| New This Week on NASETParent Teacher Conference Handout July 2013
The Reason for Measuring a Child's Perceptual Ability
Introduction The perceptual evaluation is theoretically based on the concept of the learning process. When we evaluate a child's perceptual abilities, we are looking to see if there is a deficit in some area of the learning process that may be slowing down the processing of information, thereby interfering in the child's ability to receive, organize, memorize, or express information. Severe deficits in the learning process can have adverse effects on a child's ability to function in the classroom. To read or download this issue -Click here (login required)
______________________________________________________ Lesser Known Disorders in Special Education Series Issue #42 - July 2013 Each issue of this series contains at least three lesser known disorders. Some of these disorders may contain subtypes which will also be presented. You will also notice that each disorder has a code. These codes represent the coding system for all disabilities and disorders listed in the Educator's Diagnostic Manual (EDM) Wiley Publications. Disorders in this issue: * VI 3.13-Optic Nerve Hypoplasia * VI 3.14-Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) * VI 3.15-Retinoblastoma To read or download this issue - Click here (login required)
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| Drug Improves Cognitive Function in Mouse Model of Down Syndrome An existing FDA-approved drug improves cognitive function in a mouse model of Down syndrome, according to a new study by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine. The drug, an asthma medication called formoterol, strengthened nerve connections in the hippocampus, a brain center used for spatial navigation, paying attention and forming new memories, the study said. It also improved contextual learning, in which the brain integrates spatial and sensory information. To read more,click here |
| Did You Know That....Folks raising children or supporting a family member of any ability level welcome breaks from time to time. A particular type of support is needed for a break when a child or family member with a disability is involved. The National Respite Locator Service helps parents, family caregivers, and professionals find respite services in their state and local area to match their specific needs. To learn more, go to http://archrespite.org/respitelocator |
| Walgreen, Others Actively Recruit Individuals with Disabilities to Broaden Diversity, Gain Loyalty Angela Mackey says she struggled to land a job, even with a master's degree earned with top grades, as employers focused on her cerebral palsy instead of her qualifications. So Mackey, 37, who once sent out 250 resumes without success, regards her current job as a personal triumph. She holds a managerial position at Walgreen Co.'s Anderson, S.C., distribution center, hiring and performing human resource work for the 500-employee workplace. "Growing up having a disability, I was not an athlete, I never was a beauty queen, the playing field was not equal," said Mackey, who landed her role in 2006. "Working at Walgreen's lets me show what I can accomplish. I am not just a woman with cerebral palsy." To read more,click here |
| Spinal Injury Causes Permanent Damage Within Weeks: Study For people who suffer a spinal cord injury, irreversible tissue loss occurs within 40 days, which is much sooner than previously thought, researchers say. The investigators used new MRI techniques to assess 13 people with spinal cord injuries. The patients were checked every three months for a year after their injury. After 12 months, the diameter of the spinal cord was 7 percent smaller. Lesser declines were also evident in the corticospinal tract (which is critical for motor control), and nerve cells in the brain's sensorimotor cortex (which integrates the senses and the motor system), according to the researchers at the University of Zurich in Switzerland and University College London in the United Kingdom. To read more,click here |
|  NASET MEMBER'S BENEFIT - Board Certification in Special Education Available to NASET MembersThrough 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 |
| In Maryland, Special Education Student Numbers Slightly Lower Statewide in 2012-13The annual summary of students in Maryland public schools shows the number classified as special education students again slipped a bit. When counted for 2012-2013, the total had come down to 102,575 - down from 102,621 the previous year. Overall enrollment in the state's school systems reached 859,643; so 11.9 percent statewide were special education students. During the previous school year, 12 percent of 854,086 students overall were considered special education. A decade earlier in 2002-2003, the percentage was 12.9 for the 864,544 statewide student total. To read more,click here |
| Higher Education May Be Protective Against Multiple Sclerosis-Associated Cognitive Deficits Multiple sclerosis (MS) can lead to severe cognitive impairment as the disease progresses. Researchers in Italy have found that patients with high educational levels show less impairment on a neuropsychological evaluation compared with those with low educational levels. Their results are published in Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience. MS is a progressive immunologic brain disorder with neuropsychological deficits including selective attention, working memory, executive functioning, information processing speed, and long term memory. These deficits often impact daily life (ability to do household tasks, interpersonal relationships, employment, and overall quality of life). To read more,click here |
| New Grants Will Help Get Health Insurance for More Kids More children in low-income families will get health insurance coverage, thanks to nearly $32 million in grants announced by U.S. health officials. The grants, which will help identify and enroll children eligible for Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), were awarded to 41 state agencies, community health centers, school-based organizations and nonprofit groups in 22 states. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said the grant amounts range from $190,000 to $1 million per recipient and focus on five areas. To read more,click here |
| A Problem with Success Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports - PBIS - has become a permanent, organizing structure for more and more schools. For schools where behavior problems take time and energy away from teaching and learning, PBIS can be a "lifesaver" bringing stability and order to an often chaotic school environment. In many of these schools, punishments, threats, yelling and inconsistent reactions to student behavior often become the norm for responding to student misbehavior. For schools stuck in these negative patterns of behavior, PBIS can start to turn things around. To read more,click here |
| Did You Know That....There are many organizations and groups that deal with mental health. NICHY offers a great place to find the one or ones that offer(s) the type of assistance, intervention, or information you're seeking. To learn more, go to http://nichcy.org/families-community/help/mentalhealth |
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| Brain Differences Seen in Depressed Preschoolers A key brain structure that regulates emotions works differently in preschoolers with depression compared with their healthy peers, according to new research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. The differences, measured using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), provide the earliest evidence yet of changes in brain function in young children with depression. The researchers say the findings could lead to ways to identify and treat depressed children earlier in the course of the illness, potentially preventing problems later in life. To read more,click here |
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TRIVIA QUESTION OF THE WEEKTHE TRIVIA QUESTION OF THE WEEK WILL RETURN ON AUGUST 2, 2013
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| Florida Law Enhances Special Education Rights Florida enacted a new law intended to reiterate the rights of parents of special education students, including a provision that parents must agree to have their child placed on a track to earn a non-standard diploma, and that schools cannot discourage parents from bringing an adult of their choice to individualized education program meetings. Thetext of the law, Senate Bill 1108, has beenhelpfully summarizedby Disability Rights Florida, an advocacy group. The advocacy group supported the changes, said Ann Siegel, the managing attorney for the organization's education team.To read more,click here |
| Co-Teaching: General and Special Educators Working Together Research shows that collaboration between general and special educators benefits the quality of instruction and supports for students with disabilities. Students without disabilities benefit, too. These are among the findings of a metasynthesis of co-teaching research conducted by Scruggs, Mastropieri, & McDuffie (2007) and summarized in NICHCY'sStructured Abstract 81. To help you co-teach effectively, NICHCY has developed a companion page of additional resources on co-teaching. To read more,click here |
| NASET MEMBER'S BENEFIT - Board Certification in Special Education Available to NASET MembersThrough 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 |
| Brain Scans Suggest Marijuana May Squelch Motivation Can chronic pot smoking really turn people into slackers? According to a small brain-scan study, long-term marijuana use may indeed reduce people's motivation levels. The findings could explain why some marijuana users lack the drive to work or pursue their previous interests, said the researchers at Imperial College London. The researchers used PET brain imaging to assess dopamine production in the brains of 19 regular marijuana users and 19 non-users. Dopamine is a chemical linked to motivation. The brain scans showed that the regular marijuana users tended to produce less dopamine. To read more,click here |
| Early Respiratory Infection May Double Type 1 Diabetes Risk: Study What may seem like a harmless cold during the first six months of life may more than double a child's chances of developing antibodies that often lead to type 1 diabetes, new German research suggests. Infections that occur later don't seem to pose as high as risk. When infants between 6 and 12 months had a respiratory illness, their risk only increased by 32 percent, the study found. The researchers noted that these findings probably don't apply to all youngsters, because this study was done with children who have a high risk of developing the disease because they have a first-degree relative who has type 1 diabetes. To read more,click here |
| NASET MEMBER'S BENEFIT - Group Savings Plus from Liberty MutualAs 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. |
| Early Diagnosis for DyslexiaA Yale study on dyslexia could lead to earlier diagnosis and more effective intervention. Teachers typically are the first to recognize a child is having a tough time reading, spelling, reading aloud and understanding what is being said. "This is a map of the human genome," said Dr. Jeffrey Gruen, Yale School of Medicine. Now, researchers at Yale School of Medicine have identified two genes, that together, increase the risk for dyslexia and language disabilities. To read more,click here |
| Opportunity Expanding for 'Gifted' High-Fliers in North CarolinaThe coming school year will bring new opportunities for top students in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and across North Carolina. CMS is launching new efforts to screen students for placement in gifted programs, recognizing that some may be extremely talented in reading or math but not both. In a separate move aimed at top performers across the state, public schools will start offering middle and high school students an opportunity to test out of basic classes. The common theme: making sure the strongest students are challenged to excel. To read more,click here |
| Education Reform Movement Learns Lesson From Old Standards Common Core - the new set of national education standards in math and English language arts - will take effect in most states next year. This move toward a single set of standards has been embraced by a bipartisan crowd of politicians and educators largely because of what the Common Core standards are replacing: a mess. In years past, the education landscape was a discord of state standards. A fourth grader in Arkansas could have appeared proficient in reading by his state's standards - but, by the standards of another state, say Massachusetts, not even close. To read more,click here |
| Key Factors in Understanding Differences in Rates of Birth Defects Identified New research published in The Lancet highlights important information for health professionals and parents about the factors which may increase the likelihood of a baby being born with a birth defect. The findings, from researchers at the Universities of Bradford and Leeds, funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), confirm that the two main factors associated with an increased risk of babies being born with a birth defect are being born to an older mother or to parents who are blood relations. In addition, the research team was also able to confirm that socio-economic status (levels of deprivation) had no effect on the relative risk of birth defects, despite two-thirds of the mothers participating in the study coming from the most deprived fifth of the British population. The data also showed that higher levels of maternal education halved the risk of having a baby with a defect across all ethnic groups. To read more,click here |
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