| New This Week on NASETNASET's The Practical Teacher Series May 2014
Special Education Research: Where to Start?
It's important to use well-grounded research to make decisions regarding children with disabilities. But where to start unraveling the mysteries of the research that's out there? Research isn't something you can take off a shelf and apply blindly to your circumstances. There are many factors to consider before deciding that a specific research approach matches your situation, your students or teachers, your socio-economic setting, your local needs. This issue of NASET's Practical Teacherwill provide you with resources designed as a "Starter Kit" to research in general and the special education field in particular.
To read or download this issue -Click here (login required)
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NASET's Parent Teacher Conference Handout May 2014
What are Orientation and Mobility Services?
Introduction Related services help children with disabilities benefit from their special education by providing extra help and support in needed areas, such as speaking or moving. Related services can include, but are not limited to, any of the following: * speech-language pathology and audiology services * interpreting services * psychological services * physical and occupational therapy * recreation, including therapeutic recreation * early identification and assessment of disabilities in children * counseling services, including rehabilitation counseling * orientation and mobility services * medical services for diagnostic or evaluation purposes * school health services and school nurse services * social work services in schools * parent counseling and training To read or download this issue - Click here (login required)
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| Older Mothers at Higher Risk of Child With Autism, Study Suggests The risk of having a child with autism rises rapidly after women pass age 30, a large new study suggests. Researchers analyzed data from more than 417,000 children born in Sweden between 1984 and 2003. They found that women who gave birth before they were 30 years old had no age-related increased chance of having a child with an autism spectrum disorder. However, the risk of autism among children born to mothers 30 and older increased quickly with the mother's age. The researchers also found that a man's likelihood of fathering a child with autism increases steadily with age throughout his life. To read more,click here |
| At Congressional Hearing, Disability Training Urged For Police The mother of a Maryland man with Down syndrome who died in police custody last year told a U.S. Senate panel this week that the federal government needs to spend more to train law enforcement on how to approach people with disabilities and mental illness. Patti Saylor, whose son, Robert "Ethan" Saylor, died of asphyxiation in January 2013 while handcuffed on the ground in a Frederick County, Md. movie theater, said more should be done to foster relationships between police and advocates for those with disabilities and mental illness, and that departments should be required to maintain crisis intervention teams to handle the interactions. To read more,click here |
| Violent Older Siblings Set Bad Example When older siblings commit violent crimes, their younger siblings are more likely to do the same, a new study suggests. Researchers analyzed databases in Sweden that linked siblings and criminal convictions. They found that older siblings strongly "transmit" the risk for violent crime to younger siblings, while younger siblings are much less likely to have that type of influence on older siblings. The investigators also found that the closer in age siblings are, the greater the risk for transmitting violent behavior, according to the study published online April 28 in the journal Psychological Medicine. To read more,click here |
| Annual Special Education Law Symposium at Lehigh University Lehigh University offers its annual Special Education Law Symposium from June 22 to 27, 2014 on its Bethlehem, PA campus. Featuring experienced attorney presenters from various states and balancing school and parent perspectives, the week-long symposium offers a choice of two tracks: 1) one that addresses the needs of experienced professionals who desire an in depth update by exploring current "hot topics," and 2) an alternate one that addresses the foundational needs of individuals new to special education laws, regulations, and case law. The featured keynote speakers will be Michael Yudin and Dr. Melody Musgrove, respectively the leaders of OSERS and OSEP in the U.S. Department of Education. The symposium separately includes an inaugural ALJ/IHO Institute exclusively for administrative law judges and impartial hearing officers. The symposium concludes with a National Case Law Update by Dr. Perry Zirkel. Registration options are available on a daily basis or for the week, as are graduate and continuing education credit. For program topics, fees, and other information, visit the website: coe.lehigh.edu/law or email or call Shannon Weber or Donna Johnson atspecialedlaw@lehigh.eduor (610) 758-5557 (610) 758-5557. |
|  NASET MEMBER'S BENEFIT - Board Certification in Special Education Available to NASET MembersThrough 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. For more information on Board Certification in Special Education,click here |
| Proposal Would Allow Service Animals In National Parks Service dogs, and in some cases miniature horses, may be welcome in national parks, even when other animals are not. That's according to a National Park Service proposal to update regulations regarding service animals. Officials are seeking public comment through June 17 on the proposed regulations. The National Park Service "protects park resources and visitors by regulating pets and other domestic animals within park areas," the agency says. While service animals are allowed in parks now, the regulations have not been updated in some time. Officials said the agency proposed changes to provide "the broadest possible" accessibility to those with disabilities. To read more,click here |
| By 9 Months, Baby's Visual Learning Kicks In: Study By the time they're 9 months old, babies can use pictures to learn about an object and later recognize the real thing, researchers say. The findings from their study of 30 British babies appear in the journal Child Development. "The study should interest any parent or caregiver who has ever read a picture book with an infant," team leader Jeanne Shinskey, lecturer of psychology at the University of London and adjunct assistant professor of psychology at the University of South Carolina, said in a journal news release. "For parents and educators, these findings suggest that well before their first birthdays and their first words, babies are capable of learning about the real world indirectly from picture books, at least those that have very realistic images like photographs," Shinskey added. To read more,click here |
| New Rules For Disability Caregivers Prompt Changes A new rule from the Obama administration designed to provide better pay and working conditions to 2 million home care workers is forcing many states to rethink how they look at Medicaid payments and may result in higher Medicaid costs. Starting Jan. 1, home care workers in 29 states will, for the first time, be eligible for the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour and overtime pay, under a new regulation from the U.S. Department of Labor. These workers go to homes of the elderly and people with disabilities to help with cooking, bathing and other daily tasks, and are paid by the clients or through Medicaid. To read more,click here |
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| TRIVIA QUESTION OF THE WEEKGuess the answer to this week's trivia question and we'll recognize you in next week's Week in Review.
Congratulations to: Mike Namian, Prahbhjot Malhi, Pamela Downing-Hosten, Ope-Oluwa Olubela, Laurine Kennedy, Olumide Akerele, and Gayle Kelly who all knew the answer to last week's trivia question: An annual ranking of states offering the best services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities revealed a familiar but evolving landscape. The analysis of disability services in all 50 states and the District of Columbia released by United Cerebral Palsy finds top performers spanning the map. In previous years, the best services were largely clustered in the Northeast and West. Which state claimed the number one slot in the ranking for the third year in a row? ARIZONA THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION: According to the latest research in the field, children who have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder are how many times more likely to have language problems than kids without ADHD?
If you know the answer, send an email tocontactus@naset.org
All answers must be submitted no later than Monday, May 12, 2014 at 12:00 p.m. |
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| Dispatcher-Assisted CPR Boosts Cardiac Arrest Survival in Kids: Study The odds of children surviving cardiac arrest are better when emergency dispatchers give bystanders CPR instruction, a new study says. The study also found that survivors were more likely to have good brain function if they received dispatcher-assisted bystander CPR. Researchers analyzed more than 5,000 cases where children -- infants to age 18 -- received CPR after suffering cardiac arrest in a public place or at home. About 2,000 of the children received bystander CPR with a dispatcher's instructions, about 700 received bystander CPR without a dispatcher's help, and nearly 2,300 received no bystander CPR. To read more,click here |
| Graduation Rates Fall Short For Students With Disabilities More Americans are graduating high school than ever before, but students with disabilities remain far behind their typically-developing peers, a new report finds. Nationally, 80 percent of public high school students earned a diploma on time during the 2011-2012 school year, according to data released Monday from the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics. While the number of students with disabilities obtaining diplomas also ticked up that year, just 61 percent of those with special needs graduated, the findings indicate. To read more,click here |
| Seeking Causes of Hyperactivity The 60 trillion cells that comprise our bodies communicate constantly. Information travels when chemical compounds released by some cells are received by receptors in the membrane of another cell. Mice lacking an intracellular trafficking protein called LMTK3, are hyperactive, research shows. Hyperactivity is a behavioral disorder that shows symptoms including restlessness, lack of coordination, and aggressive behavior. Identifying the genetic factors that contribute to such behaviors may help to explain the pathological mechanisms underlying autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, ADHD, in humans.To read more,click here |
| Autism Affects Motor Skills Too Autism affects the development of motor skills in infants and toddlers, and the more severe their disorder, the slower their progress in being able to do things such as grasp objects and move around. That's the finding of a study that assessed more than 150 children between the ages of 12 and 33 months. One hundred and ten youngsters in the study had autism, and 49 children didn't have the disorder. The children with autism were nearly a year behind typical children in fine motor skills, such as holding a spoon or a small toy. The youngsters with autism were also about six months behind in gross motor skills, such as running and jumping, according to the study published in the April issue of the journal Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly. To read more,click here |
| Overlap in Genes Altered in Schizophrenia, Autism, Intellectual Disability New evidence supporting the theory that in at least some cases of schizophrenia, autism and intellectual disability, malfunctions in some of the same genes are contributing to pathology has been released. Schizophrenia is thought to be caused in many instances by gene mutations passed from parents to children, the effects of which may be enhanced by adverse environmental factors. In contrast, de novo mutations, or DNMs, are gene defects in offspring that neither parent possesses. Researchers used these differences as their focus in the new study.To read more,click here |
| NASET MEMBER'S BENEFIT - Group Savings Plus from Liberty MutualAs a member ofNASETyou qualify for a special group discount* on your auto, home, and renter's insurance through Group Savings Plus® from Liberty Mutual. This unique program allows you to purchase high-quality auto, home and renters insurance at low group rates. See for yourself how much money you could save with Liberty Mutual compared to your current insurance provider. For a free, no-obligation quote, call 800-524-9400800-524-9400 or visit www.libertymutual.com/naset,or visit your local sales office.
*Group discounts, other discounts, and credits are available where state laws and regulations allow, and may vary by state. Certain discounts apply to specific coverage only. To the extent permitted by law, applicants are individually underwritten; not all applicants may qualify. Coverage provided and underwritten by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and its affiliates, 175 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA. |
| New Guidelines Aim to Improve Care for Babies with Heart Problems in the Womb Heart experts have developed the first scientific statement on detecting, managing and treating heart abnormalities in the womb. Medicines, fetal procedures, careful monitoring and strategies for delivery room care are improving the health of babies with heart abnormalities from before birth and beyond. Providers should help families overcome anxiety and depression, so they can transition from grief to acceptance and become active members of the team that cares for their baby.To read more,click here |
| Working With Horses May Ease Stress in Kids Working with horses can lower children's levels of stress hormones, which may reduce their risk of physical and mental health problems, a new study suggests. The study involved 130 students in grades 5 to 8 who took part in a 12-week learning program at a riding facility in Washington state. The students spent 90 minutes a week learning about horse behavior, care, grooming, handling, riding and interaction. Saliva samples collected from the children showed that they had significantly lower hormone stress levels after they completed the program, compared to students who did not take part in the program. To read more,click here |
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| Higher Doses of Antidepressants Linked to Suicidal Behavior in Young Patients: Study When prescribing antidepressants for teens and young adults, doctors should not start with high doses of the drugs because it might raise the risk of suicidal behavior, new research suggests. The study, which was published online April 28 in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine, found that younger patients who began treatment with higher-than-recommended doses of antidepressants were more than twice as likely to try to harm themselves as those who were initially treated with the same drugs at lower, recommended doses. "If I were a parent, I definitely wouldn't want my child to start on a higher dose of these drugs," said study author Dr. Matthew Miller, associate director of the Injury Control Research Center at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston. To read more,click here |
| NASET MEMBER'S BENEFIT - Board Certification in Special Education Available to NASET MembersThrough 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. For more information on Board Certification in Special Education,click here |
| Medical Marijuana May Ease Some MS Symptoms, Study Concludes Medical marijuana can help relieve some symptoms of multiple sclerosis, but whether it can benefit patients with other neurological disorders is still unclear, according to a new review by top neurologists. Doctors with the American Academy of Neurology reviewed current research and found certain forms of marijuana -- but not smoked marijuana -- can help treat MS symptoms such as muscle stiffness, certain types of pain and muscle spasms, and overactive bladder. "There are receptors in the brain that respond to marijuana, and the locations of the receptors are in places where you would expect them to help with these symptoms," said Dr. Barbara Koppel, a professor of neurology at New York Medical College in New York City and a fellow of the American Academy of Neurology. To read more,click here |
| Slightly Higher Risk of Birth Defects Seen in Pregnant Women on HIV Drugs Among mothers who take HIV drugs during pregnancy, there is only a slightly increased risk of birth defects for their children, according to a new study. Researchers analyzed data from more than 13,000 children in France born between 1994 and 2010 to HIV-infected mothers who took antiretroviral drugs during pregnancy. Taking the drug zidovudine was associated with a 1.2 percent increased risk for having children with heart defects, while taking efavirenz was associated with a 0.7 percent increased risk for having children with neurological defects, according to the study in the current issue of PLoS Medicine. To read more,click here |
| Overweight Teens Feel Stigmatized, Bullied: Study A new British study finds that overweight teens are likely to feel stigmatized, isolated and even bullied for their size. "The perspectives of young people in the U.K., when synthesized across the spectrum of body sizes, paint a picture of a stigmatizing and abusive social world," researchers from the Institute of Education at the University of London wrote. According to the study, about 20 percent of kids aged 11 to 15 are considered to be obese in the United Kingdom. Researchers found 30 studies that surveyed teens in the United Kingdom (aged 12 to 18) about weight issues. More than 1,400 children -- of all body sizes -- answered the surveys between 1997 and 2010. To read more,click here |
| Honor Society for Special Education Teachers
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| Gastrointestinal Woes More Common in Kids With Autism: Review What many parents of children with autism have long suspected -- that autism and gastrointestinal complaints often go together -- is now supported by a new study. The study, a review of medical research, found that children with autism are more than four times as likely as their typically developing peers to have digestive difficulties such as abdominal pain, diarrhea or constipation. The study authors stress that doesn't mean the gastrointestinal troubles are the cause of autism, as one widely discredited theory has suggested, or that something about the biology of autism causes stomach complaints. To read more,click here |
| Participants Sought for Study Being Conducted by U.S. Department of EducationWe are seeking Special Educators to participate in an interesting study funded by the U.S. Department of Education. Please forward this email to any people or groups you think might be interested in participating. Participants must: - Currently serve at least one student with complex communication needs at any grade level, including early intervention/early childhood special education.
- Be responsible for developing communication-related IEP/IFSP goals for one student, as described above.
- NOT currently use the Communication Matrix to evaluate students
Participants will receive an honorarium ranging from $200-$350 depending on the group they are assigned to. If you are interested in further details about this study, please email cooal@ohsu.edu. Grant #H327A110010 U. S. Dept. of Education Dr. Charity Rowland, P. I. |
| News Coverage of Teen Suicides May Have Ripple Effect Graphic newspaper accounts of a teenager's suicide may play a role in copy-cat cases, a new study suggests. Looking at several dozen teen suicide "clusters" that struck various U.S. communities, researchers found evidence that local newspaper coverage might have contributed in some cases. In general, the study found, the initial suicide in those clusters garnered more newspaper stories -- with more explicit details -- when compared with isolated teen suicides. Experts said the findings do not prove that the newspaper stories were to blame. But the study, reported online May 2 in The Lancet Psychiatry, adds to evidence that certain types of media coverage of a suicide can sometimes create a ripple effect. To read more,click here |
| Altruism May Help Shield Teens From Depression: Study Teens who like to help others may be less likely to develop depression, a new study suggests. The study included 15- and 16-year-olds who were given three types of tasks: give money to others, keep the money for themselves or take financial risks with the hope of earning a reward. The researchers monitored activity levels in a brain area called the ventral striatum, which controls feelings of pleasure linked to rewards. The teens were checked for symptoms of depression at the start of the study and a year later. Activity in the ventral striatum in response to the different types of rewards predicted whether the teens would have an increase or decrease in depression symptoms, according to the study published online recently in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. To read more,click here |
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