Week in Review - November 11, 2016

NASET

WEEK IN REVIEW

National Association of Special Education Teachers

November 11, 2016                                            Vol 12 Issue # 45

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Dear NASET News,


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

Sincerely,

NASET News Team

NEW THIS WEEK ON NASET

The Practical Teacher

UDL and Art Education for Students with Disabilities and Physical Impairments By Josefina M. Bevra.
This issue of NASET's Practical Teacher was written by Josefina M. Beyra of Florida International University. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in the art classroom. UDL is a research-based approach that makes learning accessible to diverse students that has been practiced for decades yet it is not widely known. Unfortunately, the current literature on art education as an inclusive classroom is also limited. Because art elective courses serve large populations of students with disabilities, it is crucial that art teachers and all teachers that incorporate the arts are aware of UDL as an approach to teaching diverse students.  Read More


Children with Autism May Be Over-Diagnosed with ADHD, New Study Suggests

A well-established screening tool used to assess children for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may be less accurate when a child has an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Pediatric researchers report that children with ASD may mistakenly be diagnosed with ADHD because they have autism-related social impairments rather than problems with attention. This is important for understanding what are the right services and treatments for a child. The study team, including one of the psychologists who developed the ADHD screening tool, concludes that the tool needs to be refined to better identify the correct disorder, and that clinicians should supplement the screening tool with careful clinical interviews. Read More

Texas Education Agency (TEA) Denies Allegation of Cap on Special Education

The Texas Education Agency told the U.S. Department of Education Wednesday that it has never set a cap or limit on the number or percent of Texas public school students receiving special education support - but added that upcoming changes to the system should help district staff who may have been confused. TEA Deputy Commissioner of Academics Penny Schwinn penned the letter responding to federal inquiries about its special education monitoring system, according to a TEA release. A recent Houston Chronicle investigation reported that Texas districts had denied students special education services under an arbitrary TEA benchmark allowing just 8.5 percent of students get those services. Read More

An Overlooked and Growing Market: People with Disabilities

Here's a business idea. Ignore a potential market. That's what many sports and athletics-related businesses did until they realized in the mid-1990's that they had been passing on a gold mine: women. Yes, you know half the population that some thought should just play with Barbie dolls and Easy-Bake ovens? Well, the 1990s were a turning point as NBC's 1996 Summer Olympic Games coverage targeted women much more than previously and many more female-oriented sports leagues (e.g., soccer and basketball), apparel and equipment lines, and sports-related advertisements emerged. Imagine that, women would actually be interested in doing the same things as other humans, such as sports? Well, could many businesses once again be ignoring and missing other potential markets? Read More

How to Treat the Symptoms of Dyscalculia

Dyscalculia is a learning disability that affects an individual's ability to perform and make sense of mathematics, from counting numbers to memorizing tables and far beyond. It's a lifelong disorder that can be diagnosed at virtually any age but is typically first recognized in childhood. As with other learning disabilities, dyscalculia is not treated with medication. Rather, specialized learning strategies and strategic accommodations are used to help children and adults with the condition compensate for difficulties and approach math confidently. The long-range goal of any treatment strategy is straightforward: teach calculation techniques and bolster the reasoning skills needed to solve math problems. In the short-term, however, treatment should focus on removing obstacles to learning and making math easier to use quickly and accurately. Read More

Skin Patch May Help with Peanut Allergy

A skin patch that delivers small amounts of peanut protein may help treat children and young adults with peanut allergy, researchers report. The new approach "looks promising and has potential," said study author Dr. Marshall Plaut. He is chief of the food allergy, atopic dermatitis and allergic mechanisms section at the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Plaut's research team worked with 74 children and young adults, aged 4 to 25, who are allergic to peanuts. The volunteers were randomly assigned to wear either a high-dose patch (250 micrograms), a low-dose patch (100 micrograms) or a placebo patch. Read More

More Years Playing Football, Greater Risk of Brain Disease: Study

Researchers say they can show that brain inflammation from football head trauma may lead to the development of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, the devastating degenerative brain disease. And the longer someone plays contact sports, the greater the odds for chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), the study authors concluded.  "This study provides evidence that playing football for a prolonged period can result in long-term brain inflammation, and that this inflammation might lead to CTE," said study first author Jonathan Cherry. He is a postdoctoral fellow in neurology at Boston University School of Medicine. Read More

MS Symptoms May Develop Earlier in Darker, Cooler Climes

The farther from the Equator someone with multiple sclerosis lives, the earlier symptoms begin, a new study finds. MS is a progressive disease affecting the central nervous system. Although symptoms vary, they often include fatigue, dizziness, weakness, numbness or tingling, trouble walking and vision problems. The cause of MS is thought to be an interplay of genetic and environmental factors, including latitude and/or exposure to sunlight and vitamin D levels. But it wasn't known if latitude -- the distance north or south of the Equator -- affected the age when symptoms start. Read More

TRIVIA QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Congratulations to: Sharon Johnson-Hiltz, Pamela Downing-Hosten, Olumide Akerele, Patsy Ray and Denise Keeling, who all knew the answer to last week's trivia question:

QUESTION:
Students with disabilities are seeing gains as the nation's high school graduation rate hits an all-time high, federal officials say. According to the U.S. Department of Education, what is the current graduation rate for individuals with disabilities?

ANSWER:  Approximately 64%

THE TRIVIA QUESTION OF THE WEEK WILL RETURN ON NOVEMBER 18, 2016

U.S. Premature Births Rise for 1st Time in 8 Years

The rate of premature births in the United States increased in 2015 for the first time in eight years, and rates are especially high among certain racial and ethnic groups, a March of Dimes report says. The overall rate rose from 9.57 percent to 9.63 percent, according to data from the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics. Rates in 2015 were nearly 48 percent higher for black women and more than 15 percent higher for American Indian/Alaska Native women compared to white women, according to the report. The findings led the March of Dimes to give the United States a "C" grade on its latest Premature Birth Report Card. The report card "demonstrates that there is an unfair burden of premature birth among specific racial and ethnic groups as well as geographic areas," said Dr. Jennifer Howse, president of the March of Dimes. Read More

Clean Home May Help Keep Kids' Asthma in Check

Reducing indoor allergens and pollutants can help control children's asthma, reducing their need for medication, according to a new report from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Many things in the home contribute to asthma symptoms and attacks, said report co-author Dr. Elizabeth Matsui. Dust mites and mold top the list, along with furry pets, smoke, cockroaches and airborne fragrances and chemicals. "By intervening, you can have a big impact on your child's asthma," said Matsui, a professor of pediatrics, epidemiology and environmental health sciences at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore. Read More

Opioid Overdoses Have Nearly Tripled Among Kids, Teens

The number of young children and teens hospitalized for overdosing on opioid painkillers have spiked nearly threefold in recent years, a new study finds. Among children under 10, most of the painkiller poisonings were accidental, with children "eating them like candy," said lead researcher Julie Gaither, a postdoctoral fellow in biostatistics at the Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Conn. Among teens, most were accidental overdoses, although some were suicide attempts. In both age groups, the increase in cases involving painkillers like OxyContin, Percocet and Vicodin was dramatic. Read More

Every Day in the Womb Boosts Babies' Brain Development: Study

Carrying a baby as close to full term as possible is better for the baby's brain development, a new study suggests. "What this study shows us is that every day and every week of in utero development is critical," said study senior author Catherine Limperopoulos. She directs the Developing Brain Research Laboratory at Children's National Health System in Washington, D.C. "If at all possible, we need to keep fetuses in utero to protect them from the hazards that can occur in the extra uterine environment," she said in a hospital system news release. The researchers said that during the third trimester of pregnancy, the fetal brain grows exponentially. The brain increases fourfold in size during this time, the researchers added. Read More

High Demand for Psychological Services for Children Demands New Approach

Psychological wellbeing services for children must be fundamentally rethought and reconfigured if we are to provide help for all those who need it. That is the conclusion of a new report published by the British Psychological Society (BPS).
What Good Could Look Like in Integrated Psychological Services for Children, Young People and their Families says the demand for these services far outstrips capacity. Current services are overstretched and fragmented, which leads to complex referral systems, long waiting times and young people falling through the net. There are also great inequalities that result in the most vulnerable people being more disadvantaged. Read More

Honor Society for Special Education Teachers

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To Disclose or Not to Disclose?

Graduate students with disabilities make up approximately 8 percent of master's students and 7 percent of doctoral candidates, according to data from the National Center for Education Statistics. The number of students in higher education who identify as having some type of disability has increased over time due to increased services, transparency and legal protections. The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights states that colleges and universities are required to provide appropriate academic adjustments as necessary to ensure that they do not discriminate on the basis of disability. During my years providing career coaching to graduate students, those with disabilities often have additional questions regarding their rights. One of the most common concerns students have is about disclosure during the job search process. The decision to disclose can have different implications depending on whether a student has a visible or nonvisible disability. Visible disabilities are usually identified by someone using an assistive device such as a service animal, a hearing aid, a wheelchair or a walking cane. Example of nonvisible disabilities include attention deficit disorder, anxiety disorders, learning disabilities, hearing impairments, epilepsy, post-traumatic stress disorder and many others. Read More

Automated Assessment of Early Autism

Autism Spectrum Disorder is usually diagnosed in early childhood, but genetic detection of this brain disorder could mean more timely interventions that improve life for the patient and their carers. Research published in the International Journal of Data Mining and Bioinformatics, suggests that machine learning might be used to analyze genetic data that points to an ASD diagnosis before symptoms become obvious. Fuad Alkoot of PAAET in Kuwait, and Abdullah Alqallaf of Kuwait University, Kuwait, explain that unlike other conditions, such as cancer, little heed has been taken to the possibility of early genetic detection of autism. This is despite the fact that an early diagnosis could be very useful to parents and carers. The team has now developed a four-stage computerized neural network system for testing simplified genetic data. The system traces between 150 and 500 features present on different chromosomes and known to be associated with ASD when certain genetic patterns are present. Read More

Few Children Born to Parents with Serious Mental Illness Live with Both Parents While Growing Up

Serious mental illness such as depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia has been shown to affect relationships and parenting capabilities. Children of parents with serious mental illness are vulnerable, and therefore comprehensive knowledge about their life circumstances is warranted for public health strategies to provide helpful supportive services. A study published in the November 2016 issue of the
Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (JAACAP), found that the living arrangements of children whose parents have a serious mental illness differ from the general population. Read More

Autism Spectrum Disorder Linked to Mutations in Some Mitochondrial DNA

Children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have greater numbers of harmful mutations in their mitochondrial DNA than family members, report Zhenglong Gu of Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, and colleagues, in a study published October 28th, 2016 in
PLOS Genetics. Increasingly, studies point to malfunctions in mitochondria -- the powerhouses of the cell -- as a cause of autism spectrum disorder, but the biological basis for this relationship is unclear. To see if a genetic link exists between mitochondrial malfunction and ASD, the scientists analyzed mitochondrial DNA sequences from 903 children with ASD, along with their unaffected siblings and mothers. They discovered a unique pattern of heteroplasmic mutations, where both mutant and normal mitochondrial DNA sequences exist in a single cell. Children with ASD had more than twice as many potentially harmful mutations compared to unaffected siblings, and 1.5 times as many mutations that would alter the resulting protein. The researchers went on to show that these mutations can be inherited from the mother, or the result of spontaneous mutation during development. Read More

School Principals Shape Students' Values Via School Climate

Over time, students' personal values become more similar to those of their school principal, according to new research published in
Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science. The findings indicate that principals' values are linked with aspects of school climate which are, in turn, linked with students' own values. "Given the vast amount of time children spend in school, it is important to assess the impact that schools have on children, beyond their impact on children's academic skills," say researchers Yair Berson (New York University and Bar-Ilan University) and Shaul Oreg (Cornell University and The Hebrew University of Jerusalem). "Our findings show that schools contribute to the formation of children's values." Read More

jobs

LATEST JOB LISTINGS POSTED ON NASET


*Teacher Mild/Mod. & Mod./Sev. (Elem. & MS) - The Education Specialist, will serve as classroom teacher in both general education settings as a co-teacher and leading a Learning Center to support students with IEPs in the least restrictive environment. Case management, professionalism, communication, and ability to co-teach/collaborate with colleagues are cornerstones to this position. To learn more - Click here
*Assistant/Associate Professor - Special Education - The Department of Teaching, Learning and Curriculum (TLC) in the School of Education of Drexel University seeks to appoint an Assistant or Associate Professor tenure-track or tenured faculty member in the area of Special Education. The individual should hold expertise to conduct or have an established record of scholarly or applied research. To learn more - Click here
*Special Education Teacher - The Hoffman Academy is a special education, private, academic school for students identified with social and emotional disorders.  The school is aligned with, and located on the grounds of, Hoffman Homes for Youth- a psychiatric residential treatment facility outside Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.  The Hoffman Academy educates approximately 100 students. To learn more - Click here
*Early Childhood Special Education Teacher - Full Time, 12 Month Teaching Position in a Unique Day Treatment/Therapeutic Preschool Program. Work Collaboratively as Part of a Multidisciplinary Team to Implement Academic, Behavioral and Therapeutic Services for Special Eduction Students with Emotional Needs. To learn more - Click here
*Special Education Teacher - Seneca Family of Agencies provides an unconditional continuum of care for the most vulnerable children and families in California. We provide a range of school-based, community-centered and residential services to support the diverse needs of our clients. To learn more - Click here
*The Special Education Specialist- (SPED) provides technical assistance across one or more contracts in administering assessment programs for students with significant cognitive disabilities. Develops special education content materials for professional development, item development and the administration of alternate assessments. To learn more - Click here
*Early Childhood Special Educator- Position works with children of American military families stationed overseas at RAF Lakenheath, UK.  Provides early intervention services to developmentally delayed infants and toddlers, in a home-based program. To learn more - Click here
*Special Education Specialist - The primary responsibility of the Special Education Specialist is to provide instruction and other related services to Special Education students. The Special Education Specialist will also facilitate diagnostic assessment including administration, scoring and interpretation. To learn more - Click here
*Special Education Teacher - The Durham Center for Education, a division of The Institute of Professional Practice is seeking a Special Education Teacher to join our team of enthusiastic and dedicated professionals. Reporting to the school's Director, you will join a team of educators, dedicated to "getting to the heart of every child." To learn more - Click here
* Special Education Coordinator - Uncommon Schools (Uncommon) is a nonprofit organization that starts and manages outstanding urban charter public schools that close the achievement gap and prepare students in high poverty, high need areas to graduate from college. Uncommon seeks Special Education Coordinator is passionate about supporting the students who are at-risk for academic underperformance due to emotional and/or physical challenges so that they can succeed in the school's rigorous academic program. To learn more - Click here
* Special Education Teacher - We are looking for highly dedicated educators who will bring an unwavering commitment to helping children succeed. KIPP DC's teachers are responsible for delivering effective, high-quality, rigorous instruction in their content areas, producing unmatched academic results and student growth. To learn more - Click here
*Special Education Teacher - Under general supervision of the House Manager, the incumbent is responsible for teaching and supervising a class of special needs students utilizing various techniques to promote learning. Duties include planning, organizing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating class activities, developing Individualized Education Plans (IEP) and working with assigned staff, therapists and students to achieve the IEP goals and objectives. To learn more - Click here
*Assistant/Associate Prof. Special Ed/Psychology - The successful applicant will assist in the development of coursework in Applied Behavior Analysis for Board Certified Assistant Behavioral Analyst (BCaBA) and Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) preparation. To learn more - Click here
*Special Education Teacher - is sought by Barstow Unified School District in Barstow CA. At present there is a single job opening for a full time position for 7 hours a day 185 days per year. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. To learn more - Click here
*Special Education Teachers - The special education teacher will develop, implement and monitor the students' Individualized Education Programs in collaboration with parents and other IEP Team members. The teacher will promote a collaborative relationship with school staff and parents that will foster inclusionary practices. To learn more - Click here

If you are an Employer looking for excellent special education staff - Click here for more information

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

Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.  
Gail Devers

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