Week in Review - March 2, 2012

WEEK IN REVIEW

New NASET Publications and Articles of Interest in Special Education and Disabilities That Were Reported This Week

March 2, 2012 - Vol 8, Issue 9

 

 

Find us on Facebook 

 

Forward this issue to a Friend

 

Join Our Mailing List!

 

In This Issue

TRIVIA QUESTION OF THE WEEK

 
Quick Links
Read Week in Review on NASET -Click Here

 

Renew Your Membership on NASET -Click Here  (login required)

 

 NASET Resources - Click Here

 

NASET e-Publications - Click Here

 

Forgot your User Name or Password? - Click Here

 

Update/Manage Your Member Profile - Click Here (login required)

 
 

Dear NASET News,

Welcome to NASET's WEEK 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 atnews@naset.org. Have a great weekend.
 
Sincerely,


NASET News Team

 
AASEP Logo

NASET MEMBER'S BENEFIT -

Board Certification in Special Education Available toNASET Members

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.  

 

For more information on Board Certification in Special Education, click here
 
New This Week on NASET - Special Educator e-Journal,  Q&A Corner #48 & Resource Review for February 2012

Special Educator e-Journal

MARCH 2012

In This Issue:

Update from the U.S. Department of Education
Calls to Participate and New Projects
Special Education Resources
Update From The National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities
Latest Employment Opportunities Posted on NASET
Upcoming Conferences and Events
Funding Forecast and Award Opportunities 

To read or download this issue - Click here  (login required)
______________________________________________________

Q&A Corner #48


Charter Schools

Charter schools are fairly new in public education, and they've generated a lot of interest and inquiry. For many families and educators, charter schools offer more options for how students will be educated. For others, charter schools are confusing- Why, for example, are some charter schools not open for enrollment to students who live nearby? And what about student with disabilities? May they go to charter schools? If so, is special education available in charter schools? This issue of NASET's Q&A Corner answers commonly asked questions that families and educators of students with disabilities have about charter schools. It also offers links to state-specific resources that can help you better understand how charter schools work in your individual state.
 
To read or download this issue - Click here  (login required)
______________________________________________________

February Resource Review

 
In this issue you will see topics on: 
  • Autism
  • Brain Based Learning
  • Bullying
  • Careers and/or College Readiness
  • Early Intervention
  • Family and Communities
  • Inclusion
  • Mental Health
  • Study Skills
  • Survey Participation
  • Transition Services
  • Teacher Burnout
  • Travel Training

 

To read or download this issue - Click here  (login required)

 

Preemies: Novel Feeding Device May Decrease Risk of Failure to Thrive

A novel feeding device developed at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing may decrease the risk of failure to thrive (FTT), which currently affects half of all newborns with congenital heart defects even after their surgical lesions are corrected. Professor and nurse practitioner Barbara Medoff-Cooper, PhD, CRNP, of Penn Nursing invented a device that analyzes an infant's ability to organize feeding by sucking, swallowing, and breathing effectively. This device, developed in collaboration with Penn bioengineers, allows healthcare professionals to assess infants at risk for dysfunctional feeding and poor weight gain as often seen in both premature infants and infants with complex congenital heart disease. The data also can be correlated with growth or developmental problems that may occur during the first year of life. To read more, click here

 

Did You Know That....

Meningitis is a disease caused by the inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord known as the meninges. The inflammation is usually caused by an infection of the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Meningitis is also referred to as spinal meningitis.
 

Medications for Autism Not Well Understood

Children with autism may benefit from medications to treat children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and other related disorders, but clearer guidelines are needed, a new study shows. Researchers analyzed data from more than 1,000 U.S. teens enrolled in special education programs, to assess the use of psychiatric medications in those with autism, ADHD and both conditions. Patients with both autism and ADHD had the highest rates of medicine use (about 58 percent), followed by those with ADHD only (around 49 percent) and those with autism only (about 34 percent), according to study author Paul Shattuck, an assistant professor at Washington University in St. Louis, and colleagues. To read more, click here

 

AASEP Logo

NASET MEMBER'S BENEFIT -

Board Certification in Special Education Available to NASET Members

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.  

 

For more information on Board Certification in Special Education, click here
 

New Brain Connections Form in Clusters During Learning

New connections between brain cells emerge in clusters in the brain as animals learn to perform a new task, according to a study published in Nature on February 19 (advance online publication). Led by researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz, the study reveals details of how brain circuits are rewired during the formation of new motor memories. The researchers studied mice as they learned new behaviors, such as reaching through a slot to get a seed. They observed changes in the motor cortex, the brain layer that controls muscle movements, during the learning process. Specifically, they followed the growth of new "dendritic spines," structures that form the connections (synapses) between nerve cells. To read more,click here

 

Home-Visit Program May Improve Child's Asthma

A home-visit program for children with asthma reduced hospitalizations and emergency department visits, improved patient outcomes and saved $1.46 for every dollar spent, according to a new study. Researchers examined the impact of the Community Asthma Initiative, a community-based asthma care program for low-income families, developed and implemented in 2005 by a team at Children's Hospital Boston. The program includes nurse case management and care coordination combined with home visits by a nurse or community health worker to educate families about asthma, assess the home for asthma triggers, and provide materials and services to reduce asthma attacks, such as HEPA vacuums (which have high-efficiency air filters), special bedding covers and pest control. To read more, click here

 

NASET Sponsor - Mayer-Johnson

 MJ-2-2012

To learn more - Click here
 

Did You Know That....

Meningitis may develop in response to a number of causes, usually bacteria or viruses, but meningitis can also be caused by physical injury, cancer or certain drugs.
 

New Treatment for Traumatic Brain Injury Shows Promise in Animals

A new drug is showing promise in shielding against the harmful effects of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in rats, according to a study that was just released and will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 64th Annual Meeting in New Orleans April 21 to April 28, 2012. "There are currently no primary treatments for TBI, so this research provides hope that effective treatments can be developed," said study author Michael Kaufman, a second year medical student at Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit and a member of the American Academy of Neurology. The principal investigator on the study is Christian Kreipke, MD, also with Wayne State University School of Medicine. To read more, click here

 

TRIVIA QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Guess the answer to this week's trivia question and we'll recognize you in next week's Week in Review.
 
Congratulations to:
Cindy Pittman, Kay Hennes, Jaqueline Rodriguez, Lois Nembhard, Rebecca Birrenkott, Olumide Akerele, Marlene Damery, Suzann Armitage, Olivia Strozier, Bob Heimbaugh, Marilyn Haile, Jugraj Kaur, Michelle Flammia, Stacey Slintak, Jessica L. Ulmer, Alexandra Pirard, Ann Blaido, Deanna Krieg, Merril Bruce, Craig Pate, Catherine Cardenas, Pattie Komons, Victoria Eversole,  
 
 

Anne Colborn, Tina Theuerkauf who all knew that John F. Kennedy was the first President of the United States to form a Presidential Panel on Mental Retardation

 
THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION: 
What court case in the early 1970s was the first one to note that cost of services would not be a defense for denying services to students with disabilities (Stating: "Insufficient  resources may not be the basis for exclusion")?
 
If you know the answer, send an email to contactus@naset.org 
All answers must be submitted no later than Monday, March 5, 2012 at 12:00 p.m.

 

Blood Test Detects Down Syndrome During Pregnancy

A second company reports that it has developed a prenatal blood test to detect Down syndrome, potentially providing yet another option for pregnant women who want to know whether their unborn child has the condition. Last fall, Sequenom Inc. announced that it was making a prenatal Down syndrome blood test, available in 20 cities in the United States. It marked the first time that pregnant women could undergo a Down syndrome test without having to go through amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling, which are invasive and pose a small risk of miscarriage. Now, two studies published online Feb. 21 and in the April print issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology suggest that another blood test, this one developed by Aria Diagnostics, can detect Down syndrome and a genetic disorder known as Edwards syndrome, which can cause severe birth defects and is often fatal. In both studies, testing was conducted before 20 weeks gestation. To read more, click here

 

Cocaine and the Teen Brain: New Insights Into Addiction

When first exposed to cocaine, the adolescent brain launches a strong defensive reaction designed to minimize the drug's effects, Yale and other scientists have found. Now two new studies by a Yale team identify key genes that regulate this response and show that interfering with this reaction dramatically increases a mouse's sensitivity to cocaine. The findings may help explain why risk of drug abuse and addiction increase so dramatically when cocaine use begins during teenage years. The results were published in the Feb. 14 and Feb. 21 issues of the Journal of Neuroscience. To read more, click here

 

Toddlers With Angry Parents May Have More Temper Tantrums

Toddlers are more likely to become easily upset and act out if their parents anger quickly and overreact to their children's behavior, according to a new study involving adopted youngsters. Researchers looked at the behavior of adopted children aged 9 months, 18 months and 27 months and their adoptive parents in 361 families in 10 states. Researchers also analyzed genetic data from the children and their birth parents. The study found that adoptive parents who had a tendency to overreact were quick to anger when toddlers made mistakes or tested age-appropriate limits. The children of these parents acted out or had more temper tantrums than normal for their age. To read more, click here

 

 

NASET MEMBER'S BENEFIT -

Group Savings Plus from Liberty Mutual

Liberty Mutual Savings
As a member of NASET you 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 800-524-9400 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.

 

Scientists Create Potent Molecules Aimed at Treating Muscular Dystrophy

While RNA is an appealing drug target, small molecules that can actually affect its function have rarely been found. But now scientists from the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute have for the first time designed a series of small molecules that act against an RNA defect directly responsible for the most common form of adult-onset muscular dystrophy. In two related studies published recently in online-before-print editions of Journal of the American Chemical Society and ACS Chemical Biology, the scientists show that these novel compounds significantly improve a number of biological defects associated with myotonic dystrophy type 1 in both cell culture and animal models. To read more, click here

 

Study: No Significant Rise in Seizure Risk From Common Kids' Vaccine

Children who receive a combination vaccine known as DTaP-IPV-Hib have no significant increased risk of febrile seizure, a convulsion triggered by a fever, during the week after vaccination, researchers in Denmark report. The vaccine protects children from five life-threatening illnesses: diptheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio and Haemophilus influenzae type b, a bacterium that causes meningitis. The study also found no association between febrile seizures and developing epilepsy, a seizure disorder. To read more, click here

 

Girls' Verbal Skills Make Them Better at Arithmetic, Study Finds

While boys generally do better than girls in science and math, some studies have found that girls do better in arithmetic. A new study published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, finds that the advantage comes from girls' superior verbal skills. "People have always thought that males' advantage is in math and spatial skills, and girls' advantage is in language," says Xinlin Zhou of Beijing Normal University, who cowrote the study with Wei Wei, Hao Lu, Hui Zhao, and Qi Dong of Beijing Normal University and Chuansheng Chen of the University of California-Irvine. "However, some parents and teachers in China say girls do arithmetic better than boys in primary school." To read more, click here

 

Gender Identity Issues Can Harm Kids' Mental Health: Study

New studies show that children struggling with their gender identity also face higher risks for abuse and mental health problems, including post-traumatic stress disorder. Children with gender identity disorder show a strong, persistent discomfort with their biological sex. They identify with and display behaviors usually seen in the opposite sex. One study, from Children's Hospital Boston, looked at the emotional and behavioral problems of children and teens referred to its specialty clinic for evaluation and possible medical treatment. "The study only focuses on kids who experience profound distress or [sadness] with their changing bodies, so the psychiatric manifestations of that distress include much higher risks for self-injurious behavior, depression, suicide attempts and anxiety," said Dr. Scott Leibowitz, a pediatric psychiatrist affiliated with the hospital's Gender Management Service. To read more, click here

 

Did You Know That....

The severity of illness and the treatment for meningitis differ depending on the cause. Thus, it is important to know the specific cause of meningitis. For example, bacterial meningitis is usually more severe than viral, fungal, or parasitic meningitis. Although it can be very serious, bacterial meningitis can be treated with antibiotics that can prevent severe illness and reduce the spread of infection from person to person.

 

Autism Diagnosis Often Occurs Later for Black Children

Black children with autism tend to be diagnosed later than white children with the disorder, and this delay can lead to longer and more intensive treatment, researchers say. Lack of access to quality, affordable and culturally knowledgeable health care are among the reasons for the delay in a diagnosis of autism in black children, said researcher Martell Teasley, an associate professor in the College of Social Work at Florida State University in Tallahassee. Teasley also suggested that social stigma attached to mental health issues within the black community may add to the problem. Some black parents may find it hard to accept that their child has autism, so even when the disorder is diagnosed, there may be a reluctance to use autism treatment services. Misdiagnosis is also a potential problem, the study authors noted. To read more, click here

 

Impulsive Kids Play More Video Games, and Kids Who Play More Video Games May Become More Impulsive

Impulsive children with attention problems tend to play more video games, while kids in general who spend lots of time video gaming may also develop impulsivity and attention difficulties, according to new research published by the American Psychological Association. "This is an important finding because most research on attention problems has focused on biological and genetic factors rather than on environmental factors," said Douglas A. Gentile, PhD, of Iowa State University and lead author of the study published this week in the debut issue of APA's journal Psychology and Popular Media Culture. Although the findings indicated that playing violent video games also can be linked to impulsivity and attention problems, the overall amount of time spent playing any type of video game proved to be a greater factor, according to the article. This was the case regardless of a child's gender, race or socioeconomic status. To read more, click here

 

How Impressive Are 'The Incredible Years'? Researchers Can't Say

A new review of the research about The Incredible Years, an intervention composed of training programs for children, parents, and teachers intended to reduce children's aggression and improve their social skills, has found no clear conclusions can be drawn about the program's effectiveness for preschool age children with disabilities. After the What Works Clearinghousereviewed 166 studies of the program, it found that just three studies met its review protocol for early childhood interventions for children with disabilities, but of those, none met the organization's evidence standards. The program was developed by Carolyn Webster-Stratton, a professor and director of the Parenting Clinic at the University of Washington. It focuses on building social and emotional skills for students in preschool through early elementary school. To read more, click here

 

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

There are men and women who make the world better just by being the kind of people they are. They have the gift of kindness or courage or loyalty or integrity. It really matters very little whether they are behind the wheel of a truck or running a business or bringing up a family. The teach the truth by living it. 

                                    James A. Garfield

forgot username or password?