Week in Review - April 15, 2016

NASET

WEEK IN REVIEW

National Association of Special Education Teachers

April 15, 2016                                                Vol 12 Issue # 15



Dear NASET News,

Welcome to NASET'sWEEK 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 atnews@naset.org. Have a great weekend.

Sincerely,

NASET News Team

NEW THIS WEEK ON NASET

NASET's Educating Children with Severe Disabilities Issue #38


Residential Placement Options for Individuals with Severe Disabilities Part II

'The goal of residential programs is to provide access to the highest possible quality of services that a person with certain disabilities needs, while at the same time permitting and encouraging the person to be as independent as possible. Read More

Latest Job Postings - Click Here


Short Gap Between Pregnancies Tied to Higher Autism Risk?

Spacing pregnancies in close succession may increase the risk of autism in children, a large new research review suggests.Examining existing research involving more than 1.1 million children, scientists also found that longer pregnancy spacing -- in excess of five years -- may be linked to raised odds of the increasingly common neurodevelopmental disorder."Based on the current best available evidence, it appears that the ideal interpregnancy interval -- the time elapsed between the birth of the immediate older sibling and the conception of the younger sibling -- is 2 to 5 years, in order to reduce the risk of autism," said study author Dr. Agustin Conde-Agudelo. He is a researcher at the World Health Organization Collaborating Center in Human Reproduction at the University of Valle in Cali, Colombia. Read More

Federal Judge: Religious Schools Exempt From ADA

A federal judge in New Jersey has ruled that Quaker schools are not required to provide services to students with learning disabilities, a decision that could have far-ranging implications for religious schools. U.S. District Judge Joseph H. Rodriguez said Haddonfield Friends School in Haddonfield, N.J. was exempt from federal and state disability laws, because it was a religious institution. He found that the small Quaker school had not discriminated against a 10-year-old fourth grader with attention dysfunction and dyslexia who was expelled in January 2014. Read More
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Study Sees No Link Between Common Epilepsy Drug, Certain Birth Defects

Despite initial concern from early studies, taking the epilepsy drug lamotrigine (Lamictal) during pregnancy may not raise the risk for certain birth defects, a large new study finds. "An initial study of this drug showed an increased risk for cleft lip or cleft palate, but a number of other studies since have not, and our previous study showed an increased risk of clubfoot," said study author Helen Dolk, of Ulster University, in Northern Ireland. However, the new study, which had "a much larger population size -- more than double the size of our previous study" -- has found no significant links, Dolk said in a news release from the journal Neurology. Read More

Bill Seeks Benefit For Caregivers

Family members often take time away from work to care for loved ones with disabilities. Now, a proposal in Congress seeks to ensure that they don't lose out on Social Security retirement benefits for doing so. Under a bill known as the Social Security Caregiver Credit Act, people who leave their jobs or limit their hours in order to care for a relative would be able to continue accruing credits with Social Security. Such credits - which are earned for each year of employment - are necessary to qualify for Social Security benefits. Read More

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: Patsy Jo Ray, MaryLouise Torre, Olumide Akerele and Cynthia Williamswho all knew the answer to last week's trivia question
QUESTION: For people with disabilities, new figures suggest that the odds of having a job varies dramatically depending on where an individual lives.  According to the latest Disability Statistics Annual Report, which state is the best across the nation when it comes to disability employment?
ANSWER: SOUTH DAKOTA

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
Which shoe company is adding to its lineup of sneakers designed specifically for people with disabilities, with a fresh range of offerings for both kids and adults? (This athletic-wear giant is introducing three new shoes that use its FLYEASE entry system, which relies on a wrap-around zipper to secure the shoe and features a larger opening to make it easier to slide feet in and out)

If you know the answer, send an email to contactus@naset.org
All answers must be submitted no later than Monday, April 18, 2016 at 12:00 p.m.

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Cost of Insulin Rises Threefold in Just a Decade: Study

Americans with diabetes who rely on insulin to keep their blood sugar levels in check are facing sticker shock: A new study finds the price of insulin has tripled in only 10 years. Moreover, since 2010, per-person spending on insulin in the United States was more than spending on all other diabetes drugs, the study found. "The cost of insulin has risen rapidly over the last few years," said study senior author Philip Clarke, a professor of health economics at the University of Melbourne in Australia. Clarke added there should be an assessment to see whether this price hike is justifiable in terms of improved clinical outcomes. Read More

Autism Study Participants May Be Too Homogeneous

Children with autism spectrum disorder often have difficulty with social, emotional and communication skills, yet they vary greatly in the way they learn, think and solve problems. That wide range is reflected in a popular saying: "If you've met one kid with autism, you've met ONE kid with autism." But the best research into how to help children with autism seldom considers the race, ethnicity or nationality of the study participants. Read More

Pot Use During Pregnancy Tied to Low Birth Weight Babies

Pregnant women who use marijuana may be putting their baby at risk for health problems, a new study suggests. A review of 24 studies found that pot use during pregnancy is potentially linked to delivering a baby with a low birth weight and the newborn's placement in the intensive care unit, the researchers reported. "As states and countries continue to legalize the use of cannabis [marijuana], understanding the relationship between cannabis and fetal health is essential," said study author Jayleen Gunn. She is an assistant research scientist at the University of Arizona in Tucson. "Some previous studies have found a negative effect of cannabis on fetal health, while others found no effect," she said. Read More

NASET is pleased to provide our members with exclusive access to discounts on products and services. These savings are available to all current NASET members. To find out more about savings from Life Lock, Avis, Budget, Cruises Only, Orlando Vacations and more. Read More

Fragile X research

Researchers have new findings on fragile X, an autism-linked genetic disorder. Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) is an inherited cause of intellectual disability, especially among boys. It results in a spectrum of intellectual disabilities ranging from mild to severe, as well as physical characteristics, such as an elongated face, large or protruding ears, and large testes. Accompanying behavioral characteristics include stereotypic movements, such as hand-flapping, and social anxiety. Read More

Attention Deficit After Kids' Critical Illness Linked to Plasticizers in Medical Tubes

Children who are often hospitalized in intensive care units are more likely to have attention deficit disorders later, and new research finds a possible culprit: a high level of plastic-softening chemicals called phthalates circulating in the blood. The researchers, who will present their study results Friday at The Endocrine Society's 98th annual meeting in Boston, suggest these chemicals, which are added to indwelling medical devices such as plastic tubes and catheters, seep into the child's bloodstream. "Phthalates have been banned from children's toys because of their potential toxic and hormone-disrupting effects, but they are still used to soften medical devices," said lead researcher Sören Verstraete, MD, a PhD student at KU (Katholieke Universiteit) Leuven in Leuven, Belgium. "We found a clear match between previously hospitalized children's long-term neurocognitive test results and their individual exposure to the phthalate DEHP during intensive care." Read More

Study on the Assessment of Students: Overcoming Bias in Decision Making

Even experienced teachers may be involuntarily affected by psychological bias related to pupils' ethnicity. This could affect key decisions related to a child's educational career. University of Luxembourg researchers have shown that these biases can be overcome. Numerous academic studies suggest that people make "differential" judgments and decisions under the influence of expectations. Work from the University of Luxembourg (in The effect of students' ethnicity on teachers' judgments and recognition memory) demonstrates that differential expectations among school teachers can lead to errors in the way they make decisions. The research team led by Prof. Sabine Krolak-Schwerdt probed this further (in Accuracy of teachers' tracking decisions: short- and long-term effects of accountability). 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

Insight into Premature Birth and Autism

Attention to other people is a fundamental role for social cognitive development in the early stages of life. However, infants born prematurely show a different attentional pattern. In a new study, a Kyoto University team found evidence that such babies are less interested in other people compared to infants born full-term, when tested at 6 and 12 months of age. This new study brings light to the links between premature birth, development of social communication skills, and ultimately autism. Recent studies illustrate that infants born prematurely are at more risk of autism. Read More

Bilingual Baby Brains Show Increased Activity in Executive Function Regions

Many brain studies show that bilingual adults have more activity in areas associated with executive function, a set of mental abilities that includes problem-solving, shifting attention and other desirable cognitive traits. Now new findings reveal that this bilingualism-related difference in brain activity is evident as early as 11 months of age, just as babies are on the verge of producing their first words. "Our results suggest that before they even start talking, babies raised in bilingual households are getting practice at tasks related to executive function," said Naja Ferjan Ramírez, lead author and a research scientist at the Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences (I-LABS) at the University of Washington. Read More

New Syndrome Named, Causes a Rare Intellectual Disability

Pediatric researchers, using high-speed DNA sequencing tools, have identified a new syndrome that causes intellectual disability (ID). Drawing on knowledge of the causative gene mutation, the scientists' cell studies suggest that an amino acid supplement may offer a targeted treatment for children with this condition. "Intellectual disability is a common diagnosis, but it includes many different diseases, with multiple genetic causes, and few targeted therapies," said first author Elizabeth Bhoj, M.D., Ph.D., a Genetics fellow in the Center for Applied Genomics (CAG) at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). "This study may represent an early step toward the types of precision medicine treatment that may become more common as we draw on genomic research." Read More

Small Increases in Sleep Improve Grades

Elementary school-age children who improved their sleep habits also improved in their academic performance, according to a study by researchers at McGill University and the Douglas Mental Health University Institute in partnership with the Riverside School Board in Montreal. Using a collaborative approach, called Community-based Participatory Research (CBPR), the team developed a program in conjunction with educators using experiential learning to provide students with competencies needed for real-world success by addressing real-world problems and situations through teacher directed and facilitated learning. "We found that cumulative average extension of five nights × 18.2 min = 91 min in total had a significant impact on report card grades," says McGill professor and lead researcher Reut Gruber. Read More
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Outdoor Light has Role in Reducing Short-Sightedness in Kids

Increasing exposure to outdoor light is the key to reducing the myopia (short-sightedness) epidemic in children, according to ground-breaking research by Australian optometrists. Optometrist and lead researcher on the project, Associate Professor Scott Read who is the director of research at QUT's School of Optometry and Vision Science, said children need to spend more than an hour and preferably at least two hours a day outside to help prevent myopia from developing and progressing. Speaking at the Australian Vision Convention in Queensland on the weekend, Professor Read said it was not 'near work' on computer and other screens causing myopia, but a lack of adequate outdoor light. Read More

For Parents of Children with Autism, More Social Support Means Better Health

About one in 68 children in the United States has an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Their parents consistently report greater stress levels, caregiving burden and depression than parents of typically developing children. Chronic caregiving stress has also been associated with poorer physical health -- more pain, more disruptions from physical-health problems and lower overall health-related quality of life. One powerful way to reduce their stress: social support. That's according to a new study published in Family Relations by researchers from Concordia University in Montreal. And that support is essential as children -- and their parents -- age. It could also have important consequences for health costs. Read More

Could High Expectations in Parent-Child Relationships Raise ADHD Diagnoses?

Parents could be pushing their kids too hard, but how do you keep children motivated without pushing them to their breaking point? Researchers said ADHD diagnoses have increased about 30 percent over the past 20 years and believe it's largely based on environmental factors. A new study from the Journal of the American Medical Association of Pediatrics talks about a connection between adults with unreasonable expectations and their children getting diagnosed with ADHD. Most parents and teachers said pushing children too much can make things worse - and that goes for children with ADHD, too. Read More
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LATEST JOB LISTINGS POSTED ON NASET


* K-12 Special Education Teacher(Multiple Locations) - Coney Island Prep is a college preparatory public charter school in Brooklyn, New York. Merging growth, performance and commitment, the Coney Island Prep community takes its responsibility to prepare students for the college and career of their choice very seriously. To learn more - Click here

* Elementary School Principal - We are seeking an enthusiastic, dedicated, visionary principal and Catholic educator who will continue the growth and development of the school. We are accepting applications from individuals who will value joining a well established and growing community. To learn more - Click here

* Elementary School ICT Special Education Teacher - Our Special Education Teachers for integrated co-teaching classrooms (ICT) are results-driven and passionate about integrated learning for students with special needs. We are looking for special educators who want to re-imagine public education and education for students with disabilities in particular. To learn more - Click here

* Indianapolis Public Schools Special Education Department - is undergoing comprehensive changes that focus on providing world-class services, and as a result, we have many new and exciting opportunities for special education educators. To learn more - Click here

* Special Education Teacher - Develop programs that meet with unique cultural, educational and developmental needs of the students enrolled at the school site and ensure the achievement of excellent educational standards. To learn more - Click here

* Early Childhood Special Educator- Magnum Medical has openings for  Early Childhood Special Educators to work with children of American military families stationed at Bahrain.  Position works in a home-based early intervention program, providing services to infants and toddlers of American military families stationed overseas. To learn more - Click here

* Special Education Teacher - Our real masterpiece is the unleashing of human potential.  While our main focus is on creating the conditions of success for children to achieve their dreams, we also focus on developing one another through meaningful relationships, challenging work, constructive feedback, sound professional training, and a true commitment to nurturing the career path of each team member. To learn more - Click here

* Special Education Specialist - Squaw Valley Academy is looking for an experienced boarding school Special Education certified teacher to join our team and assist in the daily instruction of our students. To learn more - Click here

* Special Education Teacher - Is sought to provide an educational program for students who are developmentally disabled or have special needs and will ensure progress on all IEP goals & district and state requirements. To learn more- Click here

* Special Education Teacher (Arizona) - EBS is seeking passionate, motivated Special Education Teachers who want to make a difference in the lives of exceptional children!  EBS Special Education Teachers develop and implement all aspects of student IEPs and classroom instruction in order to maximize academic, communicative, behavioral, self-help, social and emotional success.  To learn more -
Click here

* Special Educator Teacher (Hawaii) - EBS is seeking passionate, motivated Special Education Teachers who want to make a difference in the lives of exceptional children!  EBS Special Education Teachers develop and implement all aspects of student IEPs and classroom instruction in order to maximize academic, communicative, behavioral, self-help, social and emotional success. To learn more - Click here

* Special Education Teacher (California) - EBS is seeking passionate, motivated Special Education Teachers who want to make a difference in the lives of exceptional children! EBS Special Education Teachers develop and implement all aspects of student IEPs and classroom instruction in order to maximize academic, communicative, behavioral, self-help, social and emotional success. To learn more - Click here

* Teacher - Our students need your expertise, passion and leadership. We are looking for highly motivated and skilled talent to join our team at the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS). We seek individuals who are passionate about transforming and improving educational outcomes for our students. To learn more - Click here

* Special Education Teacher - The Research Foundation, founded in 1951, exists to serve SUNY and to capitalize on the scope, scale and diversity of SUNY as an engine of New York state's innovation economy. To learn more - Click here

* 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). To learn more - Click here

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

No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.
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