| New This Week on NASET IEP Components Series Issue #19 Barriers to Full Participation in the IEP Process: A Literature Review
By Olga M. Torguet Florida International University
This issue ofNASET'sIEP Componentseries was written by Olga M. Torguet from Florida International University. Her article focuses on the barriers to full participation in the IEP Process. To advocate for their children and make informed educational decisions, parents must be able to understand the information presented at Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of 1997 legally mandated that students 14 and older be invited to participate in IEP meetings. As a means to better understand parents' and students' passive participation during these meetings, I analyzed current literature related to barriers that inhibit their full participation in the IEP process. Two studies were identified related to the readability of Procedural Safeguard documents provided by states department of education. Eight published articles were dissected to identify the reasons for the inactive involvement of parents and students. Overall arguments that emerged repeatedly across all articles concerned the inability to advocate due to the high readability level of parents' rights documents, jargon utilized in meetings, and lack of understanding of system procedures and policies.
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NASET's HOW TO Series January 2016 How to Adapt the Classroom Environment
General Positive Environment Adaptations
When positioning the student in the classroom consider the following: _____seat at front/back of room. _____seat away from noises (e.g., lights, street, hall, computers). _____use carrel/screens. _____seat with back to window. _____locate student near teacher. _____change lighting (light on desk, back to window).
&NASET's How to Series How to Supervise Paraprofessionals in your Classroom
Supervision is one of those words that by definition and common use is assumed to be consistent and constant. Yet when actually put into practice, supervision strategies differ greatly from one program to another. Most classroom teachers have experienced supervision in the form of an administrator sitting through a pre-arranged observation, providing written and verbal feedback, and then returning at a later date to repeat the process. Many other educational professionals have experienced supervisory practices that have included coaching, instructional dialogues, and even instructional modeling. The educators who mentor or supervise paraprofessionals share invaluable knowledge and skills and build an effective partnership with shared power, clear mutual expectations, and open communication.
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| Study Ties Autism Risk to Prenatal Exposure to Asthma DrugsChildren whose mothers took certain asthma drugs during pregnancy may have a slightly increased risk of autism, a new study suggests. The study, published online Jan. 6 in Pediatrics, found a connection between autism risk and prenatal exposure to drugs called beta-agonists. They are most often used to control asthma, and include inhaled medications such as albuterol, salmeterol (Serevent) and formoterol (Foradil). Researchers said the findings do not prove cause and effect, and stressed that women with asthma should not simply abandon their medication during pregnancy. "Uncontrolled asthma in pregnancy has been associated with poor birth outcomes, such as preterm birth, low birth weight and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit," said lead researcher Nicole Gidaya, of Drexel University, in Philadelphia. 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 |
| Judge Approves Shift Away From Sheltered WorkshopsA settlement in a first-of-its-kind lawsuit is set to reshape a state-run employment program for people with disabilities that has been heavily dependent on sheltered workshops. Under an agreement finalized just before the new year, 1,115 Oregon residents with disabilities who are employed in sheltered workshops will receive jobs in the community that pay at least minimum wage over the next seven years. An additional 7,000 individuals with disabilities in the state - including 4,900 between the ages of 14 and 24 - will receive employment services so that they will have an opportunity to obtain traditional jobs. To read more,click here |
| No Link Between 'the Pill' and Birth Defects: StudyBecoming pregnant while taking birth control pills doesn't seem to increase the risk of birth defects, a new study suggests. Researchers found similar rates of birth defects -- about 25 infants out of 1,000 -- among women who never used birth control pills and those who took them before pregnancy or took them before realizing they were pregnant. "Women who become pregnant either soon after stopping oral contraceptives, or even while taking them, should know that this exposure is unlikely to cause the fetus to develop a birth defect," said lead researcher Brittany Charlton. "This should reassure women as well as their doctors," said Charlton, an instructor in the department of epidemiology at Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston. To read more,click here |
| Clinton Unveils Plan to Increase Autism ServicesPresidential hopeful Hillary Clinton wants to expand autism insurance coverage and job opportunities for those on the spectrum while curtailing the use of restraint and seclusion. The steps are part of a broad plan to address the needs of the nation's growing number of children and adults with autism that the Democratic presidential candidate unveiled Tuesday while campaigning in Iowa. "Too many American families are staying up at night worrying about their family members, especially children, who are living with autism. There is more we can do," Clinton said in a statement. 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: Prahbhjot Malhi, Olumide Akerele, Pamela Downing-Hosten and Rena Root who all knew the answer to last week's trivia question: According to a panel of U.S. ophthalmology experts, children who spend lots of time indoors and on computers and other electronic devices may be raising their risk for what eye condition? ANSWER: NEARSIGHTEDNESS THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION: Some children with severe anxiety or emotional and behavioral disorders suffer froman impulse control disorder characterized by the compulsive urge to pull out their hair, leading to hair loss and balding, distress, and social or functional impairment. What is this self-induced hair pulling called? If you know the answer, send an email tocontactus@naset.org
All answers must be submitted no later than Monday, January 18, 2016 at 12:00 p.m. |
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| Mouse Study May Offer Clues to Mysteries of SchizophreniaResults of experiments with mice may help shed light on some of the harder-to-treat symptoms of schizophrenia in humans, a new study suggests. Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness that affects about one in every 100 adults worldwide, according to background notes with the study. Researchers at Columbia University Medical Center in New York City found that the loss of certain cells in a previously unexplored area of the brain's memory center may be linked with the disabling disease. Specifically, the investigators said a decrease in the number of so-called inhibitory neurons in a tiny area of the hippocampus may play a role in stubborn symptoms such as social withdrawal, low levels of motivation and emotional problems. To read more,click here |
| Schools Cited for Widespread ADA ViolationsFederal officials are demanding action after an investigation revealed that the vast majority of elementary schools in the nation's largest district are inaccessible to students with disabilities. A two-year inquiry by the office of U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara found that 83 percent of elementary schools in New York City are not "fully accessible." Moreover, in swaths of the city that serve more than 50,000 elementary school students, there is not a single school that meets accessibility requirements. Accordingly, Bharara said numerous kids with disabilities are left with no option to attend their neighborhood school. To read more,click here |
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| Brain Wiring Changes Might Help Guard Against Bipolar DisorderNaturally occurring brain wiring changes might help prevent bipolar disorder in people who have a high genetic risk for the mental illness, a new study suggests. The discovery about these brain wiring changes could help efforts to develop better treatments for the disorder, according to Mount Sinai Hospital researchers in New York City. People with bipolar disorder experience severe swings in mood, energy and activity levels, and the ability to perform daily tasks. Genetics are a major risk factor, and people with a parent or sibling with bipolar disorder are much more likely to develop it than those with no family history of the mental illness. To read more,click here |
| NASET Member Looking for Content Expert for DissertationMy name is Lisa Rutner and I am looking for a content expert for my dissertation. I am a student at Grand Canyon University and have already attended my first residency. My topic is: Exploring strategies middle school teachers need to implement the Multi-tiered Support System with fidelity. Please contact me at 954-288-6627 954-288-6627 or lisa.rutner@marion.k12.fl.us. Thank you |
| Report: Home Care Workers Need Better ProtectionsA lack of oversight in the rapidly growing home care workforce could undermine new wage and labor gains for many of the nation's 2 million workers, according to a new report. Private agencies employ the vast majority of home care workers, who provide services that are largely paid for by Medicare, Medicaid and other federal and state programs. But the companies are poorly regulated, which could hamper the enforcement of new labor standards, said the National Employment Law Project (NELP), a labor advocacy group. To read more,click here |
| NASET - Members Only SavingsNASET is pleased to provide our members with exclusive access to discounts on products and services. These savings are available to all currentNASETmembers. To find out more about savings from Life Lock, Avis, Budget, Cruises Only, Orlando Vacations and more -Click here |
| Kids Born Through IVF Show No Higher Risk for Developmental Delays: StudyPreschoolers who were conceived through fertility treatments don't seem to have any special risk of developmental delays, a new study suggests. The researchers said the findings, published online Jan. 4 in the journal JAMA Pediatrics, should be reassuring to the growing number of U.S. couples seeking help with infertility. There have long been lingering concerns about the development of children conceived through infertility treatment, explained study author Edwina Yeung, a researcher at the U.S. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. To read more,click here |
| Fliers with Disabilities Could See Airline Changes in FutureFederal airline regulators are taking steps to improve service for passengers with disabilities. The U.S. Department of Transportation said it was looking at ways to, among other things, ensure that fliers with disabilities have better access to in-flight entertainment and to bathrooms on single-aisle airplanes. The department, in a Dec. 7 positing in the Federal Register about service for people with disabilities, noted "the industry trend toward greater use of single-aisle aircraft that are not equipped with accessible" bathrooms on mid-length and longer flights. To read more,click here |
| How You Can Protect Your Children From Brain InjuryThere are a number of things parents and coaches can do to protect young athletes -- and non-athletes -- from a concussion, an expert says. Children should wear a helmet when appropriate, advised Dr. Kathleen Bell, co-director of the Texas Institute for Brain Injury and Repair, and chairwoman of physical medicine and rehabilitation at UT Southwestern Medical Center. "Even at the youngest ages, football players wear helmets," she said in a center news release. "Ironically, however, football players do not suffer the most concussions. Increasingly today, bicyclists and skateboard riders are being seen in hospital ERs for concussions. While wearing a helmet does not guarantee prevention of a concussion, doing so can help minimize injury," Bell added. To read more,click here |
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| Antidepressants May Cause Birth Defects, but not ADHD, AutismTreating women with depression and related conditions during pregnancy is important for both the mother and baby. Recent studies into the effects of antidepressants on babies, before and after they are born, have been inconsistent, however. Two studies out this week show that while there is no increased risk for autism or attention deficit hyperactive disorder, at least one drug used for depression -- paroxetine, or Paxil -- can increase the risk for heart defects if taken during the first trimester. To read more,click here |
| In Connecticut, Need Rising for Special EducationThe special education student population in the state is rising, even though the total public school population is on the decline. State officials don't know why that's happening, but they say they are working to make sure students are correctly identified and are showing academic growth regardless of the label assigned to them. The change has some state officials worried, because compliance on special education generally falls on them to enforce. To read more,click here |
| Wheelchair Advocate Claims Statue of Liberty Ferry Violates Disabilities LawOne of New York City's most beloved tourist attractions - the ferry ride to the Statue of Liberty - is a nightmare for people in wheelchairs, a disability rights group says. The United Spinal Association slammed Statue Cruises, which shuttles millions of tourists to Liberty and Ellis islands each year, for failing to live up to the Americans With Disabilities Act, the landmark anti-discrimination law. In a letter to the National Park Service, which gave Statue Cruises a 10-year contract to operate ferry services in 2008, Jim Weisman, president of the United Spinal Association, calls the accommodations "dangerous and inaccessible." To read more,click here |
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| Overweight Young People Can Avoid Diabetes Risk if They Lose Weight Early EnoughObese young people can still turn their chances of developing life threatening illness around if they change before middle age, says new research. The study looked at the body mass index (BMI) of people when they were young and compared it to when they were middle aged to see whether it affected their risk of heart attack, stroke or diabetes. Men who had high BMI levels at 21, but had lowered their BMI by the time they were 50, had similar or lower rates of diabetes as people who were normal weight when younger, the results showed. To read more,click here |
| Pediatric Sickle Cell Study Stopped Early Due to Positive Results"It was a privilege to be a part of this well-designed and executed study. Russell Ware presented the results at the ASH meeting, and 18 years ago, almost to the day, I presented the STOP study results to the same meeting," said Robert J. Adams, M.D., study principal investigator, MUSC professor of neurosciences and director of the South Carolina Stroke Center of Economic Excellence. "That study showed how effective transcranial Doppler risk stratification, followed by regular red cell transfusions in those with high risk blood flow, can be in the prevention of stroke in these children. This became known as the STOP protocol and its wide adoption has been associated with a sharp drop in ischemic strokes in children with sickle cell disease. The drawback of indefinite transfusions however, was a limitation to wider use of the STOP protocol. This study shows that some children can be moved from transfusion to medication after at least a year. The combined understanding and evidence from these two studies brings us closer to achieving the National Institutes' goal of a 'stroke free generation' in sickle cell disease." To read more,click here |
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