Week in Review - February 13, 2015

WEEK IN REVIEW

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

February 13, 2015 - Vol 11, Issue 7


 

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In This Issue

TRIVIA QUESTION OF THE WEEK


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

NEW ON FACEBOOK! SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER GROUP

Please join our newSpecial Education Teachers Groupon Facebook. We hope that this will be a place for teachers to exchange ideas, share resources, ask questions and generally help each other. The group is different from our Facebook page, it is a message board format so people can ask and answer questions. The group is private, so only the members of the group will be able to see what you post.
To Learn more -Click here

New This Week onNASET

NASET Parent Teacher Conference Handout
February 2015

The 5 Areas of Child Development

Introduction
There are 5 areas of childhood development examined in each evaluation of an infant or toddler suspected of having a developmental delay or disability. The 5 areas are (1) Cognitive Development; (2) Physical Development; (3) Communication Development; (4) Social or Emotional Development; and (5) Adaptive Development. This issue ofNASET'sParent Teacher Conference Handoutwill provide a quick synopsis of each of the 5 developmental areas.


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

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Bullying of Children Series

The Roles Children Play in Bullying


Introduction
There are many roles that kids can play in bullying. Kids can bully others, they can be bullied, or they may witness bullying. When kids are involved in bullying, they often play more than one role. Sometimes kids may both be bullied and bully others or they may witness other kids being bullied. It is important to understand the multiple roles kids play in order to effectively prevent and respond to bullying. This issue ofNASET'sBullying of Childrencomes from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and will focus on the roles children play in bullying.


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

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SeeNASET'sLatest Job Listings

Girls Outperform Boys Academically Around the Globe, Study Says

Girls tend to get better grades in reading, math and science than boys, according to a new study that challenges the widely held belief that boys do better in these subjects than girls. "Even in countries where women's liberties are severely restricted, we found that girls are outperforming boys in reading, mathematics and science literacy by age 15, regardless of political, economic, social or gender equality issues and policies found in those countries," study author David Geary, professor of psychological sciences at the University of Missouri, said in a university news release. The researchers analyzed the grades of 1.5 million 15-year-old students around the world between 2000 and 2010. To read more,click here

Children's Books Honored For Disability Storylines

Three books are being honored for their portrayal of the disability experience through a special set of awards given alongside the well-known Caldecott and Newbery Medals. The winners of this year's Schneider Family Book Awards include tales of a boy who stutters, a girl with autism and young adults with intellectual disabilities during transition. The Schneider awards are presented annually by the American Library Association to authors or illustrators for the "artistic expression of the disability experience." One award is given for works aimed at each of three audiences - kids up to age 8, those ages 9 to 13 and teens. 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

New MRI Test May Help Diagnose Liver Condition in Kids

A new medical imaging technique can help doctors better detect non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in children, new research suggests. Five million to 8 million children in the United States have the condition, but most cases go undiagnosed, according to the University of California, San Diego researchers. Children with the disease have large droplets of fat in at least 5 percent of their liver cells. Obesity and diabetes are risk factors for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which can lead to hepatitis, liver scarring, cirrhosis and liver cancer. "Currently, diagnosis of [non-alcoholic fatty liver disease] requires a liver biopsy, which is not always available or performed. This leads to both misdiagnosis and missed diagnoses, hampering patient care and progress in clinical research," study first author Dr. Jeffrey Schwimmer said in a university news release. Schwimmer is a professor of clinical pediatrics at UCSD and director of the Fatty Liver Clinic at Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego. To read more,click here

Questions Surround Vouchers For Students With Disabilities

Some students with disabilities may get a chance to leave the public school system here - but advocates and parents aren't sure it will improve their education. Lawmakers in Mississippi will soon debate a bill to give special education students vouchers for private schools, which supporters say will boost their options and opportunities. Opponents, though, say vouchers will simply send students with disabilities to ill-equipped, unregulated schools and ultimately absolve the state of responsibility for some 54,000 students with disabilities. To read more,click here

Special Education Law Symposium

The 40th Anniversary of the IDEA: The Past is Prologue

REGISTER NOW: June 21 - June 26, 2015


Lehigh University's intensive one-week institute provides a practical analysis of legislation, regulations, and case law relating to the education of students with disabilities.The symposium is designed for special education coordinators and teachers, principals, psychologists, parent advocates, attorneys (on both sides), hearing officers, state officials, and other individuals interested in legal literacy concerning the education of students with disabilities.

The program offers two parallel tracks, one for basic that offers in-depth foundation knowledge about the IDEA and Section 504: Eligibility, FAPE, LRE, Student Discipline, and Remedies. The other track is for advanced participants, offering brand new "hot topics": Settlement Process, Exiting Special Education, "Meaningful" Parental Participation, Inadequate IEP Implementation as a FAPE Denial, Transition Services, Noncustodial Parent Issues, and State Complaint Resolution Process.

The experienced program faculty features attorneys Laura Anthony (Ohio), Edward Bauer (Florida), Maria Blaeuer (Washington, DC), Esther Canty-Barnes (New Jersey), Andrew Cuddy (New York), Laura Gillis (Massachusetts), Zvi Greisman (Maryland), Dana Jonson (Connecticut), Michael Joyce (Massachusetts), Isabel Machado New Jersey), Deborah Mattison (Alabama), Kevin McDowell (Indiana), Michael Stafford (Delaware), and-from Pennsylvania--Andrew Faust, Joshua Kershenbaum, Dennis McAndrews, Gabrielle Sereni, and Dr. Perry Zirkel.

The symposium begins on Sunday evening with a dinner and keynote lecture by Dr. Melody Musgrove, Director, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), U.S. Department of Education.

The workshop is offered for graduate and continuing education credit. Weekly and daily options are available.  Full information is now available on our website:coe.lehigh.edu/law.  For any questions, email or call Shannon Weber or Donna Johnson atspecialedlaw@lehigh.eduor (610) 758-5557.

 

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:  Craig Pate, Janice Robinson, Yvonne Harris, Barry Amper, Prahbhjot Malhi, Ope-Oluwa Olubela, Pamela Downing-Hosten, Olumide Akerele,  Meredith Martin, Sue Bradley and Theresa Ellis who all knew the answer to last week's trivia question:

U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer recently said that he wants to draw national attention to a bill known as "Avonte's Law," which would establish and fund a federal program to provide what type of technology to families of children with developmental disorders who request them? ANSWER:  Electronic System of Tracking Device (Voluntary Location Devices)


THE TRIVIA QUESTION OF THE WEEK WILL RETURN ON FEBRUARY 20, 2015

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Change in Gut Bacteria May Precede Type 1 Diabetes in Kids

In some young children who develop type 1 diabetes, a change in normal stomach bacteria can precede the disease by a year, a small study has found. The findings, published Feb. 5 in the journal Cell, Host & Microbe, are based on just 33 children at increased genetic risk of type 1 diabetes. And experts stressed that it's too early to tell what it all could mean. But one hope is that the results will lead to an early diagnostic test for type 1 diabetes, said researcher Aleksandar Kostic, a postdoctoral fellow at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. There is also the possibility of developing new therapies for type 1 that would target the "ecosystem" of the gut, he said. To read more,click here

Obama Budget Calls For Boost To Disability Programs

President Barack Obama wants Congress to halt planned cuts under sequestration and increase funding for special education and other programs for people with disabilities. The proposals come in Obama's $4 trillion budget plan which was released Monday. The budget highlights the president's priorities for the government's 2016 fiscal year starting Oct. 1. Included in the plan is an added $175 million in funding for special education services for school-age children with disabilities and $115 million for programs for young kids served under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. To read more,click here

Income Inequality Affects Kids' Health, Research Shows

There is a growing disparity in the physical and mental health of rich and poor children and teens in the United States and other wealthy countries, a new study reveals. Researchers examined data gathered from nearly half a million youngsters, aged 11 to 15, in 34 countries in North America and Europe between 2002 and 2010. The analysis showed that poorer kids living in countries with greater income inequality were more likely to be in worse health, get less exercise, have more body fat, have lower life satisfaction, and report more physical and mental health symptoms, such as irritability and headache. To read more,click here

NASET Sponsor - Exceptional Child

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Autism Speaks Putting New Focus On Adults

After prioritizing the needs of children for years, the nation's largest autism advocacy organization is turning its attention to expanding housing options and supports for adults. Starting as a pilot project in three states - Florida, New Jersey and Illinois - Autism Speaks is working with locally-based disability advocacy groups and policymakers to identify legislative goals and mobilize its own network to push for expanded home and community-based services. The initiative will be extremely state-specific given how unique each state's Medicaid program is, said Angela Lello, director of housing and community living at Autism Speaks. In some states, objectives will likely center on reducing the number of people on waiting lists for services while the focus in other places may be on expanding the availability of affordable housing or the types of supported-home environments that are offered to people on the spectrum, she said. To read more,click here

1 in 5 Younger Diabetics Lacks Good Medical Care, Study Says

One in every five young American adults with diabetes hasn't seen a doctor in the past 6 months, a new government report indicates. The study, from researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, also found that those aged 18 to 39 with diabetes were much less likely than older patients to have gotten their blood pressure or cholesterol checked in the previous year. "Ongoing medical care is recommended for persons of any age who have diabetes in order to manage levels of glucose [blood sugar], obtain preventive care services and treat diabetes-related complications," wrote the team, led by Maria Villarroel of the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). To read more,click here

New 'Systems Genetics' Study Identifies Possible Target for Epilepsy Treatment

A single gene that coordinates a network of about 400 genes involved in epilepsy could be a target for new treatments, according to research. Epilepsy is a common and serious disease that affects around 50 million people worldwide. The mortality rate among people with epilepsy is two to three times higher than the general population. It is known that epilepsy has a strong genetic component, but the risk is related to multiple factors that are 'spread' over hundreds of genes.To read more,click here

Medication Problems May Spur Many Child ER Trips, Study Finds

Medication-related problems -- from side effects to improper use -- may be the cause of many kids' trips to the emergency room, a new study suggests. Researchers found that at one Canadian children's hospital, medication-related problems accounted for one in 12 ER visits over a year. And about two-thirds of those incidents were preventable, the researchers concluded. The findings, published online Feb. 2 in Pediatrics, do not mean that parents should be afraid to give their children needed medications, the researchers noted. To read more,click here

Common Pesticide May Increase Risk of ADHD

A commonly used pesticide may alter the development of the brain's dopamine system -- responsible for emotional expression and cognitive function -- and increase the risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children, according to a new Rutgers study.The research published in the Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB), by Rutgers scientists and colleagues from Emory University, the University of Rochester Medical Center, and Wake Forest University discovered that mice exposed to the pyrethroid pesticide deltamethrin in utero and through lactation exhibited several features of ADHD, including dysfunctional dopamine signaling in the brain, hyperactivity, working memory, attention deficits and impulsive-like behavior. To read more,click here

Certain Genes in Babies May Up Preterm Birth Risk

Some babies' genes may increase their risk of preterm birth, a new study suggests. Researchers analyzed the number of copies of certain genes in hundreds of babies and their mothers. There was no link between the number of copies of these genes in mothers and the risk of preterm birth. A preterm birth is one that occurs before 37 weeks of pregnancy. However, if any of four specific genes were duplicated, or if any of seven specific genes were deleted, the risk of birth before 34 weeks of pregnancy was two to 11 times higher, according to the researchers. Birth before 34 weeks of pregnancy is called early preterm birth. To read more,click here

Honor Society for Special Education Teachers

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To learn more -Click here

 

Simple Strategies Used by Parents Lead to Improvements in One-Year-Olds at Risk for Autism Spectrum Disorder

A collection of simple strategies used by parents can lead to significant improvements in one-year-olds at risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), researchers have found. The study followed 18 families with a one-year-old child at risk for ASD. Researchers compared the effects of a parent-coaching, home-based intervention called "Adapted Responsive Teaching" (ART) versus referral to early intervention and monitoring.To read more, click here

Lead Exposure May Be Bigger Threat to Boys Than Girls

Hormones may explain why lead exposure is less likely to cause brain damage in girls than in boys, researchers report. Specifically, the female hormones estrogen and estradiol may help protect against lead's harmful effects on the frontal areas of the brain, according to the findings published recently in the Journal of Environmental Health. "The study supports existing research suggesting that estrogen and estradiol in females may act as neuroprotectants against the negative impacts of neurotoxins," study author Maya Khanna, a psychology professor at Creighton University, said in a university news release. To read more,click here

Flame Retardants May Raise Risk of Preterm Births, Study Finds

Pregnant women exposed to high levels of flame-retardant chemicals may be at increased risk for having premature babies, a new study indicates. Researchers analyzed blood samples from pregnant women when they were admitted to hospital for delivery. Those with higher levels of flame-retardant chemicals in their bodies were more likely to have preterm babies (before 37 weeks of pregnancy) than those with lower levels of the chemicals, the investigators found. "Nearly all women have some amount of exposure to flame-retardant chemicals. Many people have no idea that these chemicals can be found on many common items, including household dust and clothes dryer lint," study author Dr. Ramkumar Menon, an assistant professor in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Texas Medical Branch, said in a university news release. To read more,click here

Early Exposure to English May Help Spanish-Speaking Kids in School

Early exposure to English helps Spanish-speaking children in the United States do better in school, a new study shows. "It is important to study ways to increase Spanish-speaking children's English vocabulary while in early childhood before literacy gaps between them and English-only speaking children widen and the Spanish-speaking children fall behind," study author Francisco Palermo, an assistant professor in the University of Missouri College of Human Environmental Sciences, said in a university news release. "Identifying the best ways to support Spanish-speaking children's learning of English at home and at preschool can diminish language barriers in the classroom early and can help start these students on the pathway to academic success," he added. To read more,click here

Measles Outbreak Reignites Autism-Vaccine Debate

Two leading Republican presidential hopefuls waded into the argument over childhood vaccinations Monday, with Sen. Rand Paul declaring that he had heard of "many tragic cases" of children suffering harm after receiving shots and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie saying parents should be given a choice on the issue. The remarks, coupled with President Barack Obama's defense of vaccinations over the weekend, injected an unexpectedly partisan element into a policy issue - how readily to give exemptions to parents who don't want vaccines for their children - that until now had not shown much partisan division. To read more,click here


jobsNASET's Latest Job Listings

* Special Education Co-Teacher
- 8th grade co-teacher position in a Charter School in the South Bronx. The Special Education teacher will provide instruction of students with a variety of disabilities in mainstream and resource room settings. To learn more - Click here

 

* Early Childhood Special Educator- Magnum Medical has an opening for an experienced Early Childhood Special Educator to work with infants and toddlers of American military families stationed overseas.  The position works with a home-based early intervention program, and is currently available at Spangdahlem AFB, Germany. To learn more -Click here

 

* Special Education Teacher Special Needs - St. Vincent's Health Services (SVHS) is a mission-driven organization committed to serving the poor and underserved. SVHS seeks a Special Education Teacher for students with multiple developmental and/or medical needs. Some of our positions include working with students with autism. To learn more - Click here

 

* Head of School - Charles Armstrong School is a school with a deep and rich 46 year history, a clear and compelling mission, a supportive community and an optimistic future, Charles Armstrong School seeks a passionate leader that understands the needs of diverse learners.. To learn more - Click here

 

* Teachers and Psychologist - Legacy Traditional Schools is opening its 9th campus in Surprise, Arizona! LTS is hiring for all kindergarten, elementary, junior high and special education teacher positions for the 2015-2016 school year. To learn more - Click here

 

* Arizona: Special Education Teacher - $46,000/year with 16 weeks off.  Special Education Teachers needed in Arizona (Phoenix and surrounding cities). Needs are in the self-contained setting serving students with emotional disabilities (ED), Autism (A), Severe/Profound (S/P), and Intellectual Disabilities (ID). To learn more - Click here

 

* Service Coordinator - Provides therapeutic intervention with children and their caregivers as needed on assigned cases. Provides service coordination of assigned cases, including home visits, crisis management collateral contacts, and transition planning. To learn more - Click here

 

* Clinical Position focused on Exceptionalities - The School of Education at the University of Michigan is seeking an individual who will collaborate with other teacher educators to enhance attention to exceptional children and youth across the teacher education program through instruction, program design, mentoring, and faculty professional development. To learn more - Click here

 

* Achievement Center Director - The Director, a member of the administrative council reporting to the Head of School, will be responsible for ensuring that this model program is guided in all respects by CCES's mission, and that it maintains its strengths and retains the community's confidence. To learn more - Click Here

 

* Program Manager (Alternate Assessment) - The Assessment Program at the American Institutes for Research (AIR) is a well regarded organization that is growing rapidly. We focus on providing our clients with customized assessments that not only measure student achievement against state standards, but also provide meaningful score reports that can help students, parents, and educators address any areas of student weakness. To learn more -Click here

 

* Teacher - We are looking for highly motivated and skilled talent to join our team at the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS). We seek individuals who are passionate about transforming and improving educational outcomes for our students. To learn more - Click here

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

The road to success is dotted with many tempting parking places.

Author Unknown

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