Week in Review - May 22, 2020


NASET

WEEK IN REVIEW

National Association of Special Education Teachers

May 22, 2020                    Vol 16 Issue #21



Dear NASET Members and Guests,


Welcome to NASET's WEEK in REVIEW.  Here, we provide you with the latest publications fromNASET 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,

 

 


 

NEW THIS WEEK ON NASET

NASET's Practical Teacher

An Alignment of Interactive Notebooks with the Principles of Universal Design


Use of traditional notebooks can often lead to a lack of organization, lack of understanding of expectations, and a lack of purposeful connection to learning content. This issue of NASET's Practical Teacher was written by Michelle Meadows and Joanne Caniglia, The authors argue that interactive notebooks provide a classroom of diverse learners with routines that allow for creativity while also giving needed structure as students are engaged in academic content in meaningful ways. In this article the authors provide evidence from research on the possible components that can be incorporated within interactive notebooks for K-12 mathematics classrooms. Specifically, the guidelines of Universal Design for Learning are aligned with specific strategies that are based upon prior research. Read More



Signs of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Detected in Womb

New images reveal the earliest impairments to nonhuman primate fetal brain development due to alcohol ingested by the mother, in a study led by scientists at Oregon Health & Science University involving rhesus macaques. Magnetic resonance imaging showed impairments to brain growth during the third trimester of pregnancy, even though the fetus was exposed to alcohol only during the first trimester. The research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, highlights the danger of binge drinking early in a pregnancy, even before a woman realizes she's pregnant. It also suggests the potential benefit of using in-utero imaging to detect signs of fetal-alcohol syndrome before birth. Read More


Study Finds Only 3% of Individuals with Autism Receive Recommended Genetic Tests

A study analyzing data from the Rhode Island Consortium for Autism Research and Treatment (RI-CART) found that only 3% of individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder reported having fully received clinical genetic tests recommended by medical professional societies. The results bring to light a dissonance between professional recommendations and clinical practice, the researchers behind the study say. Autism spectrum disorder is one of the most strongly genetic neuropsychiatric conditions. Medical professional societies-such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Medical Genetics, and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry-recommend offering chromosomal microarray testing and Fragile X testing for patients diagnosed with autism. The tests can identify or rule out genetic abnormalities that could have implications in a patient's diagnosis and clinical care. Read More

 


NASET BOARD CERTIFICATION PROGRAM IN SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVOCACY

The National Association of Special Education Teachers (NASET) and the American Academy of Special Education Professionals (AASEP) recognize the increasing need for qualified special education advocates. In order to enhance this area of concern, they have created a comprehensive special education advocacy program whereby upon completion, you become a Board Certified Advocate in Special Education (BCASE). The BCASE program offers you all the materials to be an effective, articulate, and qualified special education advocate. completion of the BCASE program will provide you with the knowledge, skills and abilities to be confident as an advocate for children with special needs and their parents.­ To learn more about becoming a Board Certified Advocate in Special Education (BCASE), click here


Infants with Sleep Onset Problems More Likely to be Diagnosed with Autism 

Infants who experienced sleep onset problems during the first year of life were significantly more likely to be diagnosed later with autism spectrum disorder, according to results of a longitudinal neuroimaging study published in American Journal of Psychiatry. "Given the high prevalence of sleep problems among children with autism, it is likely that many children are not benefiting as much from intervention and other learning opportunities as they could if they were sleeping better," Katherine E. MacDuffie, PhD,of the department of speech and hearing sciences at University of Washington in Seattle, told Healio Psychiatry. "Our findings highlight the importance of studying sleep problems early in development among children with autism, and developing new interventions that specifically target sleep problems in this population." Read More


How Texas School Districts Ensure Special Education Students Don't Fall Behind Amid COVID-19

More than 10,000 special education students in Texas are utilizing a new speech therapy technology thanks to a partnership with the Texas Education Agency. AmplioSpeech, a digital tele-therapy service for vulnerable students, connects remote speech pathologists to kids working from home to allow a seamless continuation of learning despite ongoing COVID-19 challenges. Speech-language pathologists tell KXAN they've had trouble adapting to the new at-home learning standards. On top of that, experts say that special education students are at a higher risk of falling behind their peers if their education is disrupted. Families have also shared some of the challenges their special education students have encountered while working from home. Read More


Board Certification in Special Education Available to NASET Members

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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 


Online Classes Pose Real Learning Curve for Students with Special Needs 

With schools closed and classes being taught online, average families are having a tough enough time adapting to new routines and technologies during the ongoing pandemic. But for families of students with special needs, distance learning can be an even bigger hurdle. "There's quite a learning curve for them," said Antonella MacGillivray, a learning support teacher at Star of the Sea School in Surrey, British Columbia. Parents tell her it has been difficult for children who face autism, behavioral issues, learning disabilities, or other challenges to complete assignments online. "First, there's navigating the technology, and then the fact that they are completely out of the routine," she told BC Catholic, newspaper of the Archdiocese of Vancouver. "Their learning environment is completely different. They don't have the social connections, which is a huge part, especially in the younger grades." Read More


Study Shows How Airbnb Hosts Discriminate Against Guests with Disabilities as Sharing Economy Remains in ADA Gray Area

"How could you see my listing if you're blind?" "I'd have to check with our insurance company to see if we're covered to host guests with disabilities." "Does the dog drive?" Those are three typical responses we got from Airbnb hosts while posing as guests with disabilities for a study we conducted on the home-sharing service. Some hosts were willing to accommodate us. Some were uneasy. Some were insensitive. We effectively became Airbnb's secret shopper - even secret to Airbnb - to determine if its credo to "belong anywhere" implied that this service was designed with disability access and civil rights in mind. Read Mor



RIVIA QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Congratulations to: Dawn Miears, Cindi Maurice, Mariola Papa, Maxine Swan, Wendy Stein, Walter Kwik, Olumide Akerele, Patsy Ray, Karen Frantz-Fry, Shelma Brackett, Terri Richey, Irina Grigoryan, and Sharon Johnson-Hiltzwho all knew the answer to last week's trivia question:

What was the name of the first federal special education law enacted in 1975, often referred to as Public Law 94-142? 

Answer:  THE EDUCATION FOR ALL HANDICAPPED CHILDREN ACT 

This Week's Trivia Question: According to the latest research published by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), boys are how many time more likely to be identified with autism than girls? 

If you know the answer to this week's trivia questions, email it to us at contactus@naset.org by May 26, 2020. If you are correct, you will be acknowledged in next week's NASET's Week in Review 


 


Lehigh University Special Education Law Symposium-Responsive Revisions

Now to be offered in distance learning format (via secure password access) and at reduced rates, the Lehigh University Special Education Law Symposium will be held, as scheduled, from June 21-26, 2020. Weekly or "per day" registration options available. Dr. Perry Zirkel has added a new session to the originally advertised program: COVID-19 Issues under the IDEA and Section 504. Featuring a keynote by OSEP director Laurie VanderPloeg, eight new "hot topic" sessions by paired attorneys for a duel perspective, and a culminating comprehensive update from Professor Zirkel, this year's symposium promises to be the best ever in this nationally prominent program. The week also includes the overlapping, but separable Lehigh Section 504 Institute on June 25-26. In light of the pandemic, consider this uniquely safe opportunity to learn from experienced and prominent attorneys (both sides), which includes password access to their detailed outlines with complete legal citations. For complete information, see the symposium website: go.lehigh.edu/spedlaw.


Special Educators Unified in Learning and Helping Families

Teachers and administrators in Grant County continue to teach students and themselves as distance learning enters its fourth week of implementation amid the COVID-19 outbreak. Special education administrators in Grant County shared their experience on how distance learning has been a learning experience for teachers, students and parents. "In our district, our case managers looked at each kid's (Individualized Educational Plan), and we talked about what they were going to need, their technology capability, and if their parents are still working," said Rhonda McCumber, the director of special education in the John Day District. "And of course, lots of checking in and making adjustments." Read More


Will Months of Remote Learning Worsen Students' Attention Problems?

The outbreak of the coronavirus isn't the first time Robert Spall has had to learn from home. The 13-year-old and his mom, Kirsten Spall, a high school teacher from Sacramento, Calif., were once "reluctant homeschoolers" after Robert was pulled out of a handful of schools for focus and behavioral issues-all before the 1st grade. "He didn't respond to normal redirection. He didn't respond to normal behavioral strategies, like giving choices," Kirsten Spall said. Robert is working from home again, along with over 50 million students, as schools in 48 states have shut down in-person classes to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. How will the long absence from traditional school routines affect Robert and the millions of other students across the country who struggle with self-control, focus, or mental flexibility? Read More


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Will Schools Be Able to Reopen in the Fall? Dr. Fauci Says Answer Will Be 'Very Different' Across the Country

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, acknowledged the painful tradeoffs that come with closing schools to protect the broader public's health last Tuesday. Testifying virtually at a Senate committee hearing, Fauci said federal officials were aware of the "unintended deleterious consequences of having children out of school," but didn't have an easy way to address them. "It's obviously very difficult," he said. "I don't have a good explanation or solution to the problem of what happens when you close schools and it triggers a cascade of events." Read More


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Zoom Classes Cause Strain for Students with Attention Deficit Disorders

The Zoom teleconference room has become the new classroom for students across the United States due to the coronavirus pandemic. Zoom comes with a new set of challenges for students, teachers and employees who use it. Zoom video calls can leave people more exhausted than the traditional classroom because video conference calls require more energy and focus to effectively communicate than face-to-face meetings, according to an article from the BBC. For people with attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Zoom calls can be even more draining. "It's been hell and I've felt like I learned nothing," said Theo Scheiner, a freshman biology major with ADHD. Scheiner expressed that now that his classes do not meet in person, he has no motivation. Read More


"Super OCD:" The Problem with Mental Health Tropes

If you're looking for a useful, informative portrayal of mental illness, just ignore the vast majority of pop culture, mass media, and high art and literature produced on the subject.  Mental illness is difficult to portray accurately in fiction - but that doesn't prevent even the most woefully unqualified writers and artists from trying.  A survey of mass media reveals countless harmful misrepresentations of mental disability.  Among them - people with autism are cold and robotic but super-intelligent; having Attention Deficit Disorder suggests you're a moron with zero attention span, but taking ADD medication turns you into a brain-dead zombie; people with schizophrenia are serial killers with multiple personalities.  Mental illness is easy to misuse in fiction as narrative shorthand to give a character motivation or extra pathos. Read More


Special Education Teacher Pulls from Childhood Struggles to Help Students Learn Remotely

Through what she calls her "college schedule," Amelia Garcia of Edinburg dedicates certain days to calling her students. One day, Garcia received a call from one of her students after she missed their daily phone call due to work meetings. "Mrs. Garcia, you didn't call," her student asked. This interaction is one of many in Garcia's life that shows her students are adapting to a new online, educational format imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Garcia, 50, who has been a special education teacher for nearly 17 years, currently serves four different classes in the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District - three sixth grade English language arts classes and one eighth grade social studies class in addition to three of her own classes. Read More


 

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Those with Disabilities Recommended to Take Extra Precautions During COVID-19 Pandemic

Those with underlying health issues should take extra steps to stay healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic, including those living with disabilities at higher risk of infection and severe illness. Conditions like Lou Gehrig's disease and multiple sclerosis weaken muscles that help clear the lungs. That's why experts at the Mayo Clinic are urging those with disabilities to take extra precautions against the virus. Wheelchair users should wash their hands and faces frequently to expel any respiratory droplets that may have fallen on them. They also recommend to disinfect brakes and push rims, or any other highly-used medical equipment. Caregivers should always check their temperature before arriving at work, wear masks when entering a home, and avoid touching the face of the person they're caring for. Read More



LATEST JOB LISTINGS POSTED ON NASET

LATEST JOB LISTINGS POSTED ON NASET

* Special Education Teacher - We are looking for highly motivated and skilled Special Education teachers to join our team at District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS). DCPS serves more than 51,000 students through the e?orts of approximately 4,000 educators in 117 schools. DCPS intends to have the highest-performing, best paid, most satis?ed, and most honored educator force in the nation and a distinctive central o?ce sta? whose work supports and drives instructional excellence and signi?cant achievement gains for DCPS students. To learn more- Click here

* Special Education Teacher - $60,000/school year (185 days), summers off with year round pay and year round appreciation.  Special Education Teachers needed in Arizona (Phoenix and surrounding cities). Needs are in the self-contained and resource settings serving students with emotional disabilities (ED), Autism (A), Severe/Profound (S/P), and Intellectual Disabilities (ID).  STARS is the largest school contract agency in AZ. STARS is owned and operated by Occupational Therapists. To learn more - Click here

* Special Education Teacher - The Special Education Teacher provides individual, small group, and whole-group instruction. Monitors student progress in the school environment including academic achievement and behaviors. Maintains a safe and orderly environment, which may include monitoring specific health concerns of students in the classroom and teaches social skills. To learn more - Click here

* Special Education Teacher - Environmental Charter Schools is seeking a talented and dynamic Special Education Teacher who is passionate about preparing low-income students of color for college success. The mission of the Environmental Charter Schools (ECS) is to reimagine public education in low-income communities of color to prepare conscious, critical thinkers who are equipped to graduate from college and create a more equitable and sustainable world. To learn more - Click here

* Teacher-Special Education - Tacoma Public Schools is looking for exceptional special education professionals ready to inspire and make a positive impact on students. Our special education program serves approximately 4,000 students from preschool through high school; serving ages three to twenty-one. Specially designed instruction and related services are based upon the need of each student. To learn more - Click here

* Principal New York Institute for Special Education - The ideal candidate will be a well-respected special educator with experience teaching the blind and visually impaired who possesses knowledge of students with emotional disabilities and who, preferably, has administrative experience at the departmental or building level. A proven instructional leader who will maintain a safe and healthy school environment that is conducive to learning. To learn more -  Click here

* Special Education Teacher - Under the direction of the building principal and special education director, the special education teacher will develop and provide specialized instruction to meet the individual and unique needs of students with disabilities, evaluate and assess student progress based on instructional goals and objectives, and adhere to federal and state statutes and regulations governing special education services. to learn more - Click here

* Special Education Teacher - $50,000/school year (185 days), summers off with year round pay and year round appreciation.  Special Education Teachers needed in Arizona (Phoenix and surrounding cities). Needs are in the self-contained and resource settings serving students with emotional disabilities (ED), Autism (A), Severe/Profound (S/P), and Intellectual Disabilities (ID).  STARS is the largest school contract agency in AZ. STARS is owned and operated by Occupational Therapists.  You will be an employee and receive full benefits. Click Here

If you are an Employer looking for excellent special education staff - Click here for more information


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

For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness.

                Ralph Waldo Emerson

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