Week in Review - January 4, 2013

WEEK IN REVIEW

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

January 4, 2013 - Vol 9, Issue 1


 

Find us on Facebook

 

Forward this issue to a Friend

 

Join Our Mailing List!

In This Issue

TRIVIA QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Quick Links

ReadWeek in ReviewonNASET-Click Here

Renew Your Membership onNASET-Click Here(login required)

NASETResources -Click Here

NASETe-Publications -Click Here

Forgot your User Name or Password? -Click Here

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

 

 

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

NASET Sponsor - Liberty Mutual

Liberty_Mutual_Bear

To learn more -Click here


New This Week on NASET

NASET's Special Educator e-Journal
January 2013
Table of Contents:

*             Calls to Participate

*             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

*             Parenting Strategies for Promoting Self- Confidence in Children with Disabilities. Dr.                  George Giuliani and Dr. Roger Pierangelo, Executive Directors of NASET

*             Acknowledgements


To read or download this issue -Click here (login required)
______________________________________________________
The Practical Teacher Series
January 2013

Five Aspects of Teacher influence on Student Behavior


By: Christopher Gough, LCPC-Private Therapist/Consultant/DeKalb, IL & Greg M. Romaneck-School Administrator/Batavia, IL


All too often teachers struggle to meet the needs of students with emotional/behavioral needs. In many instances these struggles are based on a fundamental misalignment of purpose. By focusing attention on the keynote relational, reflective, and connective elements of teacher, students manifesting emotional/behavioral needs can be far more successful in school. This issue of NASET's Practical Teacher was written by Christopher Gough and Greg M. Romaneck.  It highlights five areas where teachers can concentrate efforts aimed at establishing the environment necessary to encourage student learning and growth. These tips focus on cognitive strategies, relational foci, limit setting, and instructional approaches linked to metacognitive teacher behavior.


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

U.S. Children's Hospitals Treating More Complex, Expensive Conditions: Researchers Find Biggest Increase in Patients with Special Needs, Such as Cerebral Palsy

An in-depth profile of many U.S. children's hospitals suggests that children with complex chronic diseases such as cerebral palsy are taking up an increasingly larger share of hospital resources. The finding raises concerns about how well freestanding pediatric hospitals can handle a rapidly growing group of patients that are, by definition, difficult and expensive to care for. "Children with medical complexity are often relying on a myriad of services to get their health care needs met," said study lead author Dr. Jay Berry, an assistant professor of pediatrics with Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston. "These services include primary and specialty care, home nursing and case management." To read more,click here

For Teen With Special Needs, Good Grades Prompt Outcry

Typically parents are proud to see their child earning 90s and 100s at school, but a Georgia father whose son has severe disabilities says the scores are cause for concern. Wes DeWeese says his son, Jared, is unable to speak, read or walk and has the mental abilities of a 6-month-old. Yet, the 18-year-old is receiving top grades in algebra, biology and other high school courses at his Gwinnett County school. DeWeese believes teachers are deliberately giving Jared high grades in order to boost overall scores at the school. School district officials would not comment on Jared's case specifically, but said that students with cognitive disabilities are given access to modified coursework and graded on participation. To read more,click here

Did You Know That....

People with severe disabilities are those who traditionally have been labeled as having severe to profound cognitive impairments or intellectual disabilities. Now, there's a growing understanding that disabilities can affect individuals along a scale of minimal or mild to severe. It is possible to have a mild learning disability or a severe one, just as it's possible to have mild or severe autism, without a clear-cut diagnosis of intellectual disability. Multiple disabilities, by its very name, means that an individual usually has more than one significant disability, such as movement difficulties, sensory loss, and/or a behavior or emotional disorder.

More Evidence That Violent Video Games Help Spur Aggression

The more that people play violent video games, the greater their levels of aggressive behavior, a new study finds. The study included 70 university students in France who were assigned to play a violent or nonviolent video game for 20 minutes a day over three consecutive days. Those who played violent games, such as "Call of Duty 4" and "Condemned 2," showed increases in hostile expectations and aggressive behavior each day they played. This did not occur in the people who played nonviolent games such as "Dirt2," according to the study, published online ahead of print in the March 2013 issue of the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. The study offers evidence that the negative effects of playing violent video games can accumulate over time and cause people to view the world as a hostile and violent place, said study co-author Brad Bushman, a professor of communication and psychology at Ohio State University. To read more,click here

Unemployment Falls Again For People With Disabilities

For the third month in a row, the unemployment rate for Americans with disabilities showed improvement in November, the U.S. Department of Labor. The jobless rate fell to 12.7 percent last month for those with disabilities, down from 12.9 percent the previous month. At the same time, however, fewer people with disabilities were looking for work which is likely responsible, at least in part, for the rate change. Employment struggles continue to plague those with disabilities to a greater degree than the rest of the population. The economy as a whole added 146,000 jobs in November as general unemployment ticked down to 7.7 percent. 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

Overweight Teens Report High Rates of Bullying, Teasing

A new survey of teenagers in weight-loss programs found that 64 percent had been teased or bullied because of their weight, and although the lion's share of teasing came from their peers some of the perpetrators have included parents, teachers and coaches. "Kids who are clinically obese are experiencing teasing and bullying, not just at school but at home. That means they have few sources of support or allies," said survey author Rebecca Puhl. The findings have limitations. The researchers who conducted the survey didn't ask questions of similar teens who aren't overweight or obese, so it's not clear how much more likely they are to be teased or bullied than other kids who are like them. Another group of kids who can be targeted because of their weight -- those who are extremely skinny -- weren't included in the study. To read more,click here

Prenatal Treatment Cuts Learning Deficits in Mice With Down Syndrome

Mice that have a condition similar to Down syndrome performed better on memory and learning tasks as adults if they were treated before birth with something called neuroprotective peptides, new research from the National Institutes of Health shows. The researchers studied growth factors that are important at key stages of brain development in the womb. Peptides, small fragments of protein, improve brain cells' ability to receive and send signals and enable them to survive. People who have Down syndrome have an extra copy ofchromosome 21. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates thatabout 1 in 691 babiesis born with Down syndrome. To read more,click here

SPECIAL EDUCATION LAW SYMPOSIUM AT LEHIGH UNIVERSITY, JUNE 23-28, 2013

Designed for a national audience, this intensive one-week, well-balanced program is available on both a non-credit and graduate-credit basis and provides a thorough analysis of the leading issues under the IDEA and Section 504. Among the 19 symposium sessions are the following "hot topics": RTI; discipline, including a mock manifestation determination hearing; child find; transitional services; tuition reimbursement and other remedies; disability-related bullying; and autism.

Special features include:

  • Parallel tracks for basic and advanced practitioners, starting with a keynote dinner presentation by Dr. Melody Musgrove, Director, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), U.S. Department of Education and ending with a post-luncheon crystal-ball culminating presentationled by national consultant and trainer Julie Weatherly, Esq., recipient of the 2012 National CASE Award for Outstanding Service.
  • Balance of district, parent, and neutral perspectives with a specialized set of topics and presenters for the advanced track.
  • Knowledgeable national faculty including attorneys Laura Anthony (Ohio), Emerson Dickman (New Jersey), Andrew Faust (Pennsylvania), Joshua Kershenbaum (Pennsylvania), Michele Kule-Korgood (New York), Deborah Mattison (Alabama), Marsha Moses (Connecticut), Michael Stafford (Delaware), Julie Weatherly (Alabama), Mark Weber (Illinois), and Dr. Perry Zirkel (Pennsylvania).
  • The symposium will take place on the beautiful campus of Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa., located just 60 miles north of Philadelphia and 70 miles south of New York City, with access from Lehigh Valley (ABE), Newark, and Philadelphia International airports.
  • CLE and ACT 48 credits available.
  • Non-credit: $995 full week; or $295 per day.  Lehigh University Graduate Credit (3): $1,695
Special Education Law Symposium ~ June 23-28, 2013 ~ Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA ~ coe.lehigh.edu/law

 

Brain Scans Might Help Spot Risk for Bipolar Disorder

Brain imaging can identify young people at risk for bipolar disorder, a new study says. Australian researchers used functional MRI to observe the brain activity of young people when they were shown pictures of faces with happy, fearful or calm expressions. "We found that the young people who had a parent or sibling with bipolar disorder had reduced brain responses to emotive faces, particularly a fearful face. This is an extremely promising breakthrough," study leader Philip Mitchell, of the University of New South Wales, said in a university news release. This reduced activity occurred in a part of the brain known to regulate emotional responses, according to the study scheduled for publication in Biological Psychiatry. To read more,click here

New Standards Causing Concerns in Pa.

It is well-researched that early childhood education for toddlers can change the course of their educational careers. One of the purposes of the state's Early Intervention program is to minimize the need for special education and related services as infants, toddlers and eligible young children become school-age. So changing eligibility standards for children showing indications of speech impairment to enter the state's Early Intervention programs worries some Early Intervention providers. In the fall, the state Department of Public Welfare accepted public comments on the possible changes. "We are waiting for a final announcement [from the state] in a month or so," Southern Alleghenies Service Management Group program director Kelly Popich said. To read more,click here

Did You Know That....

The greater the severity or impact on an individual, there is a greater likelihood for increased need for supports. Often, individuals with a severe disability require ongoing, extensive support in more than one major life activity in order to enjoy the quality of life available to people with fewer or no disabilities. Ongoing supports may also be necessary to help individuals with severe or multiple disabilities to participate in integrated community settings.

Nearly One-Third of Kids With Food Allergies May Be Bullied

Many children with food allergies may be bullied at school -- sometimes with potentially dangerous threats to their physical health, a new study suggests. The study, of 251 families at a New York City allergy clinic, found that about one-third of kids said they'd been bullied specifically because of their food allergy. The bullying usually happened at school and often took the form of teasing. But in many cases, the children said classmates threatened them with the food to which they were allergic -- waving it in front of them, throwing it at them or saying they would sneak it into their other food. 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: Kathleen George, Jessica L. Ulmer, Sue Brooks, Dildreda Willy, Pamela Downing-Hosten, Ope-Oluwa Olubela, Alexandra Pirard, Cynthia Calanog, Karen Bornholm, Olumide Akerele,  Marilyn Haile, Marlene Barnett, and Prahbhjot Malhi
who all knew the answer to last week's trivia question:

According to the latest research, children with autism areNINE (9) times more likelythan other children to be taken to the emergency department for mental health problems.

 

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
If a child receives special education and related services for diabetes, epilepsy, a heart condition, hemophilia, lead poisoning, leukemia, nephritis, rheumatic fever, sickle cell anemia, or Tourette syndrome, under what IDEIA disability would he be classified?

If you know the answer, send an email tocontactus@naset.org
All answers must be submitted no later than Monday, January 7, 2013 at 12:00 p.m.

Parents Sue State of Ohio Over Autism Care

The parents of a toddler with autism are suing the state Department of Health and others, alleging denial of federally mandated treatment. The case could affect how other autistic children are cared for in the state. The lawsuit, filed last week in federal court in Cincinnati, accuses the state of discriminating against children with autism and their parents by failing to provide a type of intensive treatment known as applied behavioral analysis. The lawsuit was filed by Robert and Holly Young, of Williamsburg, about 25 miles east of Cincinnati. The Youngs' 2-year-old son, Roman, was diagnosed with moderate to severe autism a year and a half ago. "It's been a living nightmare," said Holly Young, a Miami Township police officer. "It's heart-wrenching to know what you need to give your son and you can't provide it, and no one will help. And the people who are supposed to help seem to be turning their backs." To read more,click here

Dolphin Therapy' for Children with Disabilities Being Used in China

Dolphin therapy, a technique that helps treat children with mental disabilities, is gaining ground in China, a media report said Thursday. The technique is already popular in some western countries. Fifteen sessions with a pair of bottle-nosed dolphins at Hangzhou Polar Ocean Park have helped a five-year-old boy with autism become 'aware' and 'alert', China Daily reported. Zheng Jun, the boy's father, believes the dolphin-assisted therapy is more effective than any other treatment. 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

Literature and Nonfiction: Common-Core Advocates Strike Back

As we've told you, a particular slice of the common standards in English/language arts has become pretty flammable lately: the rise of nonfiction reading. Thestandards' expectation that students read more informational texthas sparked fear-some would say misinterpretation-that great works of literature will be displaced from classroom instruction. Even though mainstream news media have by and large ignored the common standards, this issue got enough traction to break through that quietude, garnering a Page One story in The Washington Post, and even becoming the butt of jokes onNational Public Radio's popular "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me" show. And the literature-being-squeezed-out people have been just about the only voices in the general-interest media on the issue. The Los Angeles Times ran aneditorialsaying that regardless of the standards writers' intent to preserve a hefty place for literature, it is sure to take a major hit under the common core. To read more,click here

People with Disabilities Embrace Martial Arts Class

A taekwondo class designed to help students with disabilities is helping build self-confidence.

Mike Tibbits is one of those students. Tibbits, who has an intellectual disability, has been a member of the class at Cobourg Tae Kwon Do since it began three years ago. "I really like martial arts," said Tibbits, who has bowled in the Special Olympics since he was a young man. With a yellow belt proudly and firmly tied around his waist, the 37-year-old Port Hope native is hard at work hoping to move up a level and obtain an orange belt next June. "I'm ready to show people what I can do," Tibbits said. "I've worked really hard at it. I want my orange belt, but I have to learn more to get better." To read more,click here

Liberty Mutual Savings

NASET MEMBER'S BENEFIT -

Group Savings Plus from Liberty Mutual

As 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 800-524-9400 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.

Thousands of U.S. Babies Born With Cleft Lip, Palate Each Year

When Americans hear "cleft lip" or "cleft palate," they often think of children in developing countries, but U.S. babies are by no means immune to the birth defect. Each year about 7,000 American children are born with an oral cleft defect, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This means that their lip hasn't formed completely and isn't closed properly in the case of cleft lip or, in the case of cleft palate, that there's a hole in the roof of their mouth. The good news, though, is that the condition is treatable. "The outcomes for children are excellent," said Dr. Joseph Shin, chief of the division of plastic and reconstructive surgery at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City. "Children do fine with it. It's not the end of the world." Shin has served on humanitarian surgical missions for Operation Smile and other organizations to repair cleft lips and cleft palates in countries in South America, Mexico, Morocco and the Middle East. To read more,click here

Did You Know That....

A variety of medical problems may accompany severe disabilities. Examples include seizures, sensory loss, hydrocephalus, and scoliosis. These conditions should be considered when establishing school services. A multi-disciplinary team consisting of the student's parents, educational specialists, and medical specialists in the areas in which the individual demonstrates problems should work together to plan and coordinate necessary services.

U.S. Education Dept. Offers Tools for Evaluating Educational Technology

The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Educational Technology has released a draft report, "Expanding Evidence Approaches for Learning in a Digital World," designed to offer the education community some guidance for navigating the crowded tech landscape. The report is meant to provide approaches for school officials and others seeking to gather evidence on digital learning systems, guidance that can be adapted to the needs of individual schools and districts. The document draws from the perspectives of education researchers, school technology developers, and educators themselves. The report was released earlier this month in draft form for public comment, Karen Cator, the director of the office of educational technology, explained in an e-mail. Cator also discussed the goals of the document in a recentonline blog post. To read more,click here

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

If you treat an individual as he is, he will remain how he is. But if you treat him as if he were what he ought to be and could be, he will become what he ought to be and could be.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
forgot username or password?