Week in Review - March 18, 2016

 

NASET

WEEK IN REVIEW

National Association of Special Education Teachers

March 18, 2016                                                 Vol 12 Issue # 12



Dear NASET News,


Welcome to NASET'sWEEK in REVIEW.  Here, we provide you with the latest publications fromNASET to 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 the WEEK in REVIEW atnews@naset.org. Have a great weekend.

Sincerely,

NASET News Team

NEW THIS WEEK ON NASET

NASET's Autism Spectrum Disorder Series Issue #36


Increasing Parental Involvement for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Other Disabilities

This issue of NASET's Autism Spectrum Disorder series was written by Nicole Paez, a graduate student at Florida International University. Her literature review focused on the probable causes for a lack of parental involvement for students with ASD and other learning disabilities within the special education system, and how to address the issue. Research shows parents are typically poorly informed on the services their child may be eligible to receive, feel confronted by technical jargon and unfamiliar terms, and face numerous unfair procedural safeguards. These factors plus overall dissatisfaction with the schools and educational system have contributed to the low numbers of parental involvement for students with ASD and other learning disabilities. Schools must make efforts to address these issues by encouraging parents to share concerns and respond proactively, share outside resources and information, and clearly explain processes such as the IEP, and available services.  Read More


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Most Teens Who Abuse ADHD Meds Get Them From Others

Abuse of ADHD stimulant drugs such Ritalin or Adderall is on the rise, and a new study finds that most teens who abuse the drugs get them from someone else. An expanding market for drugs to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), "coupled with the increasing rates of ADHD diagnosis, provides greater availability of these drugs," study lead author Yanning Wang, from the University of Florida in Gainesville, said in a university news release. "This raises concerns about the possible non-medical use or abuse of these medications," which include drugs such Adderall, Concerta and Ritalin, she added. According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, when these drugs are abused they can boost blood pressure and heart rate, and interfere with sleep and appetite. Read More

U.S. Pediatricians to Add Poverty to Well-Visit Checklist

Pediatricians in the United States already ask parents about their child's sleep, diet and developmental milestones. Soon, they'll add poverty to the well-visit checklist. Poverty can significantly harm a child's health, according to a new American Academy of Pediatrics policy statement. The group says pediatricians can identify children at risk by asking parents a single question: "Do you have difficulty making ends meet at the end of the month?" Those who answer "yes" can then be directed to appropriate community resources. "Pediatricians are dedicated to preventing illness in children and intervening early when there is a problem," Dr. James Duffee, one of the authors of the policy statement, said in an academy news release. Read More

Board Certification in Special Education Available to NASET Members

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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.Read More

Supervised Exposure Therapy for Peanut Allergy Lasts, Study Finds

Once a tolerance to peanuts has developed in kids considered at high-risk for developing a peanut allergy, it seems to last, new research suggests. The children in the study developed a tolerance after they were fed peanuts for years as part of a supervised clinical trial. Now, the researchers are reporting that those youngsters maintained their tolerance for at least a year, even if they didn't keep eating peanuts. "The therapy persisted, and after 12 months of avoidance there was no increase in the rates of peanut allergy. They maintained their ability to tolerate peanuts, even though they hadn't been eating it," said Dr. Sherry Farzan, an allergist with Northwell Health in Great Neck, N.Y. Farzan wasn't involved in the research.  Read More

Congressman Initiates ADA Reform

The legislative battle against some predatory lawsuits - a nearly impossible task at the state level - is jumping from California to Washington, D.C., U.S. Rep. Jerry McNerney said this week. "A fairly small number of individuals and firms are causing this havoc in our businesses," McNerney, D-Calif., said while announcing federal legislation aimed at significant reform. "A handful of bad actors have taken advantage of the law just to make money." He referred to the Americans with Disabilities Act, which requires that businesses make life easier for customers with disabilities. Critics say it's being used in concert with California law to extort payouts from bewildered companies without helping those with disabilities much. Read More

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: Patsy Ray, Shawna Michelena, Lisa Keith, Olumide Akerele, Joanna Blau, Alyssa Sorenson, Amy Cecchi, Arnold Chua, Melody Owens, Pamela Downing-Hosten, Sharon Johnson Hiltz and Luarine Kennedy who all knew the answer to last week's trivia question:

QUESTION:In this form of aphasia, the ability to grasp the meaning of spoken words and sentences is impaired, while the ease of producing connected speech is not very affected. It is also referred to as 'fluent aphasia' or 'receptive aphasia'.  What is the name of this aphasia?
ANSWER: Wernicke's Aphasia

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:

What is the name of the type of autism spectrum disorder that occurs almost exclusively in girls and affects the way the brain develops, causing a progressive inability to use muscles for eye and body movements and speech?

If you know the answer, send an email to contactus@naset.org
All answers must be submitted no later than Monday, March 21, 2016 at 12:00 p.m.

Special Infant Formulas Don't Shield Against Asthma, Allergies: Study

Many parents who worry that their baby is at risk of asthma, allergies or type 1 diabetes may turn to special cow's milk formulas touted to lower the risk. But a new review of the data on these "hydrolyzed" infant formulas finds no good evidence that they actually protect children from the autoimmune disorders. "We found no consistent evidence to support a protective role for partially or extensively hydrolyzed formula," concluded a team led by Robert Boyle of Imperial College London in England. "Our findings conflict with current international guidelines, in which hydrolyzed formula is widely recommended for young formula-fed infants with a family history of allergic disease," the study authors added. Read More

Positivity Prevails Among Those Touched By Down Syndrome

In the vast majority of cases, a new analysis finds that parents and siblings of those with Down syndrome report positive feelings about having a family member with the chromosomal disorder. Among families surveyed, researchers found that in 87 percent of cases individuals with Down syndrome, their parents and siblings all said they loved each other. Moreover, in 83 percent of families, parents and siblings said they were proud of their family member with Down syndrome and the individual also expressed pride in themselves. Read More

Mom's Smoking May Put Kids at Higher Risk of COPD in Adulthood

The children of mothers who smoke heavily may face a much higher risk for developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as adults, new research suggests. The finding is based on the tracking of COPD risk among nearly 1,400 adults, and it suggests that heavy maternal smoking -- more than 20 cigarettes per day -- increases a child's long-term COPD risk nearly threefold. "The findings were not surprising to us," said study author Jennifer Perret. She is a postdoctoral fellow with the Centre for Air Quality and Evaluation in the Melbourne School of Population & Global Health at the University of Melbourne in Australia. Read More

NASET is pleased to provide our members with exclusive access to discounts on products and services. These savings are available to all current NASET members. To find out more about savings from Life Lock, Avis, Budget, Cruises Only, Orlando Vacations and more. Read More

Children Born Prematurely are Disadvantaged at School But Delaying School Entry May Not Be the Answer

Children born before 34 weeks gestation have poorer reading and maths skills than those born at full term, and the difficulties they experience at school continue to have effects into adulthood: by the age of 42, adults who were born prematurely have lower incomes and are less likely to own their own home than those born at full term. These findings are from a study led by Professor Dieter Wolke at the University of Warwick and funded by the Nuffield Foundation. The study analysed data from four large-scale longitudinal studies and found that the poorer reading and maths skills of children born prematurely were associated with lower educational qualifications on leaving school and lower income in middle age.  Read More

MS Patients May Be Prone to Other Chronic Illnesses, Study Finds

People with multiple sclerosis (MS) are more likely to have other chronic health problems than those without the nervous system disorder, a new study indicates. Researchers looked at how common several chronic conditions -- high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, heart disease, chronic lung disease, epilepsy, fibromyalgia, inflammatory bowel disease, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia -- were in nearly 23,400 people newly diagnosed with MS and more than 116,600 people without MS. The MS patients had higher rates of all the conditions, with high cholesterol being the exception. Their rates of mental illness, particularly depression, were also high. Nineteen percent of MS patients and 9 percent of those without MS had depression, the study found. Read More

New Intervention Program Reduces Bullying in Early Childhood

Physical and relational bullying can happen among children as young as 3- to 5-years-old, but the results of a new study suggest that a relatively short intervention program recently developed by researchers at the University at Buffalo can lead to significant reductions in some of these behaviors. The study, published in a special edition of the journal School Psychology Review, is one of the first to examine and identify multiple types of bullying behavior in early childhood. The intervention is called the Early Childhood Friendship Project (ECFP). It's an eight-week program using puppets, stories and activities appropriate for preschoolers that can easily be folded into existing curriculums.  Read More

Amputee 'Feels' With Bionic Fingertip

A bionic fingertip enabled an amputee to feel different textures, researchers report. The fingertip was linked to electrodes surgically implanted into nerves in Dennis Aabo Sorensen's upper arm. Sorenson was able to feel smoothness and roughness with the fingertip, the researchers said. A machine controlled the movement of the fingertip over pieces of plastic with different rough or smooth patterns. As the fingertip moved over the plastic surfaces, sensors generated electrical signals that were sent to the nerves in Sorensen's upper arm. He could tell the difference between smooth and rough textures 96 percent of the time, the researchers said. The successful test of the bionic fingertip could help speed efforts to develop artificial limbs that provide sensory feedback, according to Silvestro Micera, from Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland and colleagues. Read More

Asthma Symptoms Linked to Increased Stress, Anxiety Levels in Teens

A Henry Ford Hospital study has found that common asthma symptoms like waking up in the middle of the night and shortness of breath are associated with increased levels of stress and anxiety in teens with asthma. In a small study of 38 asthma patients ages 14-17, researchers found that their average scores for stress and anxiety levels were higher than those seen in the general population. Researchers suggest the findings are a red flag for physicians of young asthma patients. "Because these patients may be particularly vulnerable to stress and anxiety, this information can be helpful to physicians as they counsel their patients about the importance of managing their asthma," says Cathryn Luria, M.D., a Henry Ford fellow and the study's lead author. Read More

Evolving Insights into Cystic Fibrosis Lung Infections

Recent research progress into how bacteria adapt and evolve during chronic lung infections in cystic fibrosis patients could lead to better treatment strategies being developed, according to a new review by the University of Liverpool. Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a life-shortening inherited disease, affecting over 10,000 people in the UK. Patients with CF often suffer from a build-up of mucus in the airways, which traps bacteria and makes them more susceptible to lung infections. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is usually harmless to healthy humans, but in people with CF it can cause infections that are resistant to antibiotics and become impossible to eradicate from the lungs. Read More

New Brain Stimulation Target Identified for Tourette's Syndrome

Specifically-targeted deep brain stimulation improves symptoms in patients with severe Tourette's, according to new research. Gilles de la Tourette syndrome, often just called Tourette's, is best known for the vocal and motor tics that are the most common symptoms of the disorder. Usually, these symptoms respond to a growing array of medications. However, some patients experience severe tics that do not respond to medications and may be disabling or even life-threatening. In these rare cases, deep brain stimulation may provide relief. Read More

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Low Prenatal Vitamin D Linked to Later MS in Offspring

Children of mothers with too little vitamin D during their pregnancy may have a higher risk of developing multiple sclerosis when they reach adulthood, a new study suggests. One expert in the United States said that the findings need to be interpreted with caution, however. "We cannot say from this study that low vitamin D levels cause MS in women's offspring," said Dr. Daniel Skupski, chair of obstetrics and gynecology at NewYork-Presbyterian/Queens hospital in New York City. All the study points to is an association between the two, he stressed. What the research does do, Skupski said, is "set the stage" for further research to see if getting more vitamin D in pregnancy might lower people's lifetime risk for multiple sclerosis. Read More

Study Finds Merit In Classroom-Based Autism Therapy

Preschool teachers may be able to play a significant role in helping kids with autism improve their language and social skills, a new study suggests. Using a play-based intervention called Joint Attention Symbolic Play Engagement and Regulation, or JASPER, teachers in several preschool classrooms for children with autism were able to integrate the behavior therapy directly into their students' daily routines. Months later, there were substantial differences in progress between students on the spectrum who were in classes using the built-in technique as opposed to those relying on traditional curriculums alone. Read More

Scientists Use Stem Cells to Correct Infant Cataracts

A new surgical technique for removing cataracts might allow the eye's stem cells to regenerate a healthy lens, if preliminary findings hold up. In an early study of infants born with cataracts, researchers used a minimally invasive approach to remove the eye's damaged lens -- while keeping the native stem cells intact. Stem cells are primitive cells that give rise to different types of mature tissue. Those stem cells were then able to form a new lens, the researchers reported March 9 in the online edition of the journal Nature. Read More
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LATEST JOB LISTINGS POSTED ON NASET


* National Leadership Program Director - RespectAbility's National Leadership Training Director will work directly with RespectAbility Fellows to provide the professional work experiences the Fellows need to advance in their careers while also advancing the mission of RespectAbility. To learn more - Click here

* Special Education Teacher - Is sought to provide an educational program for students who are developmentally disabled or have special needs and will ensure progress on all IEP goals & district and state requirements. To learn more-
Click here

* Special Education Teacher - Will Teach students receiving Special Education services, assess students and utilize assessments to create specialized instruction that fosters continuous improvement for students with disabilities. To learn more - Click here

* Special Education Teacher Level I and II - You have experience developing and implementing IEP's you have experience preparing materials, individualized lesson plans, and activities according to assessment goals. To learn more - Click here

* Director, Special Education (Assessment) -  Support all aspects of the special education program with a focus on assessment to include: overseeing behavior implementation specialists, LSSP/Evaluation staff, budget, related services, autism, and speech.  To learn more - Click here

* Director, Special Education (Secondary) - Support all aspects of the special education program with a focus on secondary to include curriculum alignment, development and implementation, and compliance.  This position will work in close collaboration with the Executive Director and Assistant Superintendent. To learn more - Click here

* Director, Special Education (Elementary) - Support all aspects of the special education program with a focus on elementary to include curriculum alignment, development and implementation, and compliance.  To learn more - Click here

* Executive Director - Special Education - is responsible for directing all aspects of the special education program to include curriculum alignment, development and implementation, as well as, budgeting and staffing. To learn more - Click here

* Behavior Implementation Specialist - Build learning capacity of teachers across the district to develop and implement behavior management strategies in classrooms and to provide specific behavior intervention supports to students in a co-teach setting.  To learn more -
Click here

* High School Learning Support Teacher - (Warsaw, Poland) - The role of the Learning Support Teacher is to support students with different learning styles by providing intervention and remediation: support teachers in their efforts to advance students with different learning needs within the classroom. To learn more - Click here

* First and Second Grade Head Teacher (16001076) - Eliot-Pearson Children's School is a laboratory demonstration school for the Department of Child Development at Tufts University. The Head Teacher's responsibilities include providing a dynamic, developmental, inclusive program for multi- age first/second grade children, working with families, therapists, team-teaching and supervising and mentoring University undergraduate and graduate students. To learn more - Click here

* Early Childhood Special Educator (Bahrain) - The EDIS program is a Department of Defense program that helps active-duty military members' special needs children from birth to 3 years of age living in base housing by providing free in-home physical, speech, occupational, and cognitive therapies to help them reach their age-appropriate developmental milestones. To learn more - Click here

* Special Education Teacher (Arizona) - EBS is seeking passionate, motivated Special Education Teachers who want to make a difference in the lives of exceptional children!  EBS Special Education Teachers develop and implement all aspects of student IEPs and classroom instruction in order to maximize academic, communicative, behavioral, self-help, social and emotional success.  To learn more - Click here

* Special Educator Teacher (Hawaii) - EBS is seeking passionate, motivated Special Education Teachers who want to make a difference in the lives of exceptional children!  EBS Special Education Teachers develop and implement all aspects of student IEPs and classroom instruction in order to maximize academic, communicative, behavioral, self-help, social and emotional success. To learn more - Click here

* Special Education Teacher (California) - EBS is seeking passionate, motivated Special Education Teachers who want to make a difference in the lives of exceptional children! EBS Special Education Teachers develop and implement all aspects of student IEPs and classroom instruction in order to maximize academic, communicative, behavioral, self-help, social and emotional success. To learn more - Click here

* Teacher - Our students need your expertise, passion and leadership. 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

* Upper School Math Teacher - Is sought by the Lighthouse Point Academy with the ability to articulate the Mission, Vision, and Values of the school both verbally and in writing and have a comprehensive knowledge of curriculum and instruction within the appropriate content area and/or grade level. To learn more - Click here

* Alternative Assessment Developers - Work at home! Ceres Publishing Services LLC (www.ceres-llc.com) is assembling a team of special education teachers or former teachers to lend their expertise to the development of state alternative assessments. To learn more- Click here

* Special Education Teacher - The Research Foundation, founded in 1951, exists to serve SUNY and to capitalize on the scope, scale and diversity of SUNY as an engine of New York state's innovation economy. To learn more - Click here

* Special Education Teachers - needed in Arizona (Phoenix and surrounding cities). Needs are in the self-contained and resource settings serving students with emotional disabilities (ED), Autism (A), Severe/Profound (S/P), and Intellectual Disabilities (ID). To learn more - Click here

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


Plenty of people miss their share of happiness, not because they never found it, but because they didn't stop to enjoy it.  
William Feather
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