Week in Review - August 12, 2011

Week in Review - August 12, 2011

WEEK IN REVIEW

NewNASETPublications and

Articles of Interest in Special Education and

Disabilities That Were Reported

This Week

August 12, 2011 - Vol 7, Issue 29


 

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In This Issue

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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NASETMembers can now get a special discounted rate on Auto Insurance and Home Insurance. Find out more and get a free rate quote on Liberty Mutual Auto & Home Insurance. To learn more -http://www.libertymutual.com/naset

New This Week on NASET -

Parent Teacher Conference Handouts,

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BACK to SCHOOL - SPECIAL REVIEW

Parent Teacher Conference Handouts

Speech and Language: Developmental Milestones

 

There may be times when parents become concerned with the developmental milestones of their children. Since many parents do not have a frame of reference this Parent Teacher Conference Handout will provide that reference for language development. Speech and language are tools that humans use to communicate or share thoughts, ideas, and emotions. Language is the set of rules, shared by the individuals who are communicating, that allows them to exchange those thoughts, ideas, or emotions. Speech is talking, one way that a language can be expressed. Language may also be expressed through writing, signing, or even gestures in the case of people who have neurological disorders and may depend upon eye blinks or mouth movements to communicate.

 

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BACK to SCHOOL - SPECIAL REVIEW

AtNASET,we are always looking to provide the most useful information for teachers throughout the school year. As the new school year begins, we are presenting theNASET Back to School Special Review,which contains 5 of the most popular and practical series to start the school year. These are:

 

 

TheStep-by-Step Guide to Building Confidence In the Classroom-Click here *
Step-by-Step Guide to Setting up Your Classroom -Click here *
How Parents Can Help Their Children with Homework-Click here *
Working with Paraprofessionals in Your School-Click here*
Behavior Crisis Management Tools-Click here *
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We hope you find these series helpful as you enter the new school year.

 

A Gold for Special Olympics: Michael Phelps Becomes Newest Global Ambassador

Michael Phelps wowed the world again winning six medals in the FINA World Swimming Championships in Shanghai this past week.  But the Phelps "wow" factor did not stop after winning his final medal.  On Monday, he joined the Special Olympics Movement as Global Ambassador, committing to raise awareness and change attitudes toward people with intellectual disabilities who struggle to be accepted, heard, and included in society. Phelps kicked off this partnership by hosting a swimming clinic with Special Olympics athletes in Shanghai where he demonstrated swimming fundamentals and then participated in an exciting relay race with the athletes.  To read more,click here

People with Disabilities Remain Unemployed at Higher Rate than Other Americans

While the unemployment rate for Americans without disabilities dipped slightly in July, the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) decried the disproportionately high unemployment rate for people with disabilities and its increase sinceJuly 2010. "A 16.8 percent unemployment rate is unacceptable," saysMark Perriello, President and CEO of the nation's largest cross-disability advocacy organization. "This is a significant increase fromJuly 2010, when we were at 16.4%. This needs to change." "More than three quarters of a million people without disabilities have been hired over the last year," Perriello added. "It's time for employers to step up to the plate, set some targets, and hire qualified people from our community as well." To read more,click here

Did You Know That....

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act protects students with disabilities who are not deemed eligible for special education under IDEIA.Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities

Cuts Leave VSA Arts Programs for Individuals with Disabilities in Limbo

Supporters of VSA, the nation's leading arts education organization for individuals with disabilities, are blaming a shortsighted Congress and indifferentKennedy Centerofficials for extensive budget and staff cuts imposed onVSAthis summer. In mid-July, the Kennedy Center reduced VSA's Washington-based office from 35 staff members to seven. And VSA's federal funding, which was $9 million in last year's budget, will probably be a third of that in the upcoming fiscal year. "The Kennedy Center has essentially signed the death warrant for VSA," said Scott Stoner, who served as VSA's vice president for education services until he was laid off along with most of his colleagues July 15. "It will no longer be a leading international arts organization, and they understand that." To read more,click here

Video Games May Help with Boys' Classroom Struggles

Studies during the past decade have shown elementary school boys are struggling -- falling behind academically while also being diagnosed with learning disabilities and getting in trouble at school at far greater rates than girls. One answer to the problem, says a Penn State education professor, may be video games. "Instructional technology is my field, thinking about how to adopt technology properly in classrooms," saidAlison Carr-Chellman, department head and professor of instructional systems in Penn State's College of Education. "One of the reasons I'm interested in video games is because it meets boys where they are. It picks them up with an interest they already have. If you move in that direction you're saying, 'This culture accepts who you are,' rather than saying, 'This culture is foreign from yours and rejects who you are.' " To read more,click here

Poorly Controlled Asthma Costly, Study Finds

Poorly controlled asthma more than doubles healthcare costs associated with the disease and threatens educational achievement through a dramatic increase in school absence, according to researchers at National Jewish Health. The research team reported in the August 2011 issue of The Archives of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology that children with "very poorly controlled" asthma missed an average of 18 days of school each year, compared to 2 or less for other asthma patients. "This study looks for the first time at how effective and ineffective management of severe asthma impacts cost ," said Stanley Szefler, MD, lead author and Professor of Pediatrics at National Jewish Health. "It highlights the toll that poorly controlled asthma takes on children. It also points to an opportunity -- with proper attention and education, many, if not most, of those children could gain control over their asthma, thus reducing healthcare costs, improving their lives and their chances for success." To read more,click here

Did You Know That....

The major differences between IDEA and Section 504 are in the flexibility of the procedures. For a child to be identified as eligible for services under Section 504, there are less specific procedural criteria that govern the requirements of the school personnel.

Are 82% of Schools 'Failing' Under NCLB, as Duncan Warned?

States are beginning to report the results from their 2010-11 standardized tests, which means we're learning how many schools are not making "adequate yearly progress" under No Child Left Behind. U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, as part of his campaign to get Congress to rewrite the law, issued dire warnings that 82 percent of schools would be labeled "failing" this year, when many of them may not deserve that label. He used this draconian number to illustrate how NCLB is "broken," since it sets an unrealistic deadline that 100 percent of students be proficient in math and reading by 2014. But many people were skeptical that the number would actually be so high this year. Education policy wonks called the department's P.R. move "misleading" and not "responsible." Was Duncan right? To read more,click here

Breaking Schools' Rules: A Statewide Study of How School Discipline Relates to Students' Success and Juvenile Justice Involvement

This report describes the results of an extraordinary analysis of millions of school and juvenile justice records in Texas. It was conducted to improve policymakers' understanding of who is suspended and expelled from public secondary schools, and the impact of those removals on students' academic performance and juvenile justice system involvement. Like other states, school suspensions-and, to a lesser degree, expulsions-have become relatively common in Texas. For this reason and because Texas has the second largest public school system in the nation (where nonwhite children make up nearly two-thirds of the student population), this study's findings have significance for-and relevance to-states across the country. 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:

Merrill Bruce, Emese Eiser, Cheri Mclean, Jeanne Zucker, Chaya Tabor, Joan Manchester,  Deanna Krieg, Leeana Koznesoff, Karen Bornholm, Lois Nembhard, James Hannon, Anne L. Grothaus, Natasha W. Veale, Victoria Eversole, Alexandra Pirard, Shan Ring, Vicki Sizemore, Carolyn Hicks Jones, Suzann Armitage, Tracy Austin, Sara Cyl-Champlin, Lynn Howard, Trisha Miles, Elizabeth Akinmolayan, Sheila A. Smyth, Lou Albano, Suzanne Shown, Heather Shyrer, Amanda L. Davis-Holloway, Tina Theuerkauf, Judy Greenberg, Jessica L. Ulmer, Marilyn Haile, Catherine Cardenas, Terri Trent, & Susan Ann Mason who knew the answer to last week's trivia question was: President John F. Kennedy

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:

Some children with disabilities will need a surrogate parent appointed for them.  To ensure that children with disabilities receive a speedy surrogate parent appointment, IDEIA now requires that schools make reasonable efforts to assign a surrogate parent within how many days after determining that a child needs a surrogate?

If you know the answer, send an email tocontactus@naset.org
All answers must be submitted no later than Monday, August 15, 2011 at 12:00 p.m.

Inclusive Employment Model Gaining Steam

Inspired by Walgreens' efforts to bring people with disabilities into the workforce, another Fortune 500 company is giving inclusive employment a try. Proctor & Gamble opened a packaging facility this week in Auburn, Maine where at least 30 percent of employees will be people with physical or developmental disabilities. Employees with special needs at the site will work side-by-side with those who are typically developing, earning the same wages and will be held to the same standards, company officials said. To read more,click here

New Missouri Law Outlines New Concussion Treatments

Bolivar and area high school and younger athletes will take the fields this fall with some new protection guidelines in place for concussions. With between 140,000 and 150,000 cases of concussion occurring each year among high school athletes in the United States, Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon recently signed a bill that requires all athletes who have suffered a concussion to refrain from any athletic-based activity for at least 24 hours. After the mandatory 24-hour rest, athletes may only return once they are cleared by a licensed doctor or approved medical personnel. "The new law HP 300 (or SCS HCS HB 300, 334 and 387) establishes the Interscholastic Youth Sports Brain Injury Prevention Act," said J.P. Simanis, M.D. in practice at the Citizens Memorial Healthcare Sports and Occupational Medicine Clinic, at a luncheon for coaches, athletic trainers and others involved with sporting activities. "Concussions occur much more frequently than we realize." To read more,click here

A School of Their Own: California Classrooms Open for Students with Severe Disabilities

They're among Monterey County's most vulnerable students. They are severely disabled, with medical conditions, such as uncontrolled seizures, that could require immediate intervention. Others need help with the most basic of functions, such as going to the bathroom. Next week, some students who used to be bused to several sites to receive services will be housed under one roof at the Bolsa Knolls Medical Treatment Unit in North Salinas, sharing the Bolsa Knolls Middle School campus. Monterey County Board of Education trustees toured the unit Wednesday, which was finished with $2.8million in state money. "We're very excited about it," said Nancy Kotowski, Monterey County's superintendent of schools. "We're within our timeline, so the students are able to start the school year with the rest of the students at Bolsa Knolls." To read more,click here

The Link Between Music and Autism

My aunt often comments that she has the funnest job in the world (although she uses better grammar than that). She's a speech pathologist and works in a preschool classroom for kids with autism; her role is to help the language and communication skills move forward. My oldest daughter helped out in her classroom for a couple days last year and confirmed my aunt's "funnest job" assessment, although the miniature horse that was visiting at the time may have contributed to that conclusion. While I don't want to downplay how challenging her job is, it does seem like my aunt has a lot of fun with the kids. To read more,click here

Internet Must Become More Accessible for Individuals with Disabilities

Last month, the United States Department of Justice again deferred action on Web accessibility regulations in the United States for commercial and public entities, delaying a decision on this important issue most likely until 2013 at the earliest. At the same time, a study in the May 2011 issue of Government Information Quarterly found that more than 90 percent of federal websites were not accessible to those with a disability, despite government regulations and mandates that all government sites be accessible. The Tennessee Council of the Blind has sincere concerns about both the need to ensure accessibility for all Americans and with the speed at which steps are being taken to gain access. To read more,click here

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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

More Southwest Schools Fail to Meet Adequate Yearly Progress After Standards are Raised

Schools across the statefailed to meet federal benchmarks because of raised performance standards this year, and a number of schools in Portland's southwest suburbs were no exception.  Meeting Adequate Yearly Progress, the hallmark of the federal No Child Left Behind Act, often depends on progress within subgroups that historically have trouble achieving academic success, such as English Language Learner, special education and low-income students. For a school to meet AYP, a certain proportion of students overall and in each subgroup must pass reading and math assessments.  To read more,click here

In Guam, the Lack of Adequate Public Transportation Fails ADA Standards

Guam has a long way to go to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, which "guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in public accommodations, employment, transportation, state and local government services, and telecommunications." This is especially the case when it comes to transportation. The vast majority of people with disabilities -- those who are legally blind or have a disability that affects their motor skills, among others --can't drive. That means they must rely on transportation services provided by the government of Guam, whether that's the mass transit or paratransit service. To read more,click here

Did You Know That....

To be protected under Section 504, a student must be determined to (1) have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, (2) have a record of such an impairment, or (3) be regarded as having such an impairment.

Study Finds Link Between ADHD and Sleeping Habits

A new study finds ADHD-like behavior problems in kids might have to do with their sleeping habits. A study of more than 700 children finds kids who don't go to bed at a regular time and don't sleep in their own bed are seven to eight times more likely to have symptoms of ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. "Also, 85 percent of all children who have assaultive behavior against their parents, who kick hit or push them, are not sleeping in their own bed," says child psychologist Dr. Robert Pressman of Providence, R.I. He co-authored the study which will be published next month in the American Journal of Family Therapy. "Our study shows that children up to the age of 13 are sleeping in their parents' bed," says Dr. Pressman. To read more,click here

Research Linking Autism to Internet Use is Criticized

Controversy has erupted over comments made by the leading neuroscientist LadySusan Greenfieldsuggesting links between the increase in internet usage and the rise inautism. A fellow Oxford professor condemned the remarks as "illogical garbage", while autism campaigners have described them as "unhelpful speculation" that would upset sufferers of behavioural and communication disorders and their families. Dr Dorothy Bishop, a professor of neuropsychology at Oxford, wrote an open letter to Greenfield, saying that while she had admired her and been delighted when she became the first woman to deliver the Royal Institution Christmas lectures in 1994, she was "dismayed by the way in which your public communications have moved away from science" and accused her of giving opinions when no evidence existed to back them. To read more,click here

Catching Learning Disabilities at a Young Age is Key to Academic Success

By the time her son, Luis, was 2 years old, Wendy Ramos realized he wasn't hitting important speech milestones and enrolled him in speech therapy. "Luis wasn't talking, but he understood what I was saying and he was great at art and puzzles," the Great Kills mom explained. "As he got older, he wasn't recognizing letters or rhymes or nursery songs. He was frustrated, because he wasn't progressing." Luis was diagnosed with dyslexia, a verbal learning disability (LD) that's caused by a neurological impairment in an area of the brain that helps decode language.  According to Dr. Greg Liptak of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), children with LDs oftentimes are very intelligent but struggle with a specific task. To read more,click here

N.Y. Thinks Outside Teacher Education Box

Of all the states that have taken steps to rethink systems for preparing teachers, New York appears to be experimenting with the greatest variety of approaches. Under a series of actions by the state board of regents over the past 1½ years, it has approved the first new graduate school of education in the state in more than half a century; cracked open the door to allow nonuniversity programs to prepare teachers at the graduate-degree level; and financed a variety of "clinically rich" pilot training programs at traditional schools of education. The state is also in the beginning phases of tying a series of teacher assessments to its tiered-certification system, a move that ultimately will require all teachers to pass performance exams and demonstrate their impact on student learning to receive a professional certificate. To read more,click here

Dominican Children with Autism to Benefit from Innovative Treatment

Professionals and families of children with autism in the Dominican Republic will have the chance to benefit from innovative tools that will serve as support for learning and communication in the treatment of patients with this condition. The new tools, which are an important step in aiding those who suffer from or work with young people with autism, were presented recently by Veronica Pensosi, Project Manager for Orange Foundation Spain, at a conference at the prestigious university UNIBE. Manuel Gimeno, Director of Orange Foundation Spain, and Project Technician Blanca Villamia, also spoke about the development and content of projects being created by the Orange Foundation. To read more,click here

Legally Blind Vermont Law Student Wins First Big Case

Deanna Jones, a third-year law student who's legally blind and learning disabled, has won her first big court case: her own. Jones sued the National Conference of Bar Examiners in July, accusing it of violating the Americans With Disabilities Act by refusing to let her take a key legal ethics exam using a computer with screen access software that she has used to read in college and in law school. Armed with a federal judge's order, she was able to take the test Friday, closely watched by a proctor, test supervisor and someone from the ACT, Inc. testing company, she said. "I think I did OK," she said. "I left feeling like I probably passed it."To read more,click here

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

"The most important function of education at any level is to develop the personality of the individual and the significance of his life to himself and to others"

Grayson Kirk

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