NASET

WEEK IN REVIEW

National Association of Special Education Teachers

November 27, 2020                    Vol 16 Issue #48

Dear NASET Members and Guests,

Welcome to NASET's WEEK 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 at news@naset.org. Have a great weekend.

Sincerely,

WHATS NEW AT NASET

NASET's Parent Teacher Conference Handout

Providing Parents with a Variety Of Techniques That Special Education Teachers Use To Accommodate Children With Special Needs In The Classroom

Introduction

There will be times when parents should know the variety of techniques special education teachers use to accommodate children with special needs in the classroom. Providing parents with this information assures them of the effort teachers make every day to help children with special needs learn. This PTCH provide parents with the list of options available to teachers every day that will enhance a child’s ability to learn.

Read More

How Educators are Ensuring Students with Special Needs Don't Fall Behind

With budget cuts, lack of staff, and most schools in our area heading back to virtual learning, how do students with special needs get the care they need amidst a national pandemic? We want to introduce you to someone that has a big heart but day to day just needs a little more help than some of his classmates. Jesus Sanchez is helping us give you a unique look into the daily struggles special education students and parents are facing during this pandemic. "He's very caring. He's very lovable," Alejandra Sanchez, Jesus’s mom said. "He just brings a big joy in and he's, he's our miracle baby. He's very special." 7-year-old Jesus Sanchez always starts his day with a smile on his face. Read More

Inheritance Plays Different Roles in Autism with and without Intellectual Disability

Autism with intellectual disability is less heritable than autism alone, according to a new study of how the conditions run in extended families. About a third of autistic people have intellectual disability (ID) — an intelligence quotient (IQ) of 70 or less. Autistic people with lower IQs are more likely to have spontaneous, or de novo, gene mutations than autistic people with higher IQs, studies show, suggesting that the genetic underpinnings of autism with ID differ from those of autism alone. The new work supports that theory with a different line of evidence, says lead investigator Brian Lee, associate professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Read More

Here's why Police Created a New 'Autism Awareness' Seatbelt Cover

Imagine you're a police officer responding to a car crash. You're trying to communicate and help someone in the car, but they are acting strangely and not communicating or responding as you would expect. Have they been injured? Are they dangerous? Or might they have autism or another disability that impacts their ability to communicate? This is the kind of dilemma that Dighton police are trying to prevent with a new seatbelt cover they've created. The custom cover is meant to help police identify autistic and other communication-impaired people during a car crash so that they will know how to handle the situation properly. "Someone in a car crash or some kind of other traumatic experience — sometimes they're not able to verbally communicate what's going on with them or what their disability is," said Dighton Patrolman Christopher Magan. Read More

Predicting Preterm Births

Predicting preterm birth can be difficult, especially for women who have not given birth. It has long been known that the best predictor of preterm birth is someone who has had a prior preterm birth; however, this information is helpful only in second and subsequent pregnancies. For women in their first pregnancy, it is a challenge for obstetricians and midwives to advise them on their risks. To address this issue, researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital studied how family history can predict preterm birth. Their findings were published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. "This is a retrospective study of prospective data," said Dr. Kjersti Aagaard, professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Baylor and Texas Children's Hospital. "We developed a biobank and data repository called PeriBank where we consistently asked our pregnant patients a set of questions about their familial history. We were able to take that detailed data and determine if that specific woman's family history did or did not predict her delivering preterm." Read More

Understanding Lung Infections for Individuals with Cystic Fibrosis

For young people with cystic fibrosis, lung infection with Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA, is common and is treated with antibiotics in the hope that this will prevent a decline in lung function. However there has recently been debate over the role S. aureus plays in CF lung disease. Researchers from the University of Warwick have used a new model of CF lungs which could be used to make better decisions about future use of antibiotics. S. aureus is commonly found on the skin of healthy people, it can cause lung infection and abscess, and is often present in the mucus and sputum of children with cystic fibrosis. When S. aureus -- including the antibiotic-resistant form, MRSA -- is found in people with CF, it is treated with antibiotics, but exactly how S. aureus affects the lungs in people with this condition is unknown. Read More

Loneliness in Youth Could Impact Mental Health Over the Long Term

The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated widespread social isolation, affecting all ages of global society. A new rapid review in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (JAACAP), published by Elsevier, reports on the available evidence about children and young people specifically, stating that loneliness is associated with mental health problems, including depression and anxiety-potentially affecting them years later. The review, which synthesizes over 60 pre-existing, peer-reviewed studies on topics spanning isolation, loneliness and mental health for young people aged between 4 and 21 years of age, found extensive evidence of an association between loneliness and an increased risk of mental health problems for children and young people. Read More

Up, Up and Away — Except for Those with Disabilities

The airline industry needs to get up to speed when it comes to removing barriers that impact travelers who have disabilities. The problems have ranged from a dearth of handicapped-accessible bathrooms to “cargo” weight limits that are so low that standard-model motorized wheelchairs can’t comply. It took years of protest, pressure and politicking to put in place the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. And though the law made it illegal to discriminate against people with disabilities in terms of access to transportation (as well as employment opportunities, public accommodations, communications and government activities), the fact remains that it is often more difficult — if not impossible — for travelers with disabilities to, well, travel. Read More

People with Developmental Disabilities are at Greater Risk of Dying of COVID-19 According to New Studies

People with intellectual disabilities have the third-highest risk of covid-19 death according to a study from John Hopkins. There are many possible factors in play here including underlying health problems, economic and social factors that may account for the higher risk. “It ends up being that it represents just what it says, extra risk,” said Leisa Alger, ABLE2 Executive Director. “We have to take precautions to make sure that we are controlling as much as possible against the virus entering our population.” The pandemic has taken a toll on many people with disabilities. Alger says that tools like video chatting has been helpful for many but isn’t as inclusive to all. Read More

How Disability Diversity in the Workplace can Improve Productivity

Three words are ever-present in business right now: diversity, equity and inclusion. For businesses across industries, there is pressing customer demand for companies and leaders to take a stand on these issues and act on their promises. Although much of the recent focus has been on issues of race and gender inequality, people with disabilities are also part of the DEI discussion. They face many barriers to employment, such as negative attitudes and beliefs from other people, exclusionary hiring practice and a lack of technical assistance on the job. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the participation rate of people with disabilities in the workplace is 20.6%, compared to 68.6% for those without disabilities. Read More

4 Ways COVID-19 Could Alter Long-Term Curricular Approaches

The largest group to remain remote when Palacios Independent School District reopened this fall in Texas? High school seniors. That opened the eyes of Superintendent Bill Chapman, who knew many 12th graders worked jobs — even full time — and are sometimes the main breadwinners for their families. He realized allowing them to stay remote also let them to stay in school. And they were the most successful of all students who remained virtual, he said. “That may change the way we educate our students,” Chapman told Education Dive. “Are we doing what’s best for kids by sticking them in the classroom all day long when the whole goal as a school is to provide a chance for kids to become contributing members of society?” Read More

Congratulations to: Karen Frantz-Fry, Olumide Akerele, Latorrya Buie, Melody Owens, Mariola Papa, Stephanie Jenkins, Cindi Maurice, Laurie D'Amico, Patsy Ray, Susan Mason, and Wendy Stein who all knew the answer to last week's trivia question:

According to a study recently published in The Journal of Nutrition (reported in NASET’s 11-13-20 Week in Review), mothers' specific vitamin levels during pregnancy were associated with their children's IQ, suggesting that higher vitamin levels of this type in pregnancy may lead to greater childhood IQ scores. What was the vitamin being referred to addressing these results?

Answer: VITAMIN D

This Week's Trivia Question: Federal reports have shown that the prevalence of gifted children in the school population varies according to state and local determinations of what actually constitutes giftedness. Eligibility requirements for a child to get into gifted programs can differ based on where the child lives and goes to school. According to the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights, what percent of public school students are enrolled in gifted and talented programs throughout the United States?

If you know the answer to this week's trivia questions, email it to us at contactus@naset.org by December 1, 2020. If you are correct, you will be acknowledged in next week's NASET's Week in Review

Pay Boost Attracts More Special Education Teachers in Hawaii

The teacher shortage eased in Hawaii’s public schools this fall, propelled in part by a $10,000 annual pay boost for special-education teachers that went into effect in January. The number of teacher vacancies in special education dropped to 69 as of Oct. 1 from 112 a year earlier, out of 2,180 positions, according to the Department of Education. The vacancies are filled by emergency hires who are not fully qualified. Cynthia Covell, assistant superintendent for the Office of Talent Management, shared the numbers in response to a question about the impact of the pay differential at a briefing Tuesday held by the House Lower and Higher Education Committee on school reopening plans. Read More

Students with Special Needs Experience Different Frustrations with Pandemic

The pandemic has created lots of problems, including with special needs students who might experience a frustration the rest of us cannot. Thirteen-year-old Jesse Clark, who attends Haughton Middle School, is having a tough time coping with some of the dictates of the pandemic, and so is his family. “It’s a really big deal for me and other special needs kids,” said Jesse. Clark is on the autism spectrum and the tenets of the coronavirus pandemic — social distancing, mask mandates, no physical interaction with friends—is causing problems. “Anxiety takes control quite often,” said Dolores Clark, Jesse’s mother.” He has a lot of difficulty adjusting to change.” “One thing we know with autistic children is, they need structure,” said Sheila Davis, a licensed professional counselor. “They need to have the structure. A lot of them like to have everything the same all the time.” Read More

Maternal Use of Anti-Seizure Drugs, Risk of Autism and ADHD in Offspring

Maternal use of valproic acid during pregnancy may increase the risk for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children, while lamotrigine did not present such risks, according to study results published in Neurology. Previous studies reported an increased risk for adverse birth outcomes associated with anti-seizure medication use during pregnancy. The objective of the current study was to assess the risk for ASD and ADHD in children born to mothers who used anti-seizure medications during pregnancy. Read More

Children with a Migration Background Often Misdiagnosed as Having an 'Impairment of Language Acquisition

Around 45% of children in Austrian day nurseries have a first language other than German. Those who our experiencing difficulty in learning the second language are often diagnosed as having a suspected "impairment of language acquisition." In fact, this often merely reflects the fact that they have not yet fully acquired the second language. A research team of linguists led by Brigitte Eisenwort from the "Outpatient clinic for children with suspected language acquisition impairments" at MedUni Vienna's Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine has now investigated the problem in the context of a case study. This study applied the "Vienna Model," which incorporates medical students who are native speakers of the child's first language to facilitate more accurate diagnosis. The study has now been published in the journal Neuropsychiatrie. Read More

Education Matters: Managing Special Education and Distance Learning

Special education teachers say distance learning poses many challenges in teaching students with special needs. However, the Office of the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools has returned many special education students to the classroom so they can continue their education. “When you communicate, 70% is how you do it, 30% is the words you said so yea it’s a unique challenge,” said Deaf and Hard of Hearing Teacher Anthony Davis. “Having them in the classroom definitely helps.” In mid-October, the Office of the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools brought many of their special education students back on campuses. “We have over 75 classrooms that we operate throughout Fresno County, and all of them are back up and running in very small numbers,” said Director of Special Education Christina Borges. Read More

JOB POSTINGS

* Assistant Professor; Collaborative Special Ed - The University of North Alabama invites applications for the position of tenure-track, Assistant Professor in the Department of Teaching, Learning, & Leadership. Qualifications include: an earned doctorate in special education; a minimum of three years of successful public school experience with students who have either mild, moderate, or severe disabilities in grades K-6, 6-12, or K-12; demonstrated university teaching experience to teach undergraduate courses required for a dual K-6 certification in elementary and special education, along with online graduate courses; excellent verbal and writing skills; the ability to advise teacher education candidates; and the ability to work with P-12 students as well as P-12 schools and administrators. To learn more - Click here

* Educational Instructional Support Specialists - The Collaborative for Educational Services (CES) is seeking Educational Instructional Support Specialists to assist with onsite coordination of hybrid and/or remote teaching and learning. The Specialist will provide structure, onsite support and the connection to teachers as needed.  The Specialist's purpose is to make sure that students have what they need in order to actively, and successfully engage with their learning when done via remote instruction, or through a combination of in person and on-line (hybrid) programming. To learn more- Click here

* FT Special Education Teachers, (K-4, 5-8, 9-12) - PA Virtual has openings for Full Time Special Education Teachers at the Elementary, Middle and High School Levels. All teaching positions are remote and we require candidates to have a current, valid certification to teach in the state of Pennsylvania. The Teacher position is responsible for the planning, organization and implementation of an appropriate instructional program, in an elementary or secondary virtual learning environment. To learn more - Click here

* Special Education Teacher - A local school district in Charleston, SC has partnered with an industry leading healthcare job placement agency, to fill several vacant Special Education Teacher positions in Charleston, SC for the entire 2020-21 School Year. The Special Education Teacher is responsible for planning, coordinating and the provision of special education services to eligible students. This position assures adherence to timelines and federal and state requirements for special education services and the responsibility for monitoring compliance with Individualized Services Plans (ISP) and/or Individualized Education Plan (IEP). To learn more - Click here

* Special Education Teacher - Merakey is seeking a Special Education Teacher to join our Education Services within our Children's and Family division in our school in Chambersburg PA for the 2020-2021 school year. The Merakey Children's and Family Division focuses on a continuum of care throughout the lifespan. The core, fundamental principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) are incorporated into a specialized approach across all service offerings. To learn more - Click here

* Special Education (Autism) PreK-4  - General responsibilities indlude aiding each student consistent with his or her abilities and educational needs. Develop competence in the basic learning skills, progress on the basis of achievement, and to qualify for further education and/or employment. To learn more - Click here

* Virtual Special Education Teacher Positions - K12 believes in education for everyone. We provide families an online option for a high-quality, personalized education experience. Students can thrive, find their passion, and learn in an environment that encourages discovery at their own pace. In support of this, we are committed to creating and maintaining a culture of inclusion and diversity. To learn more - Click here

* Special Education Teacher - $60,000/school year (185 days), summers off with year-round pay and year round appreciation. 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). STARS is the largest school contract agency in AZ. STARS is owned and operated by Occupational Therapists. You will be an employee and receive full benefits - To learn more - Click here

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

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Sometimes it’s not the strength but gentleness that cracks the hardest shells.

Richard Paul Evan