Week in Review - December 30, 2016

NASET

WEEK IN REVIEW

National Association of Special Education Teachers

December 30, 2016 Vol 12 Issue # 52

Dear NASET News,

Welcome to NASET'sWEEK in REVIEW. Here, we provide you with the latest publications from NASET 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 at news@naset.org. Have a great weekend and a very happy and healthy start to the New Year!

Sincerely,

NASET News Team

NEW THIS WEEK ON NASET

Autism Spectrum Disorder Series

Advancing Employable Skills for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Literature Review by Dr. Aisha Thomas

This issue of NASET's Autism Spectrum Disorder series was written by Dr. Aisha Thomas. Seeking employment after leaving the high school environment can be a daunting task for most young adults, but for some individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder, the road towards employment may be more problematic. Individuals with ASD may continue to display social skills and communication deficits despite access to support services in public schools such as Adaptive Physical Education, speech therapy, occupational therapy and counseling. The article focuses on how deficits shown in some individuals with ASD effect their chances of obtaining employment (interviewing) and maintaining employment (interacting with colleagues). In addition, the excerpt reflects upon internal (support services, interventions, IEPs) and external (mentoring, vocational rehabilitation) resources that can be utilized to assist those with ASD become employable. Read More

'Groundbreaking' Research Offers Clues to Cause of Dyslexia

People with the reading disability dyslexia may have brain differences that are surprisingly wide-ranging, a new study suggests. Using specialized brain imaging, scientists found that adults and children with dyslexia showed less ability to "adapt" to sensory information compared to people without the disorder. And the differences were seen not only in the brain's response to written words, which would be expected. People with dyslexia also showed less adaptability in response to pictures of faces and objects. That suggests they have "deficits" that are more general, across the whole brain, said study lead author Tyler Perrachione. He's an assistant professor of speech, hearing and language sciences at Boston University. Read More

Cured Meats Could Aggravate Asthma, Study Suggests

Regularly eating cured meats such as ham and salami might aggravate asthma, researchers report. Looking at close to 1,000 people with the respiratory disease, French researchers found that those who ate the most processed and cured meats were 76 percent more likely to see their asthma symptoms worsen over time compared to those who ate the least. These symptoms include trouble breathing, chest tightness and shortness of breath, according to the report. Cured meats are high in chemicals called nitrites to keep them from spoiling. These meats have been linked to a higher risk of other chronic diseases, including cancer, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In addition, they were recently classified as carcinogenic, or cancer-causing, by the World Health Organization (WHO), said the study's lead researcher, Dr. Zhen Li. Read More

FDA OKs High-Tech Diabetes Device to Help Replace Fingerstick Tests

In news that's sure to delight people with diabetes, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday that the Dexcom G5 continuous glucose monitoring system (CGM) can be used to make insulin dosing decisions alone, without the need for additional fingerstick tests of blood sugar levels. That means people with diabetes who use the Dexcom G5 CGM will likely be spared at least three or four fingersticks a day. Right now, blood sugar tests require the use of a lancing device to prick a small hole in the finger to collect a drop of blood to measure the current blood sugar level. Read More

Rest May Not Be Best for Kids After Concussion

Complete rest is a cornerstone of concussion treatment, but a new study indicates that physical activity within a week of a youth's head injury may hasten recovery. Concussed children and teens were less likely to have persistent symptoms four weeks later if they engaged in light aerobic exercise within the first seven days, according to the new research from Canada. Under current guidelines for concussion management, pediatricians recommend a period of physical and mental rest until symptoms such as headache resolve. The new findings "call into question the standard operating procedure where athletes have to be symptom-free before they are allowed to start exertion," said Dr. John Kuluz. Read More

Mothers of Kids with Severe Birth Defects May Have Shorter Lives: Study

A mother raising a child with a major birth defect may face a higher risk of dying early compared with a mother whose child doesn't have a birth defect, Danish research suggests. But, the researchers added, the risk of early death was "marginal." The finding is based on a review involving more than 455,000 Danish mothers. Some had given birth to children with single- or multiple-organ birth defects, including genetic conditions, such as heart or kidney disease, and/or structural anomalies, such as a cleft palate. The result: raising a child with a birth defect was associated with a higher -- though still low -- maternal risk for dying from heart disease or respiratory illness. Read More

A Cure for Social Anxiety Disorders

Social phobia is the most common anxiety disorder of our time. But the current treatment regimen for patients with this diagnosis has not proven very effective. Now a team of Norwegian and British researchers believe they have found a cure for social anxiety disorders. "We've set a new world record in effectively treating social anxiety disorders," says Hans M. Nordahl, a professor of behavioural medicine at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). He has led a project with a team of doctors and psychologists from NTNU and the University of Manchester in England to examine the effects of structured talk therapy and medication on patients with social anxiety disorders. Read More

Delay in Clamping Umbilical Cord Benefits Babies, Doctors Say

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends waiting at least 30 to 60 seconds after birth to clamp a healthy newborn's umbilical cord, citing potential health benefits. The new guideline is a change from 2012, when ACOG expressed uncertainty about the value of delaying clamping. The group now says research suggests healthy infants can benefit from getting more blood from the placenta through the umbilical cord. "While there are various recommendations regarding optimal timing for delayed umbilical cord clamping, there has been increased evidence that shows that the practice in and of itself has clear health benefits for both preterm and term infants," Dr. Maria Mascola, lead author of the guidelines, said in an ACOG news release. Read More

As Children with Autism Age, Services to Help with Transition Needed

According to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in 45 children is diagnosed with autism. As these children age, experiences such as leaving school, finding jobs and living alone can be stressful for adolescents with autism as well as their caregivers. Researchers from the University of Missouri have conducted the first study analyzing the perspectives of adolescents with autism to identify challenges as they "age out" of services. The researchers say these findings highlight the need for social workers and providers to assist children with autism as they transition to adulthood. "The challenges of living independently, gaining employment, attaining postsecondary education and building social relationships are greater for adolescents and young adults with autism," said Nancy Cheak-Zamora, assistant professor of health sciences in the MU School of Health Professions. "It is vital that professionals are prepared to assist with the transition, and that they have insight into adolescent and caregiver experiences during the difficult time of transitioning to adulthood." Read More

New Trial Hopes to Increase Survival for Kids with Cancer

Imagine conquering childhood cancer, only to find out that years down the road your heart may fail. Unfortunately, many children who have battled cancer face this reality. While often lifesaving, the effects of chemotherapy treatment (drugs that kill cancer cells) can take a toll on the developing body of a child, potentially resulting in life-threatening late side effects like cardiac damage. "You go through terrible chemotherapy, achieve remission, have a new lease on life and then your heart fails," said Dr. Todd Cooper, director of the Pediatric Leukemia/Lymphoma Program and Evans Family Endowed Chair in Pediatric Cancer at Seattle Children's. "It's not fair, and we're determined to change this reality." Read More

TRIVIA QUESTION OF THE WEEK
Congratulations to: Patsy Ray, Wanda Routier, Olumide Akerele, Prahbhjot Malhi, Laurine Kennedy and Tracey Christilles who all knew the answer to last week's trivia question.

According to Albert Einstein, what remains after you have forgotten what you learned in school?

ANSWER: EDUCATION

THE TRIVIA QUESTION OF THE WEEK WILL RETURN ON JANUARY 6, 2017

Zika-Linked Birth Defects More Extensive than Previously Thought

New UCLA-led research finds that Zika-linked abnormalities that occur in human fetuses are more extensive -- and severe -- than previously thought, with 46 percent of 125 pregnancies among Zika-infected women resulting in birth defects in newborns or ending in fetal death. The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, suggests that damage during fetal development from the mosquito-borne virus can occur throughout pregnancy and that other birth defects are more common than microcephaly, when babies are born with very small heads. Further, these defects may only be detected weeks or months after the baby is born, said Dr. Karin Nielsen, the study's senior author and a professor of clinical pediatrics in the division of pediatric infectious diseases at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and Mattel Children's Hospital. Read More

Repurposed Drugs May Offer Improved Treatments for Fatal Genetic Disorders of Childhood

University of Rochester Medical Center researchers believe they have identified a potential new means of treating some of the most severe genetic diseases of childhood, according to a study in PLOS Biology. The diseases, called lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs), are caused by disruptions in the functioning of the stomach of the cell, known as the lysosome. LSDs include Krabbe disease, Gaucher disease , metachromatic leukodystrophy and about 40 related conditions. In their most aggressive forms, they cause death of affected children within a few years after birth. Read More

Teen Violence Can Be Contagious, Study Contends

Violence could be contagious among teens, according to Ohio State University researchers. The researchers studied data collected in the mid-1990s from more than 5,900 seventh- through 12th-graders at 142 U.S. schools. Their key finding: Students were far more likely to engage in a violent act if a friend had also done so. The youths were 48 percent more likely to be in a serious fight and 140 percent more likely to pull a weapon on someone if a friend had done the same. They also were up to 183 percent more likely to injure someone badly, the researchers said. The researchers also found that the spread of violence isn't limited to close friends. It can spread from one person to a friend, to the friend's friend and two more friends beyond, according to the study published online Dec. 20 in the American Journal of Public Health.. Read More

Used Safely, Donor Breast Milk Can Help Preemie Babies

Tiny preemies can benefit from donated breast milk -- if it's given in the hospital with proper safety measures, a leading pediatricians' group says. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) also warned parents against informal "milk-sharing," or buying breast milk online. It's the first time the academy has issued a policy statement on donor breast milk, which is being used by a growing number of U.S. hospitals -- mainly in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Specialists welcomed the report, saying it highlights an important measure for improving tiny preemies' health. It could serve as a "wake-up call" to hospitals that are not yet using donor breast milk, said Diane Spatz, director of the breast-feeding and lactation program at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Read More

The Impact of Child Abuse Can Last a Lifetime

The traumatic effects of child abuse and neglect can persist for decades, often with substantial economic consequences, researchers report. "We found associations of child neglect and abuse with adult socioeconomic circumstances at age 50," said lead author Snehal Pinto Pereira. Physical, social or emotional abuse in childhood was linked at midlife to a greater risk of time off from work due to long-term sickness, said Pereira, a research associate at University College London's Institute of Child Health. Mistreatment in childhood also lowered the odds of owning a home, she said. "The associations for child neglect were linked to their poor reading and mathematics skills in adolescence, which in turn could hamper their ability to find work and progress in the job market," she explained. Read More

Life After Juvenile Detention Isn't Easy, Especially for Minorities

Many people have difficulty getting their lives back on track after being released from juvenile detention, especially those from racial and ethnic minorities, a new study shows. Delinquent youth are at high risk for problems in adulthood. Some of the reasons why include a background of significant trauma and loss, limited social support or adult guidance, and limited academic success, according to study author Karen Abram. She is an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Northwestern University in Chicago. The study included more than 1,800 people who had been in juvenile detention. The researchers checked in on them five and 12 years later. The investigators looked for educational achievement, independent living, no criminal activity, no substance abuse, parenting responsibility, relationships and gainful activity. Read More

New Approach to Concussion Diagnosis

Testing someone's ability to process sound after a head injury may reveal whether that person has a concussion, according to a small new study. Currently, no single test can reliably and objectively diagnose a concussion, according to researchers at Northwestern University's Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory in Evanston, Ill. "This biomarker could take the guesswork out of concussion diagnosis and management," said the study's lead author, Nina Kraus. "Our hope is this discovery will enable clinicians, parents and coaches to better manage athlete health, because playing sports is one of the best things you can do," added Kraus, who is director of the laboratory. Read More

Better Sleep May Signal Recovery from Brain Injury

Recovery from traumatic brain injury appears to go hand-in-hand with improvement of related sleep problems, a new study finds. "These results suggest that monitoring a person's sleep-wake cycle may be a useful tool for assessing their recovery after traumatic brain injury," said study author Nadia Gosselin. She's an assistant professor in the department of psychology at the University of Montreal. "We found that when someone sustained a brain injury and had not recovered a certain level of consciousness to keep them awake and aware of their surroundings, they were not able to generate a good sleep-wake cycle. But as they recovered, their quality of sleep improved," Gosselin said in a news release from the American Academy of Neurology. Read More

Mumps Cases Hit 10-Year High in U.S.

Mumps cases have hit a 10-year high in the United States, and the contagious disease is especially common on college campuses, an infectious disease expert says. Before a mumps vaccine became widely available in the United States in 1967, nearly every child would get infected. Since then, cases have declined more than 99 percent, but outbreaks still occur, according to Dr. Cristie Columbus. An infectious disease specialist, she is vice dean of Texas A&M College of Medicine's Dallas campus. Symptoms include enlarged salivary glands -- which cause puffy cheeks and a swollen jaw -- along with fever, fatigue and head and muscle aches. Up to 40 percent of people with mumps have mild symptoms or none at all and may not realize they are sick. But, they can still spread the disease to others. Read More

LATEST JOB LISTINGS POSTED ON NASET

*Special Education Teacher - Currently, looking for a Special Education Teacher that wants to join a growing team at New Hope Treatment Center. We specialize in providing an educational experience for residents between 12-21 years of age, whose emotional, mental, or physical disabilities make it difficult for them to learn. To learn more - Click here

*Special Education Department Chair - The primary responsibilities of the department chair are instructional leadership of special education classes and administration of all departmental activities. The department chair is responsible for the supervision of all teachers and education support staff in the special education department. To learn more - Click here

*Head of School for Dallas Academy - Dallas Academy is seeking an enthusiastic and committed Head of School who is knowledgeable in the full spectrum of special education and who possesses a heart for working with families and their children who have these learning differences. To learn more - Click here

*Special Education Teacher - Elementary Special Education Teacher in New York City. To teach elementary students with learning disabilities. B.A. in Education and NYS Teacher's Certification required. Mail resume to AMAC, Attn: Giovanna Henson - To Learn more - Click here

*Special Education Teacher - Alfred E. Smith CTE High School is seeking multiple Special Education Teachers in all content areas. Positions are for immediate hire or February 2017. To learn more - Click here

*Tenure-Track Assistant Professor in Special Education - The position will be housed in the early childhood education PK-4 program in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, but will also teach special education for the secondary math education program housed in the School of Science. To learn more - Click here

*Special Education Teacher - The Hoffman Academy is a special education, private, academic school for students identified with social and emotional disorders. The school is aligned with, and located on the grounds of, Hoffman Homes for Youth- a psychiatric residential treatment facility outside Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The Hoffman Academy educates approximately 100 students. To learn more - Click here

*Special Education Specialist - The primary responsibility of the Special Education Specialist is to provide instruction and other related services to Special Education students. The Special Education Specialist will also facilitate diagnostic assessment including administration, scoring and interpretation. To learn more - Click here

*Special Education Teacher - Under general supervision of the House Manager, the incumbent is responsible for teaching and supervising a class of special needs students utilizing various techniques to promote learning. Duties include planning, organizing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating class activities, developing Individualized Education Plans (IEP) and working with assigned staff, therapists and students to achieve the IEP goals and objectives. To learn more - Click here

*Special Education Teacher - is sought by Barstow Unified School District in Barstow CA. At present there is a single job opening for a full time position for 7 hours a day 185 days per year. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. To learn more - Click here

If you are an Employer looking for excellent special education staff - Click here for more information

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

I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You're doing things you've never done before, and more importantly, you're doing something.
Neil Gaiman

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