Dear NASET News,
Welcome to NASET'sWEEK 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 at news@naset.org. Have a great weekend.
Sincerely,
NASET News Team
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NEW THIS WEEK ON NASETNASET's Education Children with Severe Disabilities Series Issue #39
Residential Placement Options for Individuals with Severe Disabilities Part III
EVALUATING RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS
There is no substitute for firsthand observation. When you and the parents have organized your list of potential residential programs, the parents (and you, if possible) should make appointments to visit each one. Do not hesitate to ask the following questions: * What are the entry requirements? * How many people live at the particular residence? * Is there a waiting list? * How long is the waiting list? * What is the staffing pattern? * What other services are provided at this residence? * What are the expectations for activities outside the residence? * Can the resident go to a day program? * Can the resident have a part-time or weekend job? * What will the costs be for the specific services provided by this residence? * How is the personal money of the resident monitored? * Are family visits encouraged? * What kinds of household chores will the resident be responsible for? * Are leisure activities part of the resident's program? Read More |
Latest Job Postings - Click Here |
Too Much Folic Acid in Pregnancy Tied to Raised Autism Risk in Study
Pregnant women are encouraged to get plenty of folic acid in their diet or through vitamin supplements, to protect their babies against birth defects of the brain and spinal cord. But a new study suggests that excessive amounts of folate (vitamin B9) and vitamin B12 in a mother's body might increase a baby's risk of developing an autism spectrum disorder. "The new research question before us is to understand the optimal dose," said co-researcher Daniele Fallin. She is a professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore. Read More |
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Restrictive Diets May Cause Thyroid Troubles in Young Kids
Two cases of children who developed iodine deficiency highlight the risks of putting too many restrictions on young kids' diets, researchers say. The doctors said that the children -- aged 2 and 5 -- developed iodine deficiency because their diets lacked salt, dairy products, bread and other sources of the mineral. Iodine deficiency is common in developing countries, but was virtually eliminated in the United States after iodized salt was introduced almost a century ago. However, it can still happen if a child's diet is strictly limited, said study author Dr. Brigid Gregg. She is a pediatric endocrinologist at the University of Michigan's C.S. Mott Children's Hospital.Read More |
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.Read More |
Pesticides Linked to Raised Risk of ALS
Exposure to pesticides and other chemicals may increase the risk for ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), a fatal neurological disease, researchers say. Three toxins in particular were associated with greater risk for the progressive condition, often called Lou Gehrig's disease because it killed the legendary baseball player with that name. "We are identifying these toxic, persistent, environmental pollutants in higher amounts in ALS patients compared to those who do not have ALS," said study co-author Dr. Stephen Goutman. He is assistant professor of neurology at the University of Michigan and director of its ALS Clinic. Read More |
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Swaddling May Increase Chances of SIDS
If infants are swaddled during sleep, their risk of dying from SIDS is higher, especially if they are placed on their stomachs, new research suggests. Swaddling is defined in various ways, but it typically refers to wrapping a child snugly in a blanket or cloth, with head exposed but arms inside. Swaddling is thought to have a calming influence on babies that helps them sleep. However, swaddling can be risky, the new study finds. "Babies who were swaddled were 50 to 60 percent more likely to die of SIDS," said lead researcher Dr. Rachel Moon, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. Read More |
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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: Pamela Downing-Hosten, Christine Oliver, Barry Amper, Patsy Ray, Lydia Jacobs, Joanna Blau, Amy Hunsberger, William Quanisha, Denise Keeling, Melody Owens, Olumide Akerele, Christy Sylliac and Marilyn Brown who all knew the answer to last week's trivia question
QUESTION: According to the latest analysis of U.S. Department of Education data (conducted by Education Week), are the number of American students reportedly utilizing special education services in the nation's public schools increasing, decreasing or remaining the same?
ANSWER: INCREASING
THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
During the 2015 fiscal year, the U.S. Department of Education fielded a record number of civil rights complaints. What type of issues accounted for the largest group of complaints logged, representing 46 percent of the record-high 10,392 complaints received by the Office for Civil Rights?
If you know the answer, send an email to contactus@naset.org
All answers must be submitted no later than Monday, May 23, 2016 at 12:00 p.m. |
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Depressive Episode May Not Always Follow Mania in Bipolar Disorder
While many may associate bipolar disorder with episodes of mania followed by periods of depression, a new study suggests that's often not the case. Researchers say states of anxiety are equally as likely as to follow manic episodes as depression. The finding might have implications for better treatment, the research team said. "For years, we may have missed opportunities to evaluate the effects of treatments for bipolar disorder on anxiety," said study lead author Dr. Mark Olfson, a professor of psychiatry at Columbia University Medical Center in New York City. Read More |
Harsh Parenting May Harm a Child's Physical Health
Harsh parenting may leave more than psychological scars, it might also leave lasting physical problems -- such as obesity -- even into young adulthood, new research suggests. And having one kind, caring parent doesn't seem to counteract the effects of the harsh parent. "Harshness, as we measured it, is always bad for kids. But it is particularly bad if the adolescent perceives high levels of warmth and support from the other parent," said study lead author Thomas Schofield. The researchers defined "harsh" parenting as angry, hostile and antisocial. Until now, "we did not know if parenting that was harsh -- while not falling into the category of abuse -- could predict physical health," said Schofield, an assistant professor of human development and family studies at Iowa State University. Read More |
First ABLE Accounts Expected This Summer
A year and a half after legislation paved the way for people with disabilities to save without jeopardizing their government benefits, the first accounts are poised to become available. A handful of states are expected to open their so-called ABLE programs this summer. Nebraska is the first to announce a launch date - June 30 - though advocates say that Ohio could offer its accounts even sooner. Both programs will be available to accountholders nationwide. Read More |
Justice Department Postpones Web Accessibility Rules
The Obama administration is further delaying plans to address how the Americans with Disabilities Act applies to the Internet. In a notice published this week in the Federal Register, the U.S. Department of Justice said it is seeking additional public comment on proposed regulations outlining accessibility standards for state and local government websites. The move comes nearly six years after the agency first solicited comments on the very same topic. Read More |
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Low Birthweight Linked to Higher Death Rates in Infants and Adolescents
Babies born with a low birthweight are at an increased risk of death in infancy right through to adolescence compared to babies born at a normal birthweight, according to new research. A team from Cardiff University's School of Medicine, led by Professor Sailesh Kotecha, examined official death rates in low birthweight babies among over 12m births in England and Wales. The research, published in the journal PLOS Medicine, found that of the 12,355,251 live births between 1993 and 2011, there were 74,890 (0.61%) deaths between birth and 18 years of age, with 57,623 (77%) occurring in the first year of life and 17,267 (23%) occurring between 1 and 18 years of age. Read More |
Study of Elite Paralympic Athletes Supports Benefits of Exercise for Children with Cerebral Palsy
For highly trained Paralympic athletes with cerebral palsy (CP), bone mineral density and other measures of body composition are similar to those of able-bodied adults of similar age, reports a study in the American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, the official journal of the Association of Academic Physiatrists. The journal is published by Wolters Kluwer. While elite-level athletes with hemiplegic CP still have reduced muscle mass on the side of their body affected by neuromuscular impairment, physical training can offset other CP-related changes in body composition and physiology, suggests the study by Phoebe Runciman, PhD, of University of Cape Town, South Africa, and colleagues. "The findings provide further evidence that high levels of exercise from a young age may be beneficial to individuals with CP," the researchers write. Read More |
Pattern Learning Key to Children's Language Development
A new study reveals children's language development is a learnt skill and is intricately linked to their ability to recognise patterns in their environment. Conducted by researchers from the University of Sydney and Australian National University, the study found children who were better at identifying patterns in non-verbal tasks also had better knowledge of grammar. Even when other important factors such as intelligence and memory were taken into consideration, the findings still suggest the skill of pattern learning is strongly associated with language development. Read More |
Study Finds Link Between Handedness, Mathematical Skills
A link between handedness and mathematical skills exists, but is more complex than is thought according to a study by the University of Liverpool. The relationship between handedness and mathematical abilities is controversial. Some studies have claimed that left-handers are gifted in mathematics, and strong right-handers perform the worst in mathematical tasks. Finally, more recently, it has been proposed that ambidextrous individuals are the most disadvantaged group in terms of mathematical ability. Psychologists from the University of Liverpool and the University of Milan conducted a study involving about 2,300 students in Italy aged between six to 17 years and asked them to complete a number of mathematical tasks, including simple arithmetic and problem-solving. Read More |
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Must California's Special Ed Students Be Vaccinated? State Won't Say
Let the courts decide.That appears to be the stance of the California Department of Education as state regulators have so far declined to answer pleas from school districts to clarify what California's new vaccination law means for the 700,000 students who receive special education services. Known as Senate Bill 227, the state law makes California one of three states to permit exemptions to school vaccinations only for medical reasons. Gone are exemptions based on religious or personal beliefs. The law says all public and private school students must be vaccinated against 10 communicable diseases unless they have a medical exemption, they are home-schooled or they are enrolled in independent study with no classroom instruction.Read More |
Baby's Immune System Might Hint at Autism Risk
While the origins of autism remain mysterious, new research points to the infant immune system as a potential contributing factor. A team of Swedish and American researchers said levels of certain protein "markers" in newborns' blood seemed to predict which children would go on to develop an autism spectrum disorder. This is "important evidence that the immune system in early life may be a key determinant of later risk of autism spectrum disorders," wrote the team led by Dr. R. M. Gardner of the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm. Read More |
Honor Society for Special Education Teachers
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Born Without Hands, Girl Wins National Handwriting Contest
Anaya Ellick's penmanship is so good, she recently won a national handwriting contest. That's impressive for any 7-year-old, but even more so because of this: Anaya has no hands, and she does not use prosthetics for help. Recently, her teacher, Joan Stalnaker, asked Anaya's first-grade class at Greenbrier Christian Academy to write the word "share" and its definition and part of speech. Anaya hopped to her feet - standing helps her balance while writing - and swept up a pencil. Read More |
Kids With Autism Do Well Learning New Words: Study
Children with autism learn new words the same way as other children do, but it takes them longer, a small study found. The researchers compared 15 children with autism, aged 18 months to 7 years, and a control group of 15 children without the developmental disorder. A series of tests showed that both groups of children relied heavily on the same technique to learn new words -- they followed a teacher's gaze as the teacher named an object, the investigators found. The children with autism were able to follow the teacher's eye movements 75 percent of the time, compared with 78 percent of the time for children in the control group, the study findings showed. Read More |
For Those with Special Needs, Jobs Picture Stable
The employment situation for Americans with disabilities is steady even as overall hiring across the nation has slowed, according to new data from the U.S. Department of Labor. The unemployment rate for those with disabilities dipped just slightly to 10.7 percent last month, the agency said Friday in its monthly employment report. That's down from 10.8 percent the month prior. Figures show that more people with disabilities are on the job and the participation rate for this population is up by more than 1 percent over the same time last year. Read More |
 LATEST JOB LISTINGS POSTED ON NASET* Special Education Preschool Teacher - Burlingame School District is located on the beautiful San Francisco Peninsula within easy commuting distance of San Francisco and many other areas serving educational, cultural, and recreational interests.The District features six TK-5 elementary schools and one 6-8 intermediate school. These neighborhood schools provide high quality instruction and attention to each child's needs. To learn more - Click here
* Special Education Teacher - Teachers are critical to student success, both academically and personally. Desert View Academy is a character-based school and aspires to teach the whole child. Consequently, DVA seeks to hire educators who embody certain traits. To learn more - Click here
* Special Education Teacher - Saudi Aramco Expatriate Schools (SAES) is a well-established American curriculum school owned and operated by Saudi Aramco that opened its doors in 1944. Today, the district is comprised of six schools in four beautiful residential communities that enroll over 4,500 expatriate children who represent more than 80 nationalities. Employees of the Saudi Arabian Oil Company enjoy a highly competitive compensation and benefits package, generous vacation schedule, and a family-friendly lifestyle. To learn more - Click here
* Resource Specialist Teacher - Is solely responsible for the Resource Services Program for Kindergarten through Grade 12. The Resource Specialist Teacher supports all faculty members in implementing research-based, effective practices in meeting student needs within the classroom to support individual students who are struggling in classes due to individual learning differences. To learn more - Click here
* Learning Specialist/Educational Therapist - The Learning Specialist plays a key role in the Assessment Department at MCYAF. S/he will work directly with children and youth who have been diagnosed with learning disabilities by our Assessment Psychologist. This position works collaboratively with all the staff at MCYAF. To learn more - Click here
* Special Education Coordinator - The Andover Public Schools seeks exceptional Special Education educators for the position of Special Education Coordinator at each of our 3 middle schools. To learn more - Click here
* Test Developer, Alternate Assessment - will develop state alternate assessments for ELA, math, science, and/or social studies. Focus will be on project tasks that include the development and processing of alternate assessment products and programs for students with severe cognitive disabilities. To learn more - Click here
* Special Education Coordinator -We are seeking Special Education Coordinator candidates committed to ReNEW's mission of providing a rigorous, college preparatory education for our students from birth to 12th grade. To learn more - Click here *Lower School Learning Specialist (Part-time) - The Learning Specialist will be part of a team of other special educators who work at the school through the Educational Support Services Department, providing a variety of strategies and interventions to students with diverse learning needs, both in and out of the classroom setting. To learn more - Click here
* Special Education Services Director - Oversee the day to day operations of the entire Special Needs Services department, specifically supervision of the preschool state funded year round programs, private class, and Developmental Disabilities Enrichment Services Develop and implement all guidelines and policies with the purpose of ensuring compliance with all government regulations, as well as maintaining alignment with the JCC of Mid-Westchester's Nursery School mission. To learn more - Click here
*Special Education Teacher - $125.000 - Earn a $125,000 salary and join a team of master teachers at The Equity Project (TEP) Charter School, featured in the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and on 60 minutes for its revolutionary teacher salaries and its outstanding results. To Learn more - Click here
* Special Education Coordinator/Resource Teacher- Great Hearts offers a very competitive benefits package and overall compensation will be commensurate with talent, experience and education; Strong administrative support; Collaborating Exceptional Student Services Coordinators and Great Hearts Lead Office support To Learn more - Click here
* Special Education Teacher (Arizona) - EBS is seeking passionate, motivated Special Education Teachers who want to make a difference in the lives of exceptional children! EBS Special Education Teachers develop and implement all aspects of student IEPs and classroom instruction in order to maximize academic, communicative, behavioral, self-help, social and emotional success. To learn more - Click here
* Special Educator Teacher (Hawaii) - EBS is seeking passionate, motivated Special Education Teachers who want to make a difference in the lives of exceptional children! EBS Special Education Teachers develop and implement all aspects of student IEPs and classroom instruction in order to maximize academic, communicative, behavioral, self-help, social and emotional success. To learn more - Click here
* Special Education Teacher (California) - EBS is seeking passionate, motivated Special Education Teachers who want to make a difference in the lives of exceptional children! EBS Special Education Teachers develop and implement all aspects of student IEPs and classroom instruction in order to maximize academic, communicative, behavioral, self-help, social and emotional success. To learn more - Click here
* Special Education Teacher - The Research Foundation, founded in 1951, exists to serve SUNY and to capitalize on the scope, scale and diversity of SUNY as an engine of New York state's innovation economy. To learn more - Click here |
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