymutual.com/naset,or visit your local sales office.

*Group discounts, other discounts, and credits are available where state laws and regulations allow, and may vary by state.  Certain discounts apply to specific coverage only.  To the extent permitted by law, applicants are individually underwritten; not all applicants may qualify.  Coverage provided and underwritten by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and its affiliates, 175 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA.


Disability-Related Hate Crimes Surge

Nearly twice as many hate crimes targeting people with disabilities were reported last year, the FBI says, even as the total number of hate crimes nationwide fell. Statistics released Monday from the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting Program indicate that there were 102 hate crime offenses reported in 2012 based on disability bias. That's up from 58 the year prior. The increase in disability-related cases comes as the total number of hate crimes declined, the FBI said. Overall, 5,796 criminal incidents reported last year were motivated by a bias toward a particular race, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity/national origin or disability. In 2011, there were 6,222 cases. To read more,click here


Decoding, Oral Comprehension, Vocabulary: Three Key Literacy Skills for Primary Schools in Priority Areas

What types of skills do first-year primary school children in education priority areas need most to learn to read? To find out, a team of researchers at CNRS and the universities of Grenoble, Paris Descartes and Aix-Marseille conducted a study of 394 children in ZEPs (1) administered by the Académie de Lyon at the end of their first year of school. The results show that, of all the factors involved in their reading comprehension skills, three played a predominant role: decoding ability, oral comprehension and vocabulary.Published in the November 8, 2013 issue of PLoS ONE, these findings were obtained in collaboration with the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences of the University of Geneva. The report also underlines the importance of evaluating and cultivating these skills starting in the first year of school in order to improve children's reading comprehension. To read more,click here


Tell-Tale Genes Linked to Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are disturbing and often-heartbreaking ailments that are relatively common, mostly among younger women.These ailments cut across socio-economic lines and across cultural borders, according to University of North Dakota physician and researcher James Mitchell. Thus we clearly know a lot about the people who are at highest risk for developing these diseases. However, until now no one knew how these disorders occurred or what triggered them, says Mitchell, Chester Fritz Distinguished Professor of Clinical Neuroscience and co-head of the Fargo-based Neuropsychiatric Research Institute (NRI). NRI is associated with UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS). Mitchell, known globally for his wide-ranging and long-term study of eating disorders and obesity and for his work with bariatric surgery, says that recently published research suggests a new strategy to understand, and eventually may lead to innovative treatments for, eating disorders. To read more,click here

AASEP Logo

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

ADHD Linked to Social, Economic Disadvantage

Scientists have found evidence of a link between social and economic status and childhood attention deficit disorder (ADHD) in the UK.A team led by the University of Exeter Medical School analysed data from the Millennium Cohort Study, a database of more than 19,500 UK children born between 2000 and 2002. Scientists have found evidence of a link between social and economic status and childhood attention deficit disorder (ADHD) in the UK. A team led by the University of Exeter Medical School analysed data from the Millennium Cohort Study, a database of more than 19,500 UK children born between 2000 and 2002. To read more,click here


Longtime Special Education Resource to be Reborn as Part of New Center

Resources created by the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities-widely known by the acronym NICHCY, a holdover from the name it had over 30 years ago-will remain available online, though the center closed down after its last grant from the Department of Education's office of special education programs ended in September. The center, once known as the National Information Center for Handicapped Children and Youth, had for decades provided direct resources to parents through mail and a telephone hotline. Though the center moved more and more of its information online, the stream of contacts from the public continued, at a rate of 90 to 300 calls a month, said Elaine Mulligan, who was NICHCY's director. Much of that was due to the center's long history, she said. While other federally-funded resources would change names or contact information, NICHCY remained. To read more,click here


Philadelphia Parents Flood State With Special Education Complaints

Parents of students in the financially troubled Philadelphia school district have filed hundreds of special education and educational-adequacy complaints with the Pennsylvania Department of Education, saying that insufficient funding is denying children the education they are guaranteed under state and federal law. More than 800 complaints have been filed as part of an effort led by the Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia and Parents United for Public Education. The organizations are directing parents to a website where they can file complaints electronically. The goal, they say, is to show the state that inadequate funding is having real, and damaging, effects on the 136,000-student district. To read more,click here


Tiniest Newborns Often Lead Normal Adult Lives

The tiniest premature infants often cling to life for weeks in intensive-care units while their parents worry about what physical and mental health problems their babies might face as they grow up. But researchers say they now have some reassuring news to report: Although those who start life as "extreme preemies" do face more health, social and economic difficulties during childhood or young adulthood, most of them are satisfied with their lives as adults. "This self-assessment might be the most important fact overall," said study author Dr. Brian Darlow, a professor of pediatric research at the University of Otago, Christchurch, in New Zealand. To read more,click here


Honor Society for Special Education Teachers

Omega-gamma-chi-logo

To learn more -Click here

 


1 in 10 U.S. Children Now Has ADHD, CDC Says

One in every 10 U.S. children has been diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but the steady rise in cases has started to slow, a new government survey shows. The 2011 poll of more than 95,000 parents showed that about 11 percent -- or about 6.4 million -- of children aged 4 to 17 had been diagnosed with ADHD. That's up from a 2007 survey that found that 9.5 percent of youngsters in that age group had an ADHD diagnoses. Nearly one in every five high-school age boys, and about one in every 11 high school age girls, was reported by their parents as being diagnosed with having ADHD, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report found. To read more,click here


jobsNASET's Latest Job Listings

* Special Education Teacher (moderate-severe) - Pacific Autism Center for Education (PACE) provides high quality programs for individuals with Autism and associated developmental disabilities in the San Francisco Bay Area. PACE's Special Education Teacher is responsible for maintaining a learning environment for students with Autism and related developmental disabilities. To learn more - Click here

 

* Special Education Teacher - Youth Villages has been a national leader in the implementation of research-based treatment philosophies in the field of children's mental and behavioral health and they are looking for a Special Education Teacher. Their commitment to helping troubled children and their families find success spans 20+ years and includes a comprehensive array of programs and services.  To learn more - Click here

 

* Moderate-Severe Special Education Teacher - The Moderate-Severe Special Education Teacher will provide individualized instruction, assessment, and program planning for students who have moderate-severe disabilities. Instruction will emphasize acquisition of functional and academic skills in the least restrictive manner and setting as specified in the IEP. (Bogota, Columbia) - To learn more - Click here

 

* Master Middle School Teachers- $125,000 Salary:  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

 

* ADOLESCENT Classroom Teacher -  St. Ann's Home is as a well-established residential treatment center and special education school for emotionally and behaviorally disturbed children. This is your opportunity to make your next career choice a meaningful one and make a real difference.  To learn more -Click here


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

The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.
William Arthur Ward

forgot username or password?