Week in Review - October 25, 2013
IEP Goals and Objectives for the iPhone and iPad
Special Education Dictionary
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WEEK IN REVIEWNewNASETPublications and Articles of Interest in Special Education and Disabilities That Were Reported This WeekOctober 25, 2013 - Vol 9, Issue 42 |
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New This Week on NASETNASET Resources Review October 2013 In this Issue You Will Find Topics On:
* AD/HD * Auditory Processing * Bloom's Taxonomy * Calls to Participate * Classroom Management * Cognitive Psychology and Neuroscience * Early Intervention * Effective Practices * Evidence-based Instructional and Intervention Practices * IDEA Partnership * IEP * Juvenile Justice System * Legal Issues * Mental Health * Multilingual Behavior * Multiple Disabilities * Transition
To read or download this issue -Click here (login required) ______________________________________________________ NASET's Educating Children with Severe Disabilities Series Part V Record Keeping During the Transition Service Be prepared as you can in this phase of your student's life and ensure the best possible transition and guarantee of services. This section will guide you through the types of records and information that parents will need to gather. Your assistance in helping students and parents gather this necessary information will facilitate the student's transition to adulthood. ______________________________________________________ See NASET's Latest Job Listings |
Children Who Stutter Show Different Brain DevelopmentChildren who stutter have less gray matter in regions of the brain responsible for speech than those who don't stutter, a finding that could lead to improved treatments for the condition, according to a new Canadian study. Researchers evaluated 28 children, aged 5 to 12, who underwent MRI brain scans. Half of the children had been diagnosed with stuttering, and the others acted as a control group. The brain scans revealed that the children who stuttered had abnormal development of the inferior frontal gyrus region of the brain. It's believed that this region takes information that the brain understands about language and sounds and codes it into speech movements. To read more,click here |
Did You Know That....Children with disabilities may be eligible for special education and related services under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. Schools and parents develop what is known as a Section 504 plan to guide the student's special education. This resource page at About Parenting Special Needs connects you with multiple articles and resources on Section 504. To learn more, visit: http://specialchildren.about.com/od/specialeducation/u/schoolpath.htm#s 2 |
Children of Teen Mothers Don't Have Mental DisadvantageChildren born to teen mothers may have a slight language delay compared to children born to mothers in their late 20s and 30s, but they are not disadvantaged intellectually, a new British study suggests. The researchers examined statistics from the Millennium Cohort Study, which tracked 19,000 kids born in the United Kingdom in 2000 and 2001. Of those, 12,000 underwent testing of their spatial, verbal and nonverbal skills when they were 5 years old. The researchers found that differences in nonverbal and spatial skills of kids born to younger mothers versus older mothers disappeared when they took into account factors such as household income, education level of the mother, absence of a father and child care. To read more,click here |
Irregular Bedtimes Lead to Behavior Problems in KidsA regular bedtime might guarantee more than a good night's sleep for both kids and their parents -- it turns out that a regular bedtime can make for a better-behaved child, new research suggests. When 7-year-olds had irregular bedtimes, they were more likely to have behavior problems than their peers with a consistent time for their nightly shut-eye. And, the study also found that the longer a child had been able to go to bed at different times each night, the worse his or her behavior problems were. "Irregular bedtimes were linked to behavioral difficulties, and these effects appeared to accumulate through early childhood," said the study's lead author, Yvonne Kelly, a professor of lifecourse epidemiology at University College London. 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 |
New Approach Urged for 'Abysmal' K-12 Writing InstructionWriting instruction in U.S. classrooms is "abysmal" and the Common Core State Standards don't go far enough to address glaring gaps for students and teachers, a Michigan State University education scholar argues. In a new study, Gary Troia calls for a fresh approach to professional development for teachers who must help students meet the new writing standards. His research, funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences, appears in the journal School Psychology Review. "We need to re-orient the way we think about teacher professional development," said Troia, associate professor in MSU's College of Education. "We need to be smarter about professional development and make sure it's comprehensive, sustained and focused on the needs in the classroom." To read more,click here |
Birth Gets the Brain Ready to Sense the WorldNeurons that process sensory information such as touch and vision are arranged in precise, well-characterized maps that are crucial for translating perception into understanding. A study published by Cell Press on October 14 in the journal Developmental Cell reveals that the actual act of birth in mice causes a reduction in a brain chemical called serotonin in the newborn mice, triggering sensory maps to form. The findings shed light on the key role of a dramatic environmental event in the development of neural circuits and reveal that birth itself is one of the triggers that prepares the newborn for survival outside the womb. "Our results clearly demonstrate that birth has active roles in brain formation and maturation," says senior study author Hiroshi Kawasaki of Kanazawa University in Japan. "We found that birth regulates neuronal circuit formation not only in the somatosensory system but also in the visual system. Therefore, it seems reasonable to speculate that birth actually plays a wider role in various brain regions." To read more,click here |
Study Shows Difference in Cognitive Ability Between Low-Income Rural, Urban ChildrenStudies have long shown a difference in cognitive ability between high- and low-income children, but for the first time, scientists have found a difference between low-income children growing up in rural areas and those growing up in urban environments. Researchers at Dartmouth College have found that children growing up in rural poverty score significantly lower on visual working memory tests than their urban counterparts. However, children in urban poverty score slightly lower on tests of verbal working memory. Working memory is the ability to keep information in mind while using that information to complete a task. It is a better predictor of academic success than IQ and is crucial to skills as diverse as reading, math processing, and decision making. To read more,click here |
Teachers More Likely to Have Progressive Speech, Language DisordersMayo Clinic researchers have found a surprising occupational hazard for teachers: progressive speech and language disorders. The research, recently published in the American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease & Other Dementias, found that people with speech and language disorders are about 3.5 times more likely to be teachers than patients with Alzheimer's dementia. Speech and language disorders are typically characterized by people losing their ability to communicate -- they can't find words to use in sentences, or they'll speak around a word. They may also have trouble producing the correct sounds and articulating properly. Speech and language disorders are not the same as Alzheimer's dementia, which is characterized by the loss of memory. Progressive speech and language disorders are degenerative and ultimately lead to death anywhere from 8-10 years after diagnosis. To read more,click here |
Did You Know That....Tapping into the Power of Families: How Families of Youth with Disabilities Can Assist in Job Search and Retention explores the role that families and other caring adults play in helping young people with disabilities plan for careers, search for jobs, build work skills, and be successful in employment. From the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disabilities. To learn more, visit: http://www.ncwd-youth.info/infobrief/tapping-into-the-power-of-families
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Better Understanding of Inherited Hearing LossA team of researchers led by Dr. Michel Cayouette made an important discovery, published online yesterday by the scientific journal Developmental Cell, that could better explain some inherited forms of hearing loss in humans. Dr. Michel Cayouette is a professor at the IRCM and Université de Montréal, The Montréal scientists identified a group of proteins crucial for shaping the cellular organ responsible for detecting sounds. For a human to hear, sound-induced vibrations in the inner ear must first be transformed into electrical impulses before they can be relayed to the brain. This transformation is performed by "hair cells" (or sensory cells) located in the inner ear. On the surface of these cells, microscopic hair-like protrusions known as stereocilia act as specialized sensors to detect vibrations. To read more,click here |
NASET Sponsor - University of Kansas |
TRIVIA QUESTION OF THE WEEKGuess the answer to this week's trivia question and we'll recognize you in next week's Week in Review. Congratulations to: Olumide Akerele, Mike Namian, Ope-Oluwa Olubela, Nancy G. Johnsen, Vasantha Ramachandran, Andrew Bailey, Marilyn Haile, Linda Lopez, who all knew the answer to last week's trivia question: What is the word that means "the act of thinking, knowing, or processing of information"? ANSWER: Cognition THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION: Enacted into law in 1965, this is the United States' largest federally funded early childhood program, having served over 27 million preschoolers who are economically disadvantaged. What is the name of this program? If you know the answer, send an email tocontactus@naset.org All answers must be submitted no later than Monday, October 28, 2013 at 12:00 p.m. |
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Use of False ID by Youth to Buy Alcohol Is Slippery Slope Toward Alcohol Use DisordersMany underage youth use false identification (ID) to circumvent minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) laws in order to obtain alcohol. While underage students tend to drink less frequently than their older college peers, they are more likely to engage in high-risk drinking and are at risk for developing alcohol use disorders (AUDs). A new study of the contributory role of false ID use to the development of AUDs among college students has found that almost two-thirds of the sample used false IDs. Results will be published in the March 2014 issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research and are currently available at Early View. "Alcohol use is extremely prevalent among underage youth in the United States -- despite MLDA laws -- and poses health and safety risks," said Amelia M. Arria, associate professor of behavioral and community health and director of the Center on Young Adult Health and Development at the University of Maryland School of Public Health, as well as corresponding author for the study. "Alcohol is easy for most youth to obtain, and false IDs comprise one of the factors contributing to alcohol's easy accessibility." To read more,click here |
Yoga Accessible for the Blind With New Kinect-Based ProgramIn a typical yoga class, students watch an instructor to learn how to properly hold a position. But for people who are blind or can't see well, it can be frustrating to participate in these types of exercises. Now, a team of University of Washington computer scientists has created a software program that watches a user's movements and gives spoken feedback on what to change to accurately complete a yoga pose. "My hope for this technology is for people who are blind or low-vision to be able to try it out, and help give a basic understanding of yoga in a more comfortable setting," said project lead Kyle Rector, a UW doctoral student in computer science and engineering. To read more,click here |
NASET Sponsor - University of Kansas |
Bird Study Finds Key Info About Human Speech-Language Development and AutismA study led by Xiaoching Li, PhD, at the LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans Neuroscience Center of Excellence, has shown for the first time how two tiny molecules regulate a gene implicated in speech and language impairments as well as autism disorders, and that social context of vocal behavior governs their function. The findings are published in the October 16, 2013 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience. Speech and language impairments affect the lives of millions of people, but the underlying neural mechanisms are largely unknown and difficult to study in humans. Zebra finches learn to sing and use songs for social communications. Because the vocal learning process in birds has many similarities with speech and language development in humans, the zebra finch provides a useful model to study the neural mechanisms underlying speech and language in humans. To read more,click here |
National Network To Focus On Severe AutismA first-of-its-kind research network is forming with an eye toward better understanding autism by studying kids who are most severely affected by the developmental disorder. Six inpatient psychiatric facilities across the country that specialize in treating individuals with autism and other developmental disorders are coming together to form the new initiative known as the Autism and Developmental Disorders Inpatient Research Collaborative. While significant resources have been devoted to autism research in recent years, those behind the new effort say large studies have generally failed to include individuals at the severe end of the spectrum. To read more,click here |
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. |
Family Sues Over Movie Theater Death Of Man With Down SyndromeThe parents of a man with developmental disabilities who died after being handcuffed at a Frederick County, Md. movie theater have sued Regal Cinemas and the county in federal court. The lawsuit filed Thursday also names the county sheriff's office, three deputies and the movie theater as defendants. Robert "Ethan" Saylor, 26, died in January after the incident at the Westview Regal Cinemas at Westview Promenade in Frederick, Md. In the lawsuit, Patricia and Ronald Saylor accuse the defendants of negligence, violating Ethan Saylor's civil rights and violating the Americans with Disabilities Act. To read more,click here |
Caregivers Live Longer, Study FindsContrary to popular belief, a new study suggests that being a caregiver for a family member with a disability may lead to a longer life. In astudylooking at data on more than 7,000 people - about half of whom were caring for a loved one with a disability or chronic illness - researchers found that caregivers saw a nine-month increase in life expectancy. "Taking care of a chronically ill person in your family is often associated with stress, and caregiving has been previously linked to increased mortality rates," said David Roth, director of the Johns Hopkins University Center on Aging and Health and first author of the study published this month in the American Journal of Epidemiology. "We did not find any subgroup of caregivers in the (study) sample that appeared to be vulnerable to increased mortality risks." To read more,click here |
Shriver Passes Baton At Special OlympicsFor the first time in years, someone outside the famed Shriver family will lead Special Olympics. The international organization said Tuesday that Janet Froetscher will take over as CEO. Tim Shriver, who has served in various leadership roles at Special Olympics since 1996 and is currently chairman and CEO, will stay on board as chairman. He will continue to serve as an "ambassador for the movement," the group said. Shriver's mother, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, founded the group in 1968. Under Shriver's leadership, Special Olympics has grown to 4.2 million athletes globally. The organization also offers unified sports - where athletes with and without disabilities compete on teams together - and health screenings, among other initiatives. 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 |
Did You Know That....The National Governors Association, Center for Best Practices (NGA Center), in partnership with the Department of Health and Human Services, has developed state profiles of all the state councils receiving federals funds to develop coordinated systems of early childhood education and care. Each profile provides an overview of the state council's administering agency, history, membership, activities, priorities for ARRA funds, and communication strategies. To learn more, visit: http://tinyurl.com/lj4ls9 |
Study Examines Special Education Enrollment in New York City ChartersThe well-documented phenomenon of charter schools serving smaller percentages of students with special needs than regular schools do stems from a smaller portion of families of students with special needs applying to charter schools as their children enter kindergarten, saysa new study from the Center on Reinventing Public Educationfocusing on the New York City school system. The study, written by Marcus A. Winters, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and an assistant professor at the University of Colorado, in Colorado Springs, studied enrollment data from the 2008-09 school year provided by the New York City Department of Education as well as 25 elementary charter schools in New York City. To read more,click here |
Transition Program For Students With Disabilities Victim of ShutdownThere's been little impact so far from thegovernment shutdownon K-12 schools around the country, but a handful of public and private school students in the Washington area are an unfortunate exception. These students, about 40 in all, are part of a national program calledProject SEARCH, which helps prepare students with disabilities for the workforce. The program, which is operated by a non-profit organization in Cincinnati, helps students and young adults with disabilities gain career experience and workplace skills through a blend of classroom instruction and on-the-job training. The interns, who are typically in their final year of eligibility for special education services, spend a year at a range of job sites, including hospitals, banks, and universities.To read more,click here |
Teachers of the Blind to Get Common Core Support Through Gates GrantPerkins eLearning,a project of the Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown, Mass., has been awarded a $250,000 grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to provide common core teaching resources for teachers of students who are blind or visually impaired. The foundation has made several sizable grants to organizations helping to prepare teachers and schools for the Common Core State Standards, but this is the only award made so far this year to an entity that works specifically in the arena of special education. The teaching tools, part of an effort called "Paths to Common Core," will initially be geared toward students in grades 7-12. The grant will help pay for teacher leaders, an online community, and adaptive teaching resources linked to math and English/language arts. To read more,click here |
Honor Society for Special Education TeachersTo learn more -Click here
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NASET's Latest Job Listings* Special Education Assistant/Associate Professor - Simpson College, a private, nationally recognized regional college grounded in the liberal arts tradition and affiliated with the United Methodist Church invites nominations and applications for the position of Special Education Assistant/Associate Professor. To learn more - Click here
* Manager of Special Education - Excelon Associates has an immediate need for a Manager of Special Education for a fully-accredited provider of high-quality, highly accountable virtual education solution for students in grades K-12 in Idaho. To learn more- Click here
* Elementary Upper Grade Learning Support Specialist - The Upper Grade Learning Support specialist leads the identification and remediation of students who are at greatest risk for not acquiring foundational literacy and numeracy skills in the upper elementary grades. This position is at the American School in Japan, Tokyo, Japan. To learn more - Click here
* Special Education Teacher - Cumberland Therapy Services has immediate needs for Special Education Teachers in Phoenix, AZ area elementary schools. All qualified candidates must be AZ K-12 Cross Categorical SPED Certification and AZ Fingerprint card eligible. To learn more - Click here
* Special Needs/Inclusion Facilitator - The Special Needs/Inclusion Facilitator will provide direct support in adapting and modifying programs to meet the needs of a specific child or children enrolled in Department of Human Service Programs (DHSP) /Out of School (OST) Programs. The Special Needs/Inclusion Facilitator will be supervised directly by the head supervisor in each program with support and guidance provided by the Inclusion Specialist for the Department of Human Services. - Click here |
Food For Thought..........Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does. |