Week in Review - September 19, 2014

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WEEK IN REVIEW

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

September 19, 2014 - Vol 10, Issue 38

 

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TRIVIA QUESTION OF THE WEEK

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Dear NASET News,

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

Sincerely,


NASETNews Team

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New This Week on NASET

AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER SERIES
The Good, Bad and Ugly: Advocating for Children with Autism in School
By Marquis Carter Grant


This issue of NASET'sAutism Spectrum Disorderseries was written by Marquis Grant and is titled, The Good, Bad and Ugly: Advocating for Children with Autism in School. A report delivered by the U.S. Department of Education estimated that in 2009 there were 5.8 millino children between the ages of 6 and 21 were being served in special education (Edweek, 2011). This was a drastic increase from the 1,666,000 children in 1963 and the 2,100,000 children in 1966 that were reported by Mackie (1969). The numbers for autism have shown an even greater increase, with 1 in 88 children receiving a diagnosis under the autism spectrum. These numbers are extremely important because, if this trend continues, more parents will face a likelihood of a diagnosis for their children. How we face these diagnoses could make the difference between having children who are successful in the classroom and having children who suffer needlessly.



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How To Understand Symptom Patterns and Causes in Children
Introduction

When children experience serious social, emotional, physical, academic, psychological, language, perceptual, or environmental problems, the tension from these issues exhibits itself in the form of behavioral symptoms. These would be the first thing teachers notice and should understand that they are behavioral symptoms which indicate a more serious underlying problem. What follows is a series of problem areas that children may encounter and what kind of symptoms may exhibit themselves in the classroom.



How To Understand an APGAR Score for a New Infant

The very first test given to a newborn, the Apgar score occurs right after your baby's birth in the delivery or birthing room. The test was designed to quickly evaluate a newborn's physical condition after delivery and to determine any immediate need for extra medical or emergency care.
Although the Apgar score was developed in 1952 by an anesthesiologist named Virginia Apgar, you may have also heard it referred to as an acronym for: Activity, Pulse, Grimace, Appearance, and Respiration.


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SeeNASET'sLatest Job Listings

Medications Plus Parent Training May Help Kids With Aggression, ADHD

Combining two medications with parent training appears to improve anger, irritability and violent tendencies in children whose attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is coupled with severe aggression, a new study suggests. "Augmented" therapy that consists of stimulant and antipsychotic drugs, along with parent training in behavioral management techniques, was rated more effective by parents than "basic" therapy pairing only the stimulant and parent training, researchers found. "An important finding of this study was that at the end of nine weeks, approximately half of all children receiving basic therapy were still rated by their parents as being impaired... with symptoms interfering with school or social functioning," said study author Kenneth Gadow, a professor of psychiatry at Stony Brook University in New York. To read more,click here

Putting Baby to Sleep on Animal Fur May Lower Asthma Risk: Study

Infants who sleep on animal fur may be less likely to develop asthma later in childhood, new research suggests. The study included more than 2,400 healthy city-dwelling newborns in Germany who were followed until age 10. Of those children, 55 percent slept on animal skin in their first three months of life. Compared to other youngsters, those who slept on animal skin in infancy were 79 percent less likely to have asthma at age 6, and 41 percent less likely to have asthma by age 10, the investigators found. The study was presented Sunday at the European Respiratory Society meeting in Munich. The data and conclusions of research presented at medical meetings should be viewed as preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal. To read more,click here

Physical Activity May Boost School Performance, Especially for Boys

Children might do better in school if they're more physically active, a new study suggests. Researchers assessed the activity levels and reading and math skills of 186 Finnish children in grades 1 to 3. The study authors, from the University of Eastern Finland, report a link between higher levels of physical activity at recess and better reading skills, and a connection between participation in organized sports and higher math test scores. In particular, boys with higher levels of physical activity -- especially walking and bicycling to and from school -- had better reading skills than less active boys, according to the research team. 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

Senator Looks To Ease Burden For Parents In IDEA Disputes

A federal lawmaker says he wants to level the playing field for parents involved in special education disputes with their child's school district. U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, is proposing new legislation that would ensure parents who successfully challenge a school district under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act can recoup costs for psychologists, behavior specialists, physicians and other experts they engage in order to bring their case. Currently, families can challenge schools if they do not believe that their child is being provided a free and appropriate education under the law. While attorney's fees can be recovered by whomever prevails, a 2006 U.S. Supreme Court decision determined that costs for expert witnesses can't. To read more,click here

Estrogen Receptor May Play a Role in Autism

Significantly lower levels of a key estrogen receptor may play a role in autism spectrum disorders, according to a new study. This link between autism and sex hormones could help explain why the condition is about four times more common among men than women, the researchers noted. "Our study is the first indicator that estrogen receptors in the brain of autism spectrum disorder patients may be different to controls," study author Anilkumar Pillai, from Georgia Regents University, said in a news release. "Though this suggests a possible reason for the gender bias, we still need to determine what causes the reduced production of estrogen-related proteins." To read more,click here

Nearly 8 In 10 Kids Don't Get Developmental Screenings

The vast majority of American children may not be receiving recommended screenings for developmental delay, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. In a government survey, parents of 79 percent of young children reported that they had not been asked to participate in screening efforts in the previous year. This, despite recommendations that children are routinely checked at pediatrician visits for signs of developmental issues. The findings come from an analysis of data collected in 2007 and 2008 through the National Survey of Children's Health published this week in a supplement to the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The issue includes a broad review of preventive care services recommended for children and adolescents ranging from newborn hearing tests to hypertension screening. 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: Olumide Akerele, Karen Bornholm, Mike Namian, Ope-Oluwa Olubela, Pamela Downing-Hosten and Marilyn Rainey who all knew the answer to last week's trivia question:  According to the latest data from U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately what percentage of children are getting the vaccines that prevent measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR); polio; hepatitis B and chickenpox (varicella)?
ANSWER:  More than 90%
THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
In what year did the federal government change the name of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (P.L. 94-142) to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)?
If you know the answer, send an email tocontactus@naset.org
All answers must be submitted no later than Monday, September 22, 2014 at 12:00 p.m.

Puberty Suppression Benefits Gender-Questioning Teens: Study

Treatment to delay puberty among adolescents struggling with gender identity seems to boost psychological well-being for those who ultimately pursue sex reassignment, new research suggests. The Dutch study involved 55 transgender young adults who had been diagnosed years earlier with "gender dysphoria," a condition in which a biological boy strongly identifies as a girl, or vice versa. All underwent a hormone treatment that temporarily blocked puberty and prevented the development of sex characteristics. To read more,click here

Small Study Hints Fish Oil Might Ease Tough-to-Treat Epilepsy

Low doses of fish oil may help reduce the number of seizures experienced by people with a form of tough-to-treat epilepsy that no longer responds to drugs, a small new study suggests. The research was led by Dr. Christopher DeGiorgio, of the University of California, Los Angeles, and included 24 people with epilepsy that could no longer be controlled using medications. One expert not connected to the study said many people with epilepsy remain without adequate treatment. "Although medications remain the primary treatment for newly diagnosed epilepsy, more than 35 percent of patients continue to have seizures despite taking antiepileptic drugs," said Dr. David Friedman, director of the Comprehensive Epilepsy Center at Winthrop University Hospital in Mineola, N.Y. To read more,click here

Many U.S. Kids Missing Out on Preventive Care, CDC Says

Most adults can remember the battery of health services they endured as kids: hearing and vision tests, dental exams, regular checkups and vaccinations. Many American kids growing up now won't have those memories, because millions of infants and children aren't receiving recommended medical care aimed at detecting and preventing disease, according to a new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Preventive services that kids and teens are missing out on range from basic medical care to vaccinations and screenings that can have a lifelong impact on their health. To read more,click here

Sibling Bullies May Leave Lasting Effects

While a burly kid on the playground may be the stereotype of a childhood bully, a new study suggests some of the most damaging bullies are as close to home as you can get: They're siblings who tease, make fun of and physically hurt their brothers and sisters. Youngsters who were bullied by siblings were more than twice as likely to report depression or self-harm at age 18 as those who weren't bullied by siblings. They were also nearly twice as likely to report anxiety as they entered adulthood, according to new research. To read more,click here

Spotting, Treating Autism Symptoms in Infancy May Prevent Delays

Among infants as young as 6 months old who exhibited symptoms of autism, therapy provided by parents seemed to prevent developmental delays by age 3 in most of the tots, a small new study suggests. Researchers from the University of California, Davis MIND Institute found that six of the seven infants in the study had caught up in language and other learning skills between the ages of 2 and 3 -- before the age most children with autism are usually diagnosed. But the therapy program used in the study -- administered by parents during daily feeding, diapering and play routines -- needs to be researched in larger, randomized trials, the study authors cautioned. To read more,click here

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Accessibility Problems Dog Amtrak

The nation's passenger rail system remains plagued by accessibility problems with poor planning hampering efforts to improve accommodations for people with disabilities, an audit finds. In the last two years, Amtrak has made "limited progress" in improving compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, according to an internal inspector general's report. The failure to make substantial improvements stems largely from ineffective management and the lack of a written strategic plan, the report indicates. As of 2011, only 48 of the 482 stations Amtrak serves were ADA compliant. Accordingly, Amtrak committed roughly $100 million to address the problems during 2012 and 2013. To read more,click here

Teens' Daily Marijuana Use Linked to Poor Outcomes

Teens who use marijuana on a daily basis before they reach the age of 17 are more likely to have certain long-term problems than their non-using peers, new research from Australia suggests."What we found is that although the effects were greatest for the daily users, there were also notable effects at the lower frequencies of cannabis use as well," said study lead author Edmund Silins. He is a research fellow with the faculty of medicine at the University of New South Wales' National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre in Sydney. "In fact," he added, "the less-than-monthly use before the age of 17 was also associated with a degree of risk of adverse outcomes, although it was less, of course, than it was for daily users." To read more,click here

Inclusion Rates For Special Education Students Vary By State

Where a child lives may significantly impact whether they are placed in an inclusive or segregated classroom, a new national analysis suggests. Regional differences appear to play a role in education placements for students with autism, with those living in the West more likely to attend mainstream classes while students in the Eastern United States are more frequently assigned to segregated settings, according to findings published online in the journal Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities. For the study, Jennifer Kurth, an assistant professor of special education at the University of Kansas, combed through U.S. Department of Education data on placements for children with autism in the nation's schools between 1998 and 2008. To read more,click here

Breast Milk May Protect Against Deadly Newborn Disease

A protein in breast milk that is not found in infant formula may protect newborns from a potentially deadly gastrointestinal disease, a new study suggests. Breast milk contains the protein neuregulin-4 (NRG4), which can help prevent the intestinal damage caused by necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), the researchers found. Of all babies who develop NEC, 30 percent die from the condition, the researchers noted, and those that survive could face serious consequences, such as having part of their intestines removed or being dependent on IV nutrition. To read more,click here

E-Cigarette Refills Pose Danger to Kids, Experts Say

Nicotine refill cartridges used in e-cigarettes can be opened by young children, putting them at risk for nicotine poisoning, doctors warn. The safety of the electronic cigarette cartridges must be improved in order to reduce this threat, said the authors of an article published Sept. 9 in the journalArchives of Disease in Childhood. Figures released earlier this year by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show a "massive rise" in calls to poison centers about accidental swallowing of liquid nicotine from e-cigarette refill cartridges, the British researchers noted. To read more,click here

Kidney and Thyroid Cancer Rates Up Among U.S. Children, Study Finds

Although the overall rate of cancer in American children and teens remained stable during the last decade, rates of thyroid cancer and kidney cancer seemed to be on the rise, a new study says. The rate of thyroid cancer saw annual increases of nearly 5 percent and a specific type of kidney cancer, called renal carcinoma, had average increases of 5.4 percent per year, according to the study. The researchers also found that cancer rates among black children and teens increased 1.3 percent per year. But one doctor not involved with the study said the finding could be a statistical "fluke." To read more,click here

Honor Society for Special Education Teachers

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Diabetics Face Much Greater Risk of Heart Damage, Study Says

Using a new ultra-sensitive test, Johns Hopkins researchers found that people with diabetes may have a sixfold higher risk of heart failure even if their cholesterol is low and they appear otherwise healthy. Results of the new study suggest that people with diabetes and pre-diabetes may be suffering undetectable -- but potentially dangerous -- heart muscle damage, the researchers concluded. This heart damage is occurring regardless of a diabetic's cholesterol levels, which had no effect on test results, said lead author Elizabeth Selvin. She co-director of the Cardiovascular Epidemiology Training Program at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. To read more,click here

New Tuberculosis Blood Test in Children: Reliable, Highly Specific

A new blood test provides a fast and accurate tool to diagnose tuberculosis in children, a new proof-of-concept study shows. The newly developed test is the first reliable immunodiagnostic assay to detect active tuberculosis in children. The test features excellent specificity, a similar sensitivity as culture tests in combination with speed of a blood test. The promising findings are a major advance for the diagnosis of tuberculosis in children, particularly in tuberculosis-endemic regions. To read more,click here

Study Finds Drop in Kids' Hospital-Related Infections

Fewer children are developing infections related to their care in the hospital than they were seven years ago, according to a new study. The rate of bloodstream infections and pneumonia associated with critically ill children's health care in intensive care units fell by more than 50 percent between 2007 and 2012, researchers found. "We're recognizing that there are things that happen at hospitals that are preventable and there are things we can do to make being in the hospital safer, including for our most vulnerable patients," said lead researcher Dr. Stephen Patrick, assistant professor of pediatrics and health policy at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. To read more,click here

Smoking Before Fatherhood May Raise Asthma Risk in Kids: Study

Men who smoke before becoming a parent may put their children at increased risk for asthma, a new study suggests. Researchers analyzed the smoking habits of more than 13,000 men and women, and then looked at the incidence of asthma in their children. The results showed that asthma was much more common in children whose fathers were smokers before conception. A child's risk of asthma increased if the father smoked before age 15, and the risk grew the longer the father smoked. While the finding showed an association between a man's smoking history and asthma risk in his children, it did not prove cause-and-effect. To read more,click here

jobsNASET's Latest Job Listings

* Early Childhood Special Educator- Sterling/Magnum Medical seeks Early Childhood Special Educators to work with an Early Intervention program servicing US military families living on base at Okinawa, Japan! To learn more -Click here


* Special Education Teacher- Join a team that is making a difference in the community! Anova is Northern California's most trusted provider of educational, behavioral, and therapy services for children with autism and all types of disabilities. This is a full-time, Contracted (Exempt) position and is based on the number of school calendar days. To learn more -Click here


* Special Education Teacher (Preschool)- Mediscan is hiring a full time Preschool SPED Teacher for the 14/15 year on the San Francisco Peninsula. We are looking for preschool special education credentials. New grads welcome! - To learn more -Click here


* Special Education Teachers- Webwise Therapy Services offers an innovative way to deliver online special education services to students with special needs from the comfort and safety of their own homes.  We are looking for full-time employees and independent contractors. To learn more -  Click here


* Certified Special Educator- SESI is a private company that provides comprehensive special education services for students identified with emotional and behavioral disabilities. We are currently seeking two teachers (HS Math and HS Science) for the 2014 -2015 school year. To learn more -Click here


* HS Special Education Teacher- Special Education teachers at Intrinsic provide a mix of co-taught and separate class support for students.  Our school has 1:1 technology and a unique 21st century learning environment. To learn more -Click here

 

* Special Education Teacher- As one of the first charter schools in Illinois, Perspectives Charter Schools has a long record of preparing students for success in college and beyond. Our five schools across the South Side of Chicago offer students an education that combines character development and academic rigor through the A Disciplined Life education model-with impressive results. To learn more -Click here

 

*High School/ Middle School RSP Teacher- Camino Nuevo Charter Academy offers exciting once in a lifetime opportunities to teach in a K-12 charter school.  CNCA seeks candidates who will use innovative curriculum and teaching methodologies to establish a culture of educational excellence through great professional development opportunities and team teaching.  To learn more -Click here

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

We are not "just" teachers, we are the managers of the world's greatest resource: Children

Robert John Meehan

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