Week in Review - December 2, 2016

NASET

WEEK IN REVIEW

National Association of Special Education Teachers
December 2, 2016                                                Vol 12 Issue # 48
Continuing_Ed


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

Parent Teacher Conference Handout


Supported Employment for Students with Special Needs
When students with special needs reach a certain age, they can be exposed to employment opportunities after vocational assessment has been complete. There are three options; Competitive employment, supported employment and sheltered workshops. This is the first in the three-part series which addresses supported employment. Two aspects must be considered when confronted with vocational decisions--finding a job and keeping a job. The student may require little or no help with one or both aspects, or he or she may require a great deal of help. As we have seen, help with finding a job comes from the school system, in partnership with the vocational rehabilitation agency. Read More

NASET Special Educator e-Journal

December 2016

Table of Contents

  • Update from the U.S. Department of Education
  • The Gap in Sports and Special Education. By Laura A. Vopelius

  • Changing the Education Paradigm to Achieve Better Student Outcomes. By N. Alexandra Cooper

  • Book Review:Teaching Outside the Box: How to Grab Your Students by Their Brains. By Phoebe Jones

  • The Toni Jennings Exceptional Education Institute: Community Based Partnerships and Tutoring in Mathematics and Reading. By Tanya Moorehead, Tracy McKinney, Tiphanie Gonzalez, Jessica Hunt, Bobby Jean Jeanpierre and Lisa Dieker

  • Special Education Legal Alert.  By Perry A. Zirkel

  • Acknowledements

  • Download a PDF or XPS Version of This Issue Read More


Zika Babies May Look Normal at Birth, Display Brain Defects Later: CDC

Babies exposed to the Zika virus in the womb can look normal at birth but later show signs of the devastating birth defect microcephaly and other brain abnormalities, researchers reported Tuesday. Scientists found that 13 infants in Brazil who were exposed to the mosquito-borne virus during gestation had normal head size as newborns, but subsequently experienced slower head growth. Eleven of these babies were diagnosed with microcephaly -- an abnormally small head and brain -- and other neurologic complications associated with Zika syndrome, the researchers reported. Read More

Food Allergies Among Kids Vary by Race: Study

Black and Hispanic children are much more likely to have corn, shellfish and fish allergies than white children, according to a U.S. study. The study also found that compared to whites, black children have much higher rates of asthma, eczema and allergies to wheat and soy. The results, from the study of 817 children who were diagnosed with food allergies from birth to age 18, show that race and ethnicity are important factors in how people are affected by food allergies, according to the researchers. "Food allergy is a prevalent condition in the U.S., but little is known about its characteristics and severity in racial minority groups," said study lead author Dr. Mahboobeh Mahdavinia, an allergy and immunology expert at Rush University in Chicago. Read More

'Enthusiastic' Dads May Mean Less Troubled Kids: Study


While quality time spent with kids is always important, new research suggests it's a man's attitude that's key to raising happy children. The British study found that the babies of confident, enthusiastic fathers were less likely to develop behavioral problems by age 9 or 11. "It is psychological and emotional aspects of paternal involvement in a child's infancy that are most powerful in influencing later child behavior," concluded a team led by Dr. Charles Opondo at Oxford University in England. The study involved more than 10,000 children and their parents. The investigators found that an engaged attitude on the part of dads was even more closely tied to their child's behavior than the time the men spent with their babies in childcare or housework. Read More
Gift Membership

Toddlers with Autism Don't Avoid Eye Contact, But Most Miss its Significance


A new study conducted by researchers at Marcus Autism Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, and Emory University School of Medicine helps put to rest a longstanding controversy and question about children with autism spectrum disorder. Eye-tracking measures developed by the group demonstrate that young children with autism do not avoid eye contact on purpose; instead, they miss the significance of social information in others' eyes. While reduced eye contact is a well-known symptom of autism used in early screeners and diagnostic instruments, why children with autism look less at other people's eyes has not been known. New research, reported in the
American Journal of Psychiatry, helps answer that question. Read More

Teen 'Choking Game' Played Solo Points to Suicide Risks


About 4 percent of U.S. teens surveyed admit to trying the "choking game" -- a potentially deadly game of temporary strangulation. And new research suggests that kids who "play" the game alone are much more likely to harbor thoughts of suicide. The so-called choking game is the practice of using hands, fingers or external wrapping materials -- such as a belt, tie or noose -- to apply strong pressure against the carotid arteries lining either side of the neck. Located on the right and left side of the windpipe, these arteries are critical conveyors of blood and oxygen to the brain. By interrupting the usual blood flow, and then suddenly removing pressure to restore flow, individuals reportedly trigger a short-lived feeling of euphoria. Read More

Why is Food Allergy Increasing? Skin Might Be Involved


Early exposure to a food allergen through broken skin might prompt the development of food allergy. This theory gained further support from a recent study that found increased prevalence of food allergy if a child had skin infection or eczema in the first year of life. Food allergy occurs in one of every 13 children in the U.S., nearly 6 million, and the incidence is increasing. Why this is happening has been a burning question for the public and researchers alike. The "hygiene hypothesis," which has been proposed to explain the increase of allergies, holds that early exposure to germs impacts the immune system and lowers the risk of allergic disease. However, results published in Allergy and Asthma Proceedings showed that food allergy had less profound associations with hygiene factors -- such as pet exposure -- than asthma. While it is well established in asthma, the hygiene hypothesis has not been thoroughly investigated in food allergy. Read More

Earnings Fall After a Child's Cancer Diagnosis


After a child's cancer diagnosis, parents' income often drops and mothers frequently stop working, a new study finds.  Moreover, the financial effects of a cancer diagnosis can last years, with mothers' earnings dipping significantly more than fathers' pay, the study suggests.  Mothers' incomes fell 21 percent in the first year after a child developed cancer versus 10 percent for fathers, according to the study. "In addition to differences between mothers and fathers, we found that a younger age of parents [and] lower level of education ... were associated with more adverse effects on income," said study author Emma Hoven, of the Karolinska Institute in Sweden. Read More

TRIVIA QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Congratulations to: Ruby Brock, Patsy Ray, Olumide Akerele, Crystal Hubbard and Prahbhjot Malhi who all knew the answer to last week's trivia question.

QUESTION:  According to the latest research published by the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, even after a year on a gluten-free diet, approximately what percent of children with celiac disease continue to have intestinal abnormalities (enteropathy) on repeat biopsies?
ANSWER:  20%
This Week's Question:  Children living in a food desert -- an urban area where it is difficult to buy affordable or good-quality fresh food - have been shown to be at an increased risk of getting what type of health impairment?
If you know the answer, email us at contactus@naset.org by December 5, 2016.  We will acknowledge your correct answer in the next edition of the Week in Review

1 in 7 Young Teens Is a Stalking Victim: Survey


About one out of seven children in 6th and 9th grades has been a victim of stalking, potentially boosting their risk of substance abuse, dating violence and other dangers, a new U.S. survey finds. The research doesn't confirm that being stalked makes it more likely that a teenager will do risky things or become a victim in other ways. But the findings do raise the prospect that stalking among teens is a hazard beyond the fear and danger that it creates. "Teen stalking is a public health issue. A lot of kids are being stalked," said Dennis Reidy, a behavioral scientist with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's division of violence prevention. He is lead author of the study reporting the survey findings. Read More

Imaging Studies Shed Light on Zika's Effects


More details on how the Zika virus affects infants and adults will be presented to international researchers meeting in Chicago next week. Three studies scheduled for presentation at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America attempt to shed light on the mosquito-borne virus that's linked to severe birth defects in babies. Most cases to date have occurred in Latin American countries. In one study, researchers used CT imaging to examine the central nervous system of 16 newborns whose mothers were infected with Zika during pregnancy. The babies were found to have a number of brain abnormalities. Read More

Troubled Preschoolers Not Getting Effective Treatment: Report


Most preschoolers with mood, behavior and social disorders would benefit from non-drug therapies, but few receive this type of help, a leading group of U.S. pediatricians reports.
As many as one in 10 kids younger than 5 years old experiences these kinds of mental health problems, the American Academy of Pediatrics said in a new report. Current evidence supports the use of "family-focused" therapies -- often including parent training -- as a first-line treatment for these children, the AAP reported. Yet mental health stigma, shortages of trained providers and insurance barriers limit access to evidence-based treatment, it said. Read More

Depression in Young People Affects the Stomach, Anxiety the Skin


Mental disorders and physical diseases frequently go hand in hand. For the first time, psychologists at the University of Basel and Ruhr University Bochum have identified temporal patterns in young people: arthritis and diseases of the digestive system are more common after depression, while anxiety disorders tend to be followed by skin diseases. Physical diseases and mental disorders affect a person's quality of life and present a huge challenge for the healthcare system. If physical and mental disorders systematically co-occur from an early age, there is a risk that the sick child or adolescent will suffer from untoward developments. Read More
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Mothers' Early Support Boosts Children's Later Math Achievement



Early math knowledge is as important as early literacy for children's subsequent achievement. In fact, research has shown that early math skills predict later school success better than early reading skills, and can even predict income in adulthood. Yet little research has directly examined how parents' support of early math learning affects children's development of later math skills. Now a new longitudinal study has found that young children whose mothers supported them during play, specifically in their labeling of object quantities, had better math achievement at ages 4-½ and 5 years. Read More

Largest Study of its Kind Finds Rare Genetic Variations Linked to Schizophrenia


Many of the genetic variations that increase risk for schizophrenia are rare, making it difficult to study their role in the disease. To overcome this, the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium, an international team led by Jonathan Sebat, PhD, at University of California San Diego School of Medicine, analyzed the genomes of more than 41,000 people in the largest genome-wide study of its kind to date. Their study, published November 21 in Nature Genetics, reveals several regions of the genome where mutations increase schizophrenia risk between four- and 60-fold. Read More

Musical Training Creates New Brain Connections in Children: May be Useful in Treating Autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)


Taking music lessons increases brain fiber connections in children and may be useful in treating autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), according to a study being presented next week at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). "It's been known that musical instruction benefits children with these disorders," said Pilar Dies-Suarez, M.D., chief radiologist at the Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez in Mexico City, "but this study has given us a better understanding of exactly how the brain changes and where these new fiber connections are occurring." Read More
free IEP

Vitamin D Supplements May Benefit Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder


Studies have shown an association between the risk of autism spectrum disorder and vitamin D insufficiency. In this latest study, 109 children with autism spectrum disorder were randomized to receive four months of vitamin D3 supplementation or a placebo. "Autism symptoms -- such as hyperactivity, social withdrawal, and others -- improved significantly following vitamin D3 supplementation but not after receiving placebo," said Dr. Khaled Saad, lead author of the
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry study. Read More

Physiological Patterns may Assist in Accurate ADHD Diagnosis for Young Adults


Pennsylvania State University researchers have found that ADHD can be diagnosed more precisely by observing the subtle physiological patterns among young people. In a  recent studyit was observed that young adults performing a continuous motor task faced difficulties in restraining a motor response in comparison to their non-ADHD peers. The participants also produced more force during the task compared to the participants without ADHD. ADHD, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder has become a common disorder among children that continues till adulthood. Kristina A. Neely- Assistant professor, Kinesiology noted, many individuals who were labeled ADHD, displayed unique symptoms. "One of the goals of our ADHD research is to discover unique physiological signals that may characterize different subgroups of the disorder" she added. Read More

jobs

LATEST JOB LISTINGS POSTED ON NASET


*Executive Director - The Professional Center for Child Development, seeks applictions for the position of Executive Director. The Professional Center's highly skilled and professional staff provide a range of services to support the growth and development of children including: developmental day school for children with disabilities; early intervention for children from birth to three years old with disabilities or who are at risk; preschool for both children with and without disabilities; play groups; pediatric therapy programs; and regional consultation. To learn more - Click here
*Tenure-Track Assistant Professor in Special Education - The position will be housed in the early childhood education PK-4 program in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, but will also teach special education for the secondary math education program housed in the School of Science. To learn more - Click here
*Special Education Teacher - Teaches in a Level V educational setting, serving children with severe emotional and behavioral disabilities, often accompanied by learning disabilities. The Special Education Teacher is responsible for developing and implementing plans for meeting the educational needs of students and for improving psychosocial development. To learn more - Click here
*Special Education Teacher - Youth Villages' Residential Treatment programs serve children with emotional and behavioral problems.  Our residential campuses provide the setting for an intensive treatment program that combines the unique balance of structure and freedom. To learn more - Click here
*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
*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
*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 - 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
*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

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

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

Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.

Vince Lombardi

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