Week in Review - September 21, 2012

WEEK IN REVIEW

NewNASETPublications and Articles of Interest in Special Education and Disabilities That Were Reported This Week

September 21, 2012 - Vol 8, Issue 35


 

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TRIVIA QUESTION OF THE WEEK

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Dear NASET News,

Welcome toNASET'sWEEK in REVIEWHere, we provide you with the latest publications fromNASETto 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 theWEEK in REVIEWatnews@naset.org.Have a great weekend.

Sincerely,


NASETNews Team

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New This Week on NASET

Autism Spectrum Disorder Series
September 2012

Teenagers with Autism: The Driving Dilemma

Depending upon where you live in the United States, parents' decisions to let their child with HFASD (High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder) drive could rest solely on them. If you are lucky enough to live in a state such as Pennsylvania, then all teens applying for a driver's permit must have a physician sign off on their potential driving abilities.  And if you live in Michigan, Montana or Illinois (for example), then all teens also need proof of having a Graduated Driving License certificate. That teens are impulsive, at times irrational, and often unpredictable is common knowledge.  These characteristics are often even more pronounced in HFASD children. In addition, a child with HFASD often has issues with communication, motor regulation, and social skills, all of which are factors that can impact driving skills.  Very few studies have been done on these teens to access their abilities and the potential issues regarding their safety and the safety of others on the road. Written by Susan N. Schriber Orloff, OTR/L (and reprinted with permission from the Special Education Advisor), the focus of this issue of NASET's Autism Spectrum Disorder Series is to address the issues, concerns and dilemmas surrounding teenagers with autism and driving.


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Q&A Corner #54

Transition of Students with Disabilities to Postsecondary Education

For students with disabilities, a big factor in their successful transition from high school to postsecondary education is accurate knowledge about their civil rights. High school educators often have many questions about students with disabilities as they get ready to move to the postsecondary education environment. Written by the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights, Transition of Students With Disabilities to Postsecondary Education: A Guide for High School Educators, this issue of NASET's Q & A Corner highlights the significant differences between the rights and responsibilities of students with disabilities in the high school setting and the rights and responsibilities these students will have once they are in the postsecondary education setting.

 

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Gestational Diabetes, Poverty Linked to ADHD

Gestational diabetes and a lower socioeconomic status are the latest environmental factors to be associated with an increased risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to new research. The German study found that children born to mothers who developed high blood sugar during pregnancy (gestational diabetes) were almost twice as likely to have ADHD as children born to mothers without gestational diabetes. The study also found more than double the risk of ADHD for children born into a family with a low socioeconomic status compared to those in the highest socioeconomic class. Children in the middle class had almost a 60 percent higher rate of ADHD compared to the upper-class children. To read more,click here

Did You Know That....

Since 1960, the Paralympic Games have taken place in the same year as the Olympic Games.

How Early Social Deprivation Impairs Long-Term Cognitive Function

A growing body of research shows that children who suffer severe neglect and social isolation have cognitive and social impairments as adults. A study from Boston Children's Hospital shows, for the first time, how these functional impairments arise: Social isolation during early life prevents the cells that make up the brain's white matter from maturing and producing the right amount of myelin, the fatty "insulation" on nerve fibers that helps them transmit long-distance messages within the brain. The study also identifies a molecular pathway that is involved in these abnormalities, showing it is disrupted by social isolation and suggesting it could potentially be targeted with drugs. Finally, the research indicates that the timing of social deprivation is an important factor in causing impairment. The findings are reported in the Sept. 14 issue of the journal Science. To read more,click here

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Math Anxiety Causes Trouble for Students as Early as First Grade

Many high-achieving students experience math anxiety at a young age -- a problem that can follow them throughout their lives, new research at the University of Chicago shows. In a study of first- and second-graders, Sian Beilock, professor in psychology, found that students report worry and fear about doing math as early as first grade. Most surprisingly math anxiety harmed the highest-achieving students, who typically have the most working memory, Beilock and her colleagues found. "You can think of working memory as a kind of 'mental scratchpad' that allows us to 'work' with whatever information is temporarily flowing through consciousness," Beilock said. "It's especially important when we have to do a math problem and juggle numbers in our head. Working memory is one of the major building blocks of IQ." To read more,click here

Improved Developmental Screening Urged for Hispanic Children

New research suggests that Hispanic children with developmental delays often are undiagnosed, and both Hispanic and non-Hispanic kids who are diagnosed with developmental delays often actually have autism. "Our study raises concerns about access to accurate, culturally relevant information regarding developmental milestones and the importance of early detection and treatment," Virginia Chaidez, the study's lead author and a postdoctoral researcher in the public health sciences department at the University of California, Davis, said in a university news release. "Autism and developmental delay tend to go undiagnosed when parents are not aware of the signs to look for, and the conditions are often misdiagnosed when parents don't have access to adequate developmental surveillance and screening," she added. To read more,click here

Did You Know That....

The Paralympic Games were initially open only to athletes in wheelchairs; at the1976 Summer Games, athletes with different disabilities were included for the first time at a Summer Paralympics.

Kids With Food Allergies Can Fall Through the Cracks

More can be done to properly manage the care of American children with food allergies, especially when it comes to diagnostic testing and recognizing non-visual symptoms of severe allergic reactions, according to a new Northwestern Medicine study. "Every child with a food allergy should be diagnosed by a physician, have access to life-saving medication such as an epinephrine autoinjector and receive confirmation of the disease through diagnostic testing," said lead author Ruchi Gupta, M.D., an associate professor of pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a physician at the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. "Not all children are receiving this kind of care." To read more,click here

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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:Prahbhjot Malhi, Jessica L. Ulmer, Ope-Oluwa Olubela, Craig Pate, Olumide Akerele, Lois Nembhard, Marlene Barnett, Marilyn Haile, Deanna Krieg, and Alexandra Pirard who all knew that the first official Paralympic Games was held in Rome in1960.

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
Since 1950, two U.S. Presidents were known to have hearing impairments while serving in office.  Who were they?

If you know the answer, send an email tocontactus@naset.org
All answers must be submitted no later than Monday, September 24, 2012 at 12:00 p.m.

U.S. Expands SIDS Prevention Effort

The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) is ramping up efforts to reduce the risk of sleep-related sudden infant deaths, the agency announced last Wednesday. The NIH has expanded and revised the "Back to Sleep" campaign launched in 1994 to educate parents and caregivers about ways to prevent sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). It will now be known as the "Safe to Sleep" campaign and include all sleep-related sudden unexpected infant deaths, including those due to SIDS, as well as deaths from other causes. SIDS is the sudden death of an infant younger than 1 year that cannot be explained, even after a complete investigation, autopsy and review of the infant's health history. The "Back to Sleep" campaign encouraged parents and caregivers to place healthy infants to sleep on their backs, a practice proven to reduce the risk of SIDS. To read more,click here

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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

Genetic Test Predicts Risk for Autism Spectrum Disorder

A team of Australian researchers, led by University of Melbourne has developed a genetic test that is able to predict the risk of developing autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Lead researcher Professor Stan Skafidas, Director of the Centre for Neural Engineering at the University of Melbourne said the test could be used to assess the risk for developing the disorder. "This test could assist in the early detection of the condition in babies and children and help in the early management of those who become diagnosed," he said. "It would be particularly relevant for families who have a history of autism or related conditions such as Asperger's syndrome," he said. Autism affects around one in 150 births and is characterized by abnormal social interaction, impaired communication and repetitive behaviours. The test correctly predicted ASD with more than 70 per cent accuracy in people of central European descent. Ongoing validation tests are continuing including the development of accurate testing for other ethnic groups. To read more,click here

Young Children Treated for Cancer May Be at Risk for PTSD

Nearly one in five young children with cancer suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to a small new study. Swiss researchers interviewed 48 mothers whose babies and young children had been diagnosed with cancer and underwent treatment. Nine of the children had all of the symptoms of PTSD and 20 others had at least some symptoms, the most common being anxiety and flashbacks. Children older than 18 months had a much higher risk of developing PTSD than younger children. The researchers also found that PTSD in the mother increased the risk of the disorder in the child. To read more,click here

Parents of Babies With Sickle Cell Trait Are Less Likely to Receive Genetic Counseling

Parents of newborns with the sickle cell anemia trait were less likely to receive genetic counseling than parents whose babies are cystic fibrosis carriers, a new study from the University of Michigan shows. University of Michigan researchers found that 20 percent of physicians reported their patients with newborns carrying the sickle cell trait did not get any genetic counseling. In contrast, parents of babies who were cystic fibrosis carriers received more counseling overall (92 percent vs. 80 percent). The research was published online in the August issue of the Journal of Genetic Counseling. "Sickle cell anemia is much more common in African Americans and cystic fibrosis is more common in non-Hispanic Whites," says Kathryn L. Moseley, assistant professor of pediatrics and communicable diseases at the University of Michigan's C.S. Mott Children's Hospital. To read more,click here

Fla. Children With Severe Disabilities Relegated to Nursing Homes

A U.S. Department of Justice review of state services for children with disabilities in Florida found the state is violating these children's civil rights by institutionalizing hundreds of them in nursing homes, although they could live at home with their families with the right supports and services. Ina letter this monthfrom Assistant Attorney General Thomas Perez, the Justice Department said that many of the children who enter these facilities are separated from their families for years, and the state's policies and practices put even more children at risk of being placed in the same institutional settings. At issue are children who are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act who should be given the opportunity to live in the most integrated setting. To read more,click here

Presidential Forum To Address Disability Issues

A CNN veteran is set to moderate a one-of-a-kind presidential forum later this month focused on disability issues. The event sponsored by more than 50 disability organizations from across the country is being billed as the only one of the presidential campaign to look exclusively at the candidates' views on issues pertaining to Americans with disabilities. Known as the National Forum on Disability Issues, the gathering is set to take place Sept. 28 at the Hyatt Regency in Columbus, Ohio. President Barack Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney have been invited to participate in the forum, though neither has committed yet, according to organizers. A similar event in 2008 featured Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, speaking on behalf of then-candidate Obama. The Republican nominee that year, Sen. John McCain, participated via satellite. To read more,click here

Military Families Overseas Struggle to Get Services for Children With Disabilities

While families in the United States sometimes struggle to get the right diagnoses and services for their children with disabilities, a new report from the Government Accountability Office highlights the special challenges families in the military face. Overseas, Department of Defense schools offer widely varying services, the GAO said. For example, DOD schools in Ramstein, Germany, can serve children with severe disabilities of any type, but schools in some other overseas locations don't have any special education programs at all. Although the Department of Defense recently created an office of special needs to help these families, the office is still working on improving screening and overseas assignment of military families with special needs, the GAO said.To read more,click here

Did You Know That....

The first Winter Paralympic Games were held in1976inÖrnsköldsvik, Sweden. This was the first Paralympics in which multiple categories of athletes with disabilities could compete. The Winter Games were celebrated every four years on the same year as their summer counterpart, just as the Olympics were. This tradition was upheld until the1992 GamesinAlbertville, France; after that, beginning with the1994 Games, the Winter Paralympics and theWinter Olympicshave been held in those even numbered years separate from the Summer Games.

Lawsuits Filed Against Special Needs Student's Advocate

A Jackson County parent and advocate for students with special learning needs has been in the midst of a legal battle with the school district. The case is over whether or not she should be allowed to record Individual Education Plan meetings or, IEP's between teachers, students and parents. For a long time, Pam Long-Bimberg has been attending and recording the meetings per parental requests. But recently, theschool board refused to allow her to use her tape recorder in the meetings. Long- Bimberg asked why now after all this time, was she not allowed to use her recorder? "What happened between June of 2010 and November of 2010 that started school staff refusing to be recorded" Long-Bimberg's Attorney, Rosemary Palmer asked. To read more,click here

Autism Centers Lose Funding

The University of Pittsburgh's nationally renowned autism research center has lost its primary federal funding, and it's not alone. In an action that one researcher called "devastating news," the National Institutes of Health has decided not to renew $15 million, five-year grants to several of its original Autism Centers for Excellence, including centers at Pitt, Yale University, the University of Washington, the University of Illinois at Chicago and the University of California, San Diego. Kevin Pelphrey, a Yale researcher who got a new NIH grant to study autism in girls, and who was one of the original investigators at the Pitt center, said that "it's surprising so many centers were not renewed." To read more,click here

Bringing Opportunity to India's Deaf

The students named the school themselves, saysNoida Deaf Societyfounder Ruma Roka, as this was a way to let them know they mattered. Registered in 2005, the NDS now has three other branches, in New Delhi, Jaipur and Hisar, a town in Haryana state. The schools have a total of 700 deaf students and 15 permanent teachers, including 12 deaf trainers. Students learn the Indian Sign System and take weekly classes in subjects like computing, sign language, general knowledge, and English reading and writing. "Finding students in the beginning was hard. But it was harder convincing the deaf that they can," Ms. Roka says. "In their world of silence where the only perspective of life is through the eyes, thinking can be very limited." To read more,click here

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

If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.
John Quincy Adams

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