Week in Review - March 21, 2014

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WEEK IN REVIEW

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

March 21, 2014 - Vol 10, Issue 12

 

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In This Issue

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

NASET Sponsor - University of Nebraska


New This Week on NASET

Lesser Known Disorders in Special Education
Issue #50 - March 2014

Each issue of this series contains at least three lesser known disorders. Some of these disorders may contain subtypes which will also be presented. You will also notice that each disorder has a code. These codes represent the coding system for all disabilities and disorders listed in the Educator's Diagnostic Manual (EDM)Wiley Publications.

Disorders in this issue:
  • SL 10.02-Receptive Phonological Language Disorder
  • SL 10.03-Receptive Pragmatic Language Disorder
  • SL 10.04-Receptive Syntax Language Disorder
  • SL 10.05-Receptive Semantics Language Disorder

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

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NASET ADHD SERIES
March 2014

Part # 15 -Natural Treatment of Health Impairment Symptoms: Profit versus PrudentA Literature ReviewBy Kerri Beisner
Abstract

The prevalence of ADHD in school age children has greatly increased over the past 20 years- and the United States is the leading country with this disability diagnosis.  The treatment of ADHD, through prescription medications, has proved to be a growing business, as doctors, parents, and educators are being recommended to use these forms of treatment for children that identify with some of the loose qualifications of ADHD.  As the drug companies are using these recommendations for their benefit some children, then, are recommended to take drugs that they don't necessarily need.  With a leading number of ADHD diagnoses, doctors are quickly turning to the pharmaceutical companies for ways to treat these children. Research has shown, however, that these prescription medications can have both short term and long term effects on an individual.  By medicating young children that, in other countries may not even qualify as having ADHD, individuals are not learning how to cope and manage their differences in a healthy or natural way.  These young children could potentially grow into adults that are only familiar with how to live with their ADHD medication and are unsure of how they should act and feel off of their medication; medication that they may not have needed growing up.  In treating the symptoms of ADHD, there are many different supplements and strategies that can effectively be used in place of prescription medication.  These natural alternatives, however, are not recommended by doctors, as they do not make the pharmaceutical companies a profit.  The over diagnoses and over treatment of ADHD in the United States, therefore, becomes a case of profit vs. prudence.


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

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Autism, ADHD Tied to Gender Concerns in Some Kids: Study

The desire to be another gender appears to be more common among children with autism or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a new study. Researchers looked at children aged 6 to 18 and found that gender identity issues were about 7.6 times more common in those with an autism spectrum disorder and 6.6 times more common in those with ADHD than in those with neither of the disorders. The study also found that youngsters who wanted to be another gender (known as gender variance) had higher levels of anxiety and depression symptoms. But kids with autism had lower levels of such symptoms than kids with ADHD, possibly because they're not aware that many people have a negative view of gender variance, the researchers suggested. To read more,click here


Kids Who Repeat a Grade Can Become Discipline Problems, Study Says

Students who have to repeat a grade can cause discipline problems among their classmates, a new study indicates. Researchers looked at nearly 80,000 seventh graders in 334 North Carolina middle schools, and discovered that the numbers of grade repeaters and older students varied widely among the schools. They also found that having a higher number of grade repeaters was associated with more suspensions and higher rates of discipline problems such as substance abuse, fighting and classroom disruption among other students. For example, if 20 percent of students in seventh grade were older than their peers, there was a 200 percent higher chance that other students would misbehave or be suspended, according to the study, which was published online recently in the journal Teachers College Record. 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


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Obese Girls Prone to Poorer Grades, Study Suggests

Besides the well-known problems associated with being overweight at a young age, a new study suggests that obese teen girls tend to do worse in school than those with a healthy weight. Researchers analyzed data from nearly 6,000 children in the United Kingdom and found that girls who were obese at age 11 had lower academic scores at ages 11, 13 and 16 than those with a normal weight. The overall average grade in English, math and science was a C, but the average grade among obese girls was a D. The link between obesity and school grades was less clear in boys, according to the study, which was published March 11 in the International Journal of Obesity. To read more,click here


For Tech Companies, Hiring Workers With Disabilities 'Cool'

When Eric Lin started his job at Zendesk, like many, he had trouble pronouncing CEO Mikkel Svane's name. "I told him it's just like a nickel, so the nickel became our thing," said Svane. It became a daily mnemonic ritual - the pair would compare the age and design of the coinage in their pockets. Two years ago, Lin was Zendesk's first hire through The Arc, a nonprofit that helps adults with developmental disabilities find jobs. At Zendesk, Lin, 26, helps with office support, including crucial startup tasks such as keeping snacks and caffeine stocked. He has grown to be an integral part of the customer-service software firm's Mid-Market office in San Francisco. To read more,click here


Outcomes Improving for Kids With Kidney Transplants

U.S. children in need of a kidney transplant are faring better now than a couple of decades ago, but there is still plenty of room for improvement, a new study finds. Kidney failure is relatively uncommon in children -- affecting five to 10 kids per million each year, according to study background information. But when it happens, the optimal treatment is a kidney transplant, which about 800 U.S. children undergo each year. And the outlook for those kids has been steadily improving over the past 25 years, finds the new study published online March 10 and in the April print issue of Pediatrics. To read more,click here


Gut Bacteria May Play Role in Crohn's Disease

The community of bacteria that typically live in the human gut is radically altered in patients with Crohn's disease, a new study shows. Overall, patients with Crohn's have less diversity among their intestinal bacteria than healthy individuals. And certain types of harmful bacteria appear to be increased in Crohn's patients, while the amounts of beneficial bacteria are decreased, the study found. Whether those changes are a cause or a consequence of the disease isn't known. But the discovery may help doctors diagnose patients more quickly and it may point the way to new treatments for the disease, which is estimated to affect about 700,000 people in the United States. 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: Karen Bornholm, Prahbhjot Malhi, Ope-Oluwa Olubela, Kim Shovah, Sharon Campione, Jugraj Kaur, Mike Namian, Marilyn Rainey, Leslie Barrios, Lois Nembhard, Pamela Downing-Hosten, Olumide Akerele, Helma Wardenaar, and Vasantha Ramachandran who all knew the answer to last week's trivia question:

In the field of special education and assistive technology, what does the abbreviation "AAC" stand for?

ANSWER: Alternative Augmentative Communication

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
A student takes a 100 question examination for her graduate school course.  The professor has informed the class that he grades on a normal curve (bell curve).  After the test, the student determined that she only got 62 out of the 100 questions correct.  Upon figuring this out, she states that "I bombed it. I know I failed!!"  What would you tell her?

If you know the answer, send an email tocontactus@naset.org
All answers must be submitted no later than Monday, March 24, 2014 at 12:00 p.m.


NASET Sponsor - University of Kansas

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People With Disabilities Impetus For New Teaching Hotel

Construction is set to begin on a first-of-its-kind hotel where teaching and employing people with disabilities will be just as important as accommodating overnight guests. At least 20 percent of workers at the 150-room Courtyard by Marriott being built in Muncie, Ind. will be individuals with developmental and other types of disabilities, project organizers with The Arc of Indiana said. These employees will be working in all types of positions, including management. In addition, the hotel will offer postsecondary educational opportunities for individuals to learn about the hospitality and food service industries and will serve as a training ground for human resources professionals to better understand how to hire people with special needs. To read more,click here


September Peak Month for Kids' Asthma Flares: Study

Many parents know that allergies are seasonal, but fewer may realize that the same is true of asthma: A new study suggests the riskiest time for children with asthma is September, as they head back to school. Researchers found that the rates of asthma flares were twice as high in that month as they were in August. Not surprisingly, the study also found a more than two-fold higher rate of prescriptions for asthma rescue inhalers in September compared to August. "Returning to school after summer is strongly associated with an increased risk for asthma exacerbations and unscheduled visits to the primary care physician," wrote researcher Dr. Herman Avner Cohen, of the Sackler Faculty of Medicine at Tel Aviv University, in Israel. To read more,click here


Senators Take Aim At SSI Asset Limits

Under a new bill proposed in the U.S. Senate, the amount of money that Supplemental Security Income recipients could save without losing access to their benefits would rise for the first time in over two decades. Currently, individuals who receive SSI can have no more than $2,000 in cash or liquid assets at any given time without forfeiting their eligibility for benefits. The legislation calls for that asset limit to increase to $10,000. The bill would also eliminate restrictions that currently disallow friends and family from providing financial, food and housing support to those receiving SSI and the measure would boost the amount of income beneficiaries could earn without losing out on benefits. To read more,click here


Weed Use Up, Cocaine Use Down, U.S. Report Finds

Americans' use of cocaine fell by half from 2006 to 2010, but marijuana use increased by more than 30 percent during that time, according to a new report. The spike in pot use may be due to an increase in the number of people who said they use the drug on a daily or near-daily basis, said the researchers, whose study covered drug trends from 2000 to 2010. Heroin use remained fairly stable during the decade, while methamphetamine use rose sharply during the first half of the decade and then fell. Americans spent $100 billion a year on cocaine, heroin, marijuana and methamphetamine -- or a total of $1 trillion over the decade, the RAND Drug Policy Research Center report estimated. To read more,click here


Focus Shifts To Transparency In Disability Research

As an increasing number of clinical trials focus on Down syndrome, fragile X and other developmental disabilities, researchers are taking new steps to ensure that those with the conditions know what they're getting into. Researchers and drug companies are now using simpler wording, pictures and videos as opposed to lengthy documentation in an effort to help people with intellectual disabilities understand what's involved when they agree to participate in a trial, reports The Wall Street Journal. The new materials often detail what will happen during the trial and what side effects a person may see from a drug, for example. To read more,click here


Liberty Mutual Savings

NASET MEMBER'S BENEFIT -

Group Savings Plus from Liberty Mutual

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More Evidence That Bullying Raises Kids' Suicide Risk

Children and teens involved in bullying -- victims and perpetrators alike -- are more likely to think about suicide or attempt it. And cyber bullying appears more strongly linked to suicidal thoughts than other forms of bullying, a new research review finds. The findings "establish with more certainty that bullying is related to suicide thoughts and attempts," said study lead author Mitch van Geel, a researcher with the Institute of Education and Child Studies at Leiden University in the Netherlands. "And we establish that these results hold for boys and girls, and older and younger children." Bullying is widespread among children and teens. According to previous studies, almost 50 percent of kids in grades 4 to 12 reported being bullied within the previous month. Nearly one-third said they were bullies themselves. To read more,click here


Passive Smoking Causes Irreversible Damage to Children's Arteries

Exposure to passive smoking in childhood causes irreversible damage to the structure of children's arteries, according to a study published online today in the European Heart Journal.  The thickening of the arteries' walls associated with being exposed to parents' smoke, means that these children will be at greater risk of heart attacks and strokes in later life. The researchers from Tasmania, Australia and Finland say that exposure to both parents smoking in childhood adds an extra 3.3 years to the age of blood vessels when the children reach adulthood. The study is the first to follow children through to adulthood in order to examine the association between exposure to parental smoking and increased carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) -- a measurement of the thickness of the innermost two layers of the arterial wall -- in adulthood. It adds further strength to the arguments for banning smoking in areas where children may be present, such as cars. To read more,click here


Alcohol Near Start of Pregnancy Linked to Premature Babies

Women who drink before they conceive or during the first three months of pregnancy might be at increased risk of having a premature or small baby, new research finds. The study included more than 1,200 pregnant women in the United Kingdom who provided information about their drinking habits shortly before and during pregnancy. The U.K. Department of Health, like the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, recommends that pregnant women and those trying to conceive should not drink any alcohol. If they do, they should limit alcohol to no more than one or two units a week, according to the U.K. guidelines. To read more,click here


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Experiential Avoidance Increases PTSD Risk Following Child Maltreatment

Child abuse is a reliable predictor of post-traumatic stress disorder, but not all maltreated children suffer from it, according to Chad Shenk, assistant professor of human development and family studies, Penn State, who examined why some maltreated children develop PTSD and some do not.Shenk and his research team found that adolescent girls who experienced maltreatment in the past year and were willing to talk about their painful experiences and their thoughts and emotions, were less likely to have PTSD symptoms one year later. Those who tried to avoid painful thoughts and emotions were significantly more likely to exhibit PTSD symptoms down the road. The researchers report their results in the current issue of Development and Psychopathology. To read more,click here


Just 1.5 Hours of TV a Day May Disrupt Kids' Sleep, Study Says

Kids who watch as little as 1.5 hours of TV a day may get less sleep than those who don't watch as much television, according to a new study from Spain. Moreover, as overall TV-watching increases, essential sleep time declines, the study of more than 1,700 youngsters found. "Television could modify the level of sleep in young children," said lead researcher Marcella Marinelli, who's with the Center for Research in Environmental Epidemiology, in Barcelona. Reduced sleep could be a risk factor for obesity and behavioral problems such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, she added. To read more,click here


Mutations in Leukemia Gene Linked to New Childhood Growth Disorder

Mutations in a gene associated with leukemia cause a newly described condition that affects growth and intellectual development in children, new research reports.All the children were taller than usual for their age, shared similar facial features and had intellectual disabilities. The mutations were not present in their parents, nor in 1,000 controls from the UK population. The new condition has been called 'DNMT3A overgrowth syndrome'. The research is published today in the journal Nature Genetics and is a part of the Childhood Overgrowth Study, which is funded by the Wellcome Trust, and aims to identify causes of developmental disorders that include increased growth in childhood. The DNMT3A gene is crucial for development because it adds the 'methylation' marks to DNA that determine where and when genes are active. To read more,click here


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Girls Born Small or Underweight Twice as Likely to Be Infertile in Adulthood

Girls born unexpectedly small or underweight seem to be twice as likely to have fertility problems in adulthood as those of normal size at birth, suggests research published in the online only journal BMJ Open.Medical advances mean that more underweight and very small babies will survive into adulthood, which might therefore increase the prevalence of fertility problems, say the authors. But as this is the first research of its kind, further studies will be needed before definitive conclusions can be drawn, they caution. The researchers base their findings on 1206 women who were born in Sweden from 1973 onward, and part of a straight couple seeking help for fertility problems at one major center between 2005 and 2010. To read more,click here


Superior Visual Thinking May be Key to Independence for High Schoolers with Autism

Researchers at UNC's Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute (FPG) and UNC's School of Education report that teaching independence to adolescents with autism can provide a crucial boost to their chances for success after high school."We explored many factors that contribute to the poor outcomes people with autism often experience," said Kara Hume, co-principal investigator of FPG's Center on Secondary Education for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (CSESA). "It's clear that teaching independence to students with autism should be a central focus of their activities in high school." According to Hume, independence is the biggest indicator of which students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are likely to live on their own, have a job, and participate in their communities after high school. "However, adolescents with ASD have trouble observing their peers and picking up on skills important for developing independence," she said. To read more,click here


How Dumbo and Pluto Helped Boy Emerge From Autism

Over time, Owen became lost in a library of animated Disney movies, rewinding and replaying them, and his parents, journalists Ron and Cornelia Suskind, worried about their son being sucked into the social isolation of the television. "They vanish in front of you," Owen's father, Pulitzer-winning journalist Ron Suskind told ABC News.com, which is owned by the Walt Disney Company. But it was the Disney characters, whose lines and songs Owen could repeat back with ease, that ultimately gave his parents the entryway to his hidden thoughts and emotions and brought him back into the world, he said. Suskind says that he and his wife were convinced it wasn't "mimicry," because "the movements, the tone, the emotions seem utterly authentic, like method acting." Now, Suskind writes about his 20-year journey raising Owen in a March 9 New York Times Magazine article, "Reaching My Autistic Son Through Disney." The piece is part of a larger book on the so-called "Disney therapy" that the author writes about in his 2014 book, "Life Animated." To read more,click here


jobsNASET's Latest Job Listings

* Special Education Teachers (K-12) - Are you interested in teaching in New Mexico's premier school district? Come join us in the sunny Southwest. To learn more - click here

 

* Ancillary Positions - We have numerous positions open currently and for the upcoming school year. Audiologists, Educational Diagnosticians, Occupational Therapists/COTA, Physical Therapists, Recreation Therapists, Sign Language Interpreters, SLP/ASL, Social Workers, Psychologists. To learn more - Click here and scroll to mid-page

 

* Special Education Teacher (K-8) - Victory Education Partners is a school management organization that supports public charter schools in Chicago.  Our mission is to create high performing schools that will close the student achievement gap for low-income students. We are seeking an experienced full-time Special Education teacher to join our campus team. To learn more -Click here

 

* Special Education Teacher - The primary responsibility of the Special Education Teacher (RSP) is to provide instruction and other related services to Special Education students. The RSP Teacher will also facilitate diagnostic assessment including administration, scoring and interpretation. To learn more -Click here


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

I do the very best I know how, the very best I can, and I mean to keep on doing so until the end.
Abraham Lincoln

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