Week in Review - January 13, 2017

NASET

WEEK IN REVIEW

National Association of Special Education Teachers
January 13, 2017                                                Vol 13 Issue #2

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

Autism Spectrum Disorder Series


Parental Satisfaction with Autism Services in Schools: A Review of the Literature By Krista Garcia

This edition of NASET's Autism Spectrum Disorder series was written by Krista Garcia. Her paper seeks to explore parental satisfaction with special education services, especially as it is related to Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). She reviews current literature regarding parental satisfaction and takes an in-depth look at the factors influencing parental satisfaction. Finally, the paper provides suggestions to address each of the recurring concerns related to parental satisfaction with special education services. Read More

Parental Obesity Linked to Delays in Child Development, NIH Study Suggests

Children of obese parents may be at risk for developmental delays, according to a study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health. The investigators found that children of obese mothers were more likely to fail tests of fine motor skill - the ability to control movement of small muscles, such as those in the fingers and hands. Children of obese fathers were more likely to fail measures of social competence, and those born to extremely obese couples also were more likely to fail tests of problem solving ability. The study, appearing in Pediatrics, was conducted by scientists at the NIH's Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). "The previous U.S. studies in this area have focused on the mothers' pre- and post-pregnancy weight," said the study's first author, Edwina Yeung, Ph.D., an investigator in NICHD's Division of Intramural Population Health Research. "Our study is one of the few that also includes information about fathers, and our results suggest that dad's weight also has significant influence on child development." Read More

Kids with Concussion Need Vision Check Before Return to School

A new study suggests that children who've had a concussion should undergo comprehensive eye exams to see if they're ready to go back to school. This is especially important, researchers said, for kids who struggle in school. "Concussed children with vision symptoms, hearing disturbances and difficulty concentrating often have academic difficulty post-concussion," said study researcher Dr. Mark Swanson. He's associate professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry. "As we continue to try to improve concussion protocols, specifically when it comes to children, it is important that we understand the effects of a concussion on a child's ability to learn," Swanson said in a university news release. Read More
George Washington Univeristy

Stuttering Linked to Reduced Blood Flow in Area of Brain Associated with Language

A study led by researchers at Children's Hospital Los Angeles demonstrates what lead investigator Bradley Peterson, MD, calls "a critical mass of evidence" of a common underlying lifelong vulnerability in both children and adults who stutter. They discovered that regional cerebral blood flow is reduced in the Broca's area -- the region in the frontal lobe of the brain linked to speech production -- in persons who stutter. More severe stuttering is associated with even greater reductions in blood flow to this region. In addition, a greater abnormality of cerebral blood flow in the posterior language loop, associated with processing words that we hear, correlates with more severe stuttering. This finding suggests that a common pathophysiology throughout the neural "language" loop that connects the frontal and posterior temporal lobe likely contributes to stuttering severity. Read More

New Guidelines Urge Early Intro to Peanut in High-Risk Infants

Babies at increased risk for peanut allergy should have peanut-containing foods added to their diets as early as 4 months of age, new U.S. guidelines suggest. The recommendation comes from the U.S. National Institutes of Health and other expert groups. And it advocates a tactic that might seem counterintuitive: To drastically cut the chances of peanut allergy in high-risk babies, parents should introduce "age-appropriate" forms of peanut products early in life. Researchers said the advice is based on a pivotal clinical trial called LEAP, funded by the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and first published in 2015. That study turned old thinking about peanut allergies on its head. Read More

Metformin Still Best as First Type 2 Diabetes Treatment

Newly updated guidelines reaffirm that metformin is the first-line drug for people with type 2 diabetes, and that several other medications -- including newer ones -- can be added if needed. The recommendations come from the American College of Physicians (ACP). The American Academy of Family Physicians endorsed the new guidelines. The ACP updated the guidelines because of new research into diabetes drugs, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of new diabetes drugs. "Metformin, unless contraindicated, is an effective treatment strategy because it has better effectiveness, is associated with fewer adverse effects, and is cheaper than most other oral medications," ACP president Dr. Nitin Damle said in a college news release. Read More

Board Certification in Special Education Available to NASET Members

AASEP Logo
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

Animal Study Shows Harmful Effects of Secondhand Smoke Even Before Pregnancy

Exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke -- even before conception -- appears to have a lingering impact that can later impair the brain development of a fetus, researchers at Duke Health report. Using rats in experiments carefully designed to mimic the second-hand smoke exposures that humans encounter, the researchers found that the chemical components of tobacco smoke affect fetal brain development throughout pregnancy. The smoke exposure damages regions of the brain involved in learning, memory and emotional responses. Although the impact was most severe with exposures occurring in late gestation, adverse effects on the fetuses' neuro-development occurred even when the mothers were only exposed prior to conception. Read More

New Apps Designed to Reduce Depression, Anxiety as Easily as Checking Your Phone

Soon you can seek mental health advice on your smartphone as quickly as finding a good restaurant. A novel suite of 13 speedy mini-apps called IntelliCare resulted in participants reporting significantly less depression and anxiety by using the apps on their smartphones up to four times a day, reports a new Northwestern Medicine study. The apps offer exercises to de-stress, reduce self-criticism and worrying, methods to help your life feel more meaningful, mantras to highlight your strengths, strategies for a good night's sleep and more. Read More

TRIVIA QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Congratulations to: Tracey Christilles, Patsy Ray, Pamela Downing-Hosten, Olumide Akerele and Laurine Kennedy who knew the answer to last week's trivia question.

QUESTION:
According to the latest research from the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse, is illegal drug use among U.S. teens at an all-time low, all-time high or remaining the same?

ANSWER:  All-time LOW
This week's question:  According to the latest research in the field, families in the United States spend how much time each year providing home health care to their chronically ill or children with disabilities?

If you know the answer, email us at contactus@naset.org by January 16, 2017.  We will acknowledge your correct answer in the next edition of the Week in Review
George Washington Univeristy

Increased Reaction to Stress Linked to Gastrointestinal Issues in Children with Autism

One in 45 American children lives with autism spectrum disorder, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Many of these children also have significant gastrointestinal issues, but the cause of these symptoms is unknown. Now, researchers from the University of Missouri School of Medicine suggest that the gastrointestinal issues in these individuals with autism may be related to an increased reaction to stress. It's a finding the researchers hope could lead to better treatment options for these patients. "We know that it is common for individuals with autism to have a more intense reaction to stress, and some of these patients seem to experience frequent constipation, abdominal pain or other gastrointestinal issues," said David Beversdorf, M.D., associate professor in the departments of radiology, neurology and psychological sciences at MU and the MU Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Read More

Childhood Poverty Can Rob Adults of Psychological Health

A large and growing body of research shows that poor kids grow up to have a host of physical problems as adults. Now add poor psychological health to the list, a Cornell University researcher says. A sweeping new study, conducted by following participants over a 15-year period, is the first to show that childhood poverty can cause significant psychological damage in adulthood. Impoverished children in the study had more antisocial conduct such as aggression and bullying, and increased feeling of helplessness, than kids from middle-income backgrounds, the study said. Poor kids also have more chronic physiological stress and more deficits in short-term spatial memory. Read More

Genes Affecting our Communication Skills Relate to Genes for Schizophrenia and Autism

Researchers studied the genetic overlap between the risk of having these psychiatric disorders and measures of social communicative competence -- the ability to socially engage with other people successfully -- during middle childhood to adolescence. They showed that genes influencing social communication problems during childhood overlap with genes conferring risk for autism, but that this relationship wanes during adolescence. In contrast, genes influencing risk for schizophrenia were most strongly interrelated with genes affecting social competence during later adolescence, in line with the natural history of the disorder. The findings were published in Molecular Psychiatry on 3 January 2017. Read More

Babies Exposed to Stimulation Get Brain Boost

Many new parents still think that babies should develop at their own pace, and that they shouldn't be challenged to do things that they're not yet ready for. Infants should learn to roll around under their own power, without any "helpful" nudges, and they shouldn't support their weight before they can stand or walk on their own. They mustn't be potty trained before they are ready for it. According to neuroscientist Audrey van der Meer, a professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) this mindset can be traced back to the early 1900s, when professionals were convinced that our genes determine who we are, and that child development occurred independently of the stimulation that a baby is exposed to. They believed it was harmful to hasten development, because development would and should happen naturally. Read More

Computers Can Now Spot Autism in People Using Facial Cues

A newly-developed computer algorithm that analyzes facial expressions as well as head movements has recently been developed, which could possibly aid doctors with diagnosing conditions like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism. When it comes to testing for such disorders, experts usually employ standard questionnaires, and look for certain behavioral markers using manual observation of the patient. "These are frequently co-occurring conditions and the visual behaviors that come with them are similar," according to Michel Valstar, one of the research's proponents at the University of Nottingham, UK. Read More

Teen Won't Let Disabilities Keep Him From Radio Appearances -He's There to Talk About Them

"I'm like a reporter. I would bring in stories about people impacting the disability community or people overcoming their disability," Noah White said. "When I come in and do it, I just feel happy that I get to spread an awareness of disability." White, who just turned 13, has been appearing on 680 AM's "Insight on Disability" radio show monthly for the past three years. "He's really enthusiastic, and he keeps me going, actually," host Mike Gerlach said. "We just fell in love with him right away. He's so charismatic, and you can't dislike Noah. He's just one of those kids." White has glaucoma and doctors removed his right eye when he was two years old. Read More

He Climbed Kilimanjaro; Now Helping Others See Beyond Disability

When a hiker says he climbed hand-to-foot up a mountain, it usually just means he had to use his hands to scramble over rocks along the way. But when Dan Berlin climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in November, his hands were tracking his partner's feet up the trail to the 19,341-foot summit of Africa's highest peak. Berlin, who is blind, is used to getting a hand here and there, and lending one himself. His Kilimanjaro climb was just the latest athletic achievement for Berlin and his close-knit team, who have traveled around the world to tackle challenges, encourage kids with disabilities and demonstrate that blindness is just another obstacle to conquer. Read More

Missouri Dooms Countless Children to the School-to-Prison Pipeline

In a move that will likely doom countless children to the school-to-prison pipeline, Missouri will soon charge students who get into fights with felonies. A state statute that went into effect on Jan. 1 will no longer treat fights in schools or buses as a minor offense, regardless of a young person's age or grade. Instead, School Resource Officers (SROs) and local law enforcement will now intervene by arresting and charging them with assault in the third degree- a Class E felony. That type of assault can result in four years of prison time, fines, or probation. Attempts or threats to cause harm will be treated as a Class A misdemeanor, which can lead to a year of prison time. If law enforcement or school officials consider the assaulted person a "special victim," a student can be charged with a Class D felony that comes with a maximum prison term of seven years.  Read More

Why Writing Is So Painful for Kids with ADHD

If ADHD is all about attention, why do children have so much difficulty with reading, writing, and math?  The simple answer to this question is that ADHD is about much more than attention and focus, and it rarely travels alone. In fact, more than half of the children diagnosed with ADHD also have learning or behavioral problems. Behavioral disorders often mask or complicate learning problems. Once we figure out how to help a child with academics, behavior problems usually fade away. Read More

jobs

LATEST JOB LISTINGS POSTED ON NASET


*Project Program Manager - The duties of this position involve the performance of work involving the management or general business operations of projects for CCE and OBRE . The individual in this position will be asked to exercise discretion and independent judgement in project implementation. To learn more - Click here
*Arizona: Special Education Teacher - $46,000/school year (180 days).  Summers off with year round pay.  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
*EdWeek SpecEd Online Career Fair: 1/26 - Join a dynamic recruiting event dedicated to helping you advance your career from the convenience of your home, desk, or smartphone. To learn more - Click here
*ESS Coordinator / Special Education Teachers - Great Hearts Academies is committed to serving the students within our special education population in a manner that reflects and affirms their dignity and rightful participation within the larger student body. To learn more - Click here
*Special Education Teacher - Provide special education services in small community/ies in northwest Alaska. Work with team, complete required paperwork, follow IEPs, assist with assessments. To learn more - Click here
*Head of School - The Morrison School teaches students to master everything from attention problems, language processing disorders, personal or social problems, reading, math, written language, and comprehension deficits. Through a customized curriculum, the faculty and staff also create a challenging learning environment for students with superior intellect and special gifts and talents. To learn more - Click here
*Special Education Teacher - Currently, looking for a Special Education Teacher that wants to join a growing team at New Hope Treatment Center. We specialize in providing an educational experience for residents between 12-21 years of age, whose emotional, mental, or physical disabilities make it difficult for them to learn. To learn more - Click here
*Special Education Department Chair - The primary responsibilities of the department chair are instructional leadership of special education classes and administration of all departmental activities. The department chair is responsible for the supervision of all teachers and education support staff in the special education department. To learn more - Click here
*Head of School for Dallas Academy - Dallas Academy is seeking an enthusiastic and committed Head of School who is knowledgeable in the full spectrum of special education and who possesses a heart for working with families and their children who have these learning differences. To learn more - Click here
*Special Education TeacherAlfred E. Smith CTE High School is seeking multiple Special Education Teachers in all content areas. Positions are for immediate hire or February 2017. 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
*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

If you are an Employer looking for excellent special education staff - Click here for more information
Food For Thought..........
Happiness is not something you postpone for the future; it is something you design for the present.
Jim Rohn
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