Week in Review - November 7, 2014
WEEK IN REVIEWNewNASETPublications and Articles of Interest in Special Education and Disabilities That Were Reported This WeekNovember 7, 2014 - Vol 10, Issue 45 |
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New This Week on NASETTHE PRACTICAL TEACHER Educational Services for Immigrant Children and Those Recently Arrived to the United States Introduction Schools in the United States have always welcomed new immigrant children to their classrooms - according to the most recent data, there were more than 840,000 immigrant students in the United States, and more than 4.6 million English learners. We have begun to receive inquiries regarding educational services for a specific group of immigrant children who have been in the news - children from Central America who have recently crossed the U.S. - Mexico border. This fact sheet provides information to help education leaders better understand the responsibilities of States and local educational agencies (LEAs) in connection with such students, and the existing resources available to help educate all immigrant students - including children who recently arrived in the United States. The focus of this issue ofNASET'sPractical Teacherwill be on educational services for immigrant children and those recently arrived to the United States. ______________________________________________________
Parent Teacher Conference Handout Series November 2014 Career Guidance & Exploration for Students with Disabilities Students with disabilities face many obstacles as they transition from school to work. The process of deciding future career options can be challenging and involves careful considerations. Although there are many careers to choose from, individuals with disabilities have traditionally been limited in their career options, especially if they are unprepared for the requirements of the workplace, underestimate their capabilities, or are unaware of the range of workplace accommodations that can broaden their career options. Career guidance provides access to the skills and resources students need to overcome these obstacles and prepares them to make choices relevant to their personal strengths and interests. The focus of this issue ofNASET'sParent Teacher Conference Handoutis on career guidance and exploration for students with disabilities. To read or download this issue - Click here (login required) ______________________________________________________
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Discovery of 100-Plus Genes Tied to Autism May Improve Treatments More than 100 genes have been identified that appear linked to autism spectrum disorders, two new studies report. And researchers say they are on their way to discovering up to 1,000 genes overall that may contribute to the disorder. Autism spectrum disorders include a range of developmental disabilities characterized by communication and social difficulties and repetitive behaviors. An estimated one in 68 U.S. children has an autism spectrum disorder, says the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Until this research, scientists had identified fewer than a dozen genes apparently linked to autism risk. But these studies increase that number to 33 and add on 74 others that may play a role in autism risk, said Joseph Buxbaum and Silvia De Rubeis, autism specialists at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City and co-authors of one study. To read more,click here |
More Kids Harmed by Drinking in Pregnancy Than Expected, Study Reports Although drinking during pregnancy has long been considered taboo, new research suggests that as many as one in 20 U.S. children may have health or behavioral problems related to alcohol exposure before birth. The study found that between 2.4 percent and 4.8 percent of children have some kind of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, or FASD. "Knowing not to drink during pregnancy and not doing so are two different things," especially before a woman knows she is pregnant, said lead researcher Philip May, a professor of public health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He said the high prevalence of children affected by drinking during pregnancy may be due to social pressures or women's difficulty in changing their drinking habits. To read more,click here |
FDA Approves New Vaccine to Protect Against Meningitis A new vaccine that could help prevent some cases of life-threatening meningococcal disease was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday. Trumenba is approved to protect people between the ages of 10 and 25 from invasive meningococcal disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B bacteria. The bacteria can infect the bloodstream (sepsis) and the lining that surrounds the spinal cord and brain. It is a leading cause of bacterial meningitis, and infection can occur through coughing, kissing or sharing eating utensils. Of the 500 cases of meningococcal disease reported in the United States in 2012, 160 were caused by serogroup B, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. To read more,click here |
Childhood Peanut Allergy May Be Linked to Skin Gene Mutation Infants with a specific skin gene mutation who are exposed to peanut protein in household dust may be more likely to develop a peanut allergy, according to a new study. Peanut allergy and other food allergies have been linked to severe eczema, a skin disorder, in early infancy, the U.K. researchers said. In conducting the study, researchers at King's College London and colleagues examined the amount of peanut protein to which 577 babies were exposed during their first year of life. This was done by measuring the amount of peanut protein in the dust collected by vacuum from the living room sofa in their home. The children were tested for peanut allergy years later when they were 8 and 11 years old. Their DNA was also checked for a specific skin barrier defect, known as an FLG mutation. To read more,click here |
High-Fat, Low-Carb Diet May Help With Tough-to-Treat Epilepsy Eating a low-carb, high-fat diet could help control epilepsy that is difficult to treat, according to new research. A review of five studies found that a ketogenic, or modified Atkins diet, that focuses on foods like bacon, eggs, heavy cream, butter, fish and green vegetables, could help reduce seizures in adults whose condition doesn't improve with medication. "We need new treatments for the 35 percent of people with epilepsy whose seizures are not stopped by medications," study co-author Dr. Pavel Klein explained in an American Academy of Neurology news release. "The ketogenic diet is often used in children, but little research has been done on how effective it is in adults." To read more,click here |
Study Shows How Toddlers Adjust to Adult Anger Toddlers can both sense adult anger and alter their behavior in response to it, new research reveals. "Babies are like sponges," said study co-author Andrew Meltzoff, co-director of the University of Washington Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences, in Seattle. "They learn not only from their own direct social experiences but from watching the social interactions between two other people." He said he was most surprised at how emotionally "sophisticated" the babies were at such a young age. "This study shows that even 15-month-olds have their emotional antennae up and are scanning the social environment to understand and predict other people's emotional reactions," he said. "Young children have a kind of emotional radar that is quite striking." To read more,click here |
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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: Kim Levy, Marla Hall, Shameem Banu, Patricia Sheehy, Jennifer Klump, Pahbhjoy Malhi, Olumide Akerele, Pattie Komons, Pamela Downing-Hosten and Anne L. Grothaus who all knew the answer to last week's trivia question: According to recent research in the field, a compound extracted from what type of vegetable may improve some social and behavioral problems that affect people with autism? ANSWER: Broccoli THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION: According to the latest research, a child receives either the wrong medication or the wrong dosage of medication how often in the United States? If you know the answer, send an email tocontactus@naset.org All answers must be submitted no later than Monday, November 10, 2014 at 12:00 p.m. |
For Many With Disabilities, Special Education Leads To Jail Cody Beck was 12 years old when he was handcuffed in front of several classmates and put in the back of a police car outside of Grenada Middle School. Cody had lost his temper in an argument with another student, and hit several teachers when they tried to intervene. He was taken to the local youth court, and then sent to a mental health facility two hours away from his home. Twelve days later, the sixth-grader was released from the facility and charged with three counts of assault.To read more,click here |
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Spinal Surgery Varies by Region in U.S.: Study Surgery for low back pain caused by spinal stenosis varies depending on where in the United States you live, a new report says. "Nearly 80 percent of Americans will experience low back pain at some point in their lives, and about 30 million people a year receive professional medical care for a spine problem," co-author Brook Martin, of the Dartmouth Institute of Health Policy & Clinical Practice, said in a college news release. In spinal stenosis, thickening of tissue surrounding the spine affects the spinal nerves, resulting in pain, according to background information in the study. Treatments include surgery, medication, physical therapy and steroid injections, the study said. To read more,click here |
Could Air Pollutants Raise a Child's Autism Risk? Children exposed to two air toxins -- chromium and styrene -- while in the womb and during the first two years of life may have increased odds of developing autism, according to a new study. Prenatal and early exposure to the highest amounts of chromium, a heavy metal, increased the risk for autism by 65 percent, said researchers from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health. Styrene, found in car exhaust and industrial emissions, doubled the risk for the neurodevelopmental disorder, the investigators found. Autism spectrum disorders -- a range of conditions involving social deficits and communication difficulties -- affect one of every 68 children in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. To read more,click here |
Brain Scans Yield Clues to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome There are clear differences in the brains of people with chronic fatigue syndrome and the brains of healthy people, new research indicates. Scientists at Stanford University School of Medicine said their findings could help doctors diagnose this baffling condition and shed light on how it develops. People with chronic fatigue syndrome are often misdiagnosed or labeled as hypochondriacs. Using three types of brain scanning technologies, "we found that [chronic fatigue syndrome] patients' brains diverge from those of healthy subjects in at least three distinct ways," said the study's lead author, Dr. Michael Zeineh, assistant professor of radiology, in a Stanford news release. To read more,click here |
Support Urged For Families Weighing Out-Of-Home Placements While the vast majority of kids with developmental disabilities are cared for at home, pediatricians are being reminded that out-of-home placements remain an important option. In a clinical report this month, the American Academy of Pediatrics said that doctors should be prepared to guide families whose children need more care than they are able to provide at home. "Despite the fact that considerable progress has been made to support children with significant developmental and/or medical problems in the home setting, there continues to be a need for other options of care and living arrangements," the report said. To read more,click here |
Plastics' Chemical May Affect Baby Boys' Genital Development Exposure to a common plastics' chemical during pregnancy may have effects on genital development in baby boys, a small study hints. Researchers found that baby boys born to moms with greater exposure to a chemical called DiNP tended to have a shorter anogenital distance -- the space between the genitals and anus. Anogenital distance is set in the womb, and it's considered a marker of exposure to androgens ("male" hormones) during pregnancy. The researchers said their findings, published online Oct. 29 in Environmental Health Perspectives, add to concerns about the possible effects of certain plasticizers on the male reproductive system. To read more,click here |
Obese Children With Leukemia Fared Worse in Study Obesity may change the way young people react to chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, new research suggests. The study showed that obesity made young people more than twice as likely to have leftover leukemia cells. That puts them at a higher risk of the cancer coming back and of death, the researchers said. The findings could explain why obese young people do worse on initial chemotherapy -- called induction therapy -- than their peers who aren't obese. "Induction chemotherapy provides a patient's best chance for remission or a cure," principal investigator Dr. Steven Mittelman, of The Saban Research Institute of Children's Hospital Los Angeles, said in a hospital news release. "Our findings indicate that a patient's obesity negatively impacts the ability of chemotherapy to kill leukemia cells, reducing the odds of survival." To read more, click here |
FDA Cautions Against 'Undeclared' Food Allergens Some food labels may not reliably list all possible food allergens, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The agency added that these "undeclared allergens" are the leading cause of FDA-requested food recalls. Under federal law, foods marketed in the United States are required to identify all major food allergens -- such as milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, peanuts and soybeans -- on product labels. This mandate is to prevent life-threatening allergic reactions, according to the FDA. The FDA can seize any foods that do not contain this allergen information on their labels. Most food manufacturers, however, will recall their products voluntarily. 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 |
For a Child's Fracture, Use Ibuprofen, Not Morphine: Study For children with broken bones, ibuprofen is a better choice for pain relief than morphine, researchers report. Although both medications are effective in easing the pain associated with these injuries, oral morphine carries more risk for negative side effects, Canadian researchers found. "Evidence suggests that orally administered morphine and other [narcotic painkillers] are increasingly being prescribed," the researchers wrote. "However, evidence for the oral administration of morphine in acute pain management is limited. Thus, additional studies are needed to address this gap in knowledge and provide a scientific basis for outpatient analgesic choices in children." To read more,click here |
Sleep Woes Common Among Troubled Young Children, Study Says Sleep difficulties, particularly problems falling asleep, are common among toddlers and preschoolers with mental health issues, according to a new study. "Sleep problems in young children frequently co-occur with other behavioral problems, with evidence that inadequate sleep is associated with daytime sleepiness, less optimal preschool adjustment, and problems of irritability, hyperactivity and attention," said the study's leader, John Boekamp, clinical director of the pediatric partial hospital program at Bradley Hospital in Providence, R.I. However, he said, sleep disorders may be unrecognized and underdiagnosed in young children, particularly when behavioral or emotional problems are present. To read more,click here |
Virus Present at Birth Causes More Than 10 Percent of Hearing-Loss Cases in Kids More than 10 percent of babies born with an infection called cytomegalovirus will suffer permanent hearing loss, a new study reports. But only one in 10 children with the virus shows symptoms, and screening is not routine, said study lead researcher Dr. Julie Goderis, of University Hospital Ghent in Belgium. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common non-inherited cause of hearing loss in children, responsible in 10 percent to 20 percent of cases, the researchers noted. "Until a vaccine becomes available, behavioral and educational interventions are the most effective strategy to prevent mothers from being infected with CMV," she said. To read more,click here |
Metformin Beats Other Type 2 Diabetes Drugs for First Treatment: Study People newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes who are initially given the drug metformin are less likely to eventually need other drugs to control their blood sugar, a new study suggests. The study found that, of those started on metformin, only about one-quarter needed another drug to control their blood sugar. However, people who were started on type 2 diabetes drugs other than metformin often needed a second drug or insulin to control their blood sugar levels, the researchers said. "This study supports the predominant practice, which is that most people are started on metformin," said lead researcher Dr. Niteesh Choudhry, an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston. "Metformin might be more effective than others in controlling blood sugar," he noted. To read more,click here |
Type 1 Diabetes Increasing Among White American Kids The rate of type 1 diabetes has increased substantially among elementary school-age white children in the United States, a new study shows. The study of young white people found nearly 6,000 new cases diagnosed in teens and kids ages 19 and younger between 2002 and 2009. Youngsters between 5 and 9 years old accounted for most new cases, while no increase was seen among kids younger than 4, the authors said. Boys were slightly more affected than girls. Type 1 diabetes -- previously called juvenile diabetes -- is the predominant form of diabetes diagnosed in childhood. People with the disease lose their ability to produce insulin, a hormone needed to convert food into energy for daily life. To read more,click here |
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More Clues to Spotting Autism in Siblings of Those With Disorder Brothers and sisters of children with autism can show signs of the disorder as early as 18 months of age, a new study says. About 20 percent of younger siblings of children with autism will be diagnosed with autism by age 3, the Yale University researchers said. Their study included 719 younger siblings of children with autism. The siblings were assessed when they were 18 months old and again at age 3. Among those who were later diagnosed with autism, 57 percent showed signs of the disorder at 18 months and the rest developed symptoms between 18 and 36 months, the study authors reported. To read more,click here |
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Food For Thought..........Desire: The starting point of all achievement. Napoleon Hill |
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