Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a disability that has caught attention in today's educational world. ASD has had a severe increase in the United Stated over the past couple of years. According to recent statistics, 1 in 88 children are diagnosed with ASD and it is more prevalent in males than in females. Through research studies, researchers have found that environmental factors, family history, and what expectant mothers are exposed to during pregnancy can be factors in causing ASD but it is not completely clear as of today. Children diagnosed with ASD can vary. Most children will have trouble in their communication skills and social interactions as well as their behavior and academically. This issue ofNASET'sAutism Spectrum Disorderseries was written by Paola M. Esquijarosa from Florida International University and focuses on the importance of inclusion classrooms for students with autism spectrum disorder

Childhood traumas of various sorts can cause kindergartners to struggle in class as well as life, new research contends. A study of more than 1,000 urban children showed those with difficult experiences up until age 5 had math and reading difficulties and difficulty focusing in kindergarten, and were also more likely to have social problems and to be aggressive toward others. The experiences included neglect or physical, sexual or psychological abuse. They also included living in a household with domestic abuse or with a household member who was in jail or prison, had a mental illness or had an addiction or substance abuse problem. To read more,click here

Children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may be more likely to have accidents when crossing busy intersections on their bicycles because they're impulsive and have trouble paying attention, a new study suggests. Researchers said it was known that these children were at increased risk, but the reasons were unclear. "Crossing roads on a bicycle requires decision and action. What we found is children with ADHD have deficits in both areas," study corresponding author Molly Nikolas said in a University of Iowa news release. Nikolas is an assistant professor in the department of psychological and brain sciences. Bicycle crashes are a leading cause of severe injuries in children. Each year, nearly 400,000 kids are treated in U.S. emergency departments for bicycle-related injuries, according to the study. To read more,click here

Teens who have trouble coping with stress may be at increased risk for type 2 diabetes as adults, new research suggests. For the study, researchers examined data from more than 1.5 million 18-year-old men who were conscripted into the Swedish military between 1969 and 1997. The participants all underwent standard testing for stress resilience, and none of them had diabetes at the age of 18. But during the follow-up period, from 1987 to 2012, more than 34,000 of the men were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, according to Dr. Casey Crump, from the department of medicine at Stanford University in California, and colleagues. To read more,click here

More babies are being born with drug withdrawal syndrome, possibly due to increased use of powerful prescription painkillers by pregnant women, according to the director of the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse. It's estimated that 14 percent to 22 percent of pregnant women in the United States are prescribed narcotic ("opioid") painkillers. These drugs include brands such as OxyContin and Percocet. In addition, there has reportedly been an increase in the rate of painkiller abuse among pregnant women. Between 2000 and 2009, the incidence of drug withdrawal syndrome among newborns -- also called neonatal abstinence syndrome -- rose from 1.2 to 3.4 per 1,000 live births, NIDA Director Dr. Nora Volkow reported in an article published in the Jan. 12 issue of the BMJ. To read more,click here

The nation's largest autism advocacy group is getting a new leader who's ripe with experience from some of the nonprofit sector's biggest names. Angela Timashenka Geiger will take over as president and CEO of Autism Speaks in February, the organization said this week. Geiger comes to Autism Speaks after nearly a decade at the Alzheimer's Association where she served as chief strategy officer. She previously held leadership roles at the American Cancer Society. To read more,click here

Fewer childhood cancer survivors are dying years later from lingering effects of the treatment that conquered their cancer, a new study finds. Experts called the report, published in the Jan. 14 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, "very good news." "The findings substantiate what experts in the field have hoped would be true," said lead researcher Dr. Gregory Armstrong, of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, in Memphis, Tenn. Survival rates from many childhood cancers are high, but survivors still face what doctors call "late effects" -- health problems that develop months to years after the cancer treatment has ended. To read more,click here

My name is Lisa Rutner and I am looking for a content expert for my dissertation.  I am a student at Grand Canyon University and have already attended my first residency. My topic is: Exploring strategies middle school teachers need to implement the Multi-tiered Support System with fidelity.  Please contact me at 954-288-6627954-288-6627 or lisa.rutner@marion.k12.fl.us.  Thank you

This Valentine's Day weekend, hundreds of proms planned specifically for people with special needs will take place on a single night at sites around the globe. Two hundred churches in 48 states and eight countries are expected to host the events organized by former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow through his foundation. Dubbed "Night to Shine" all of the parties scheduled for Feb. 12 will feature a red carpet entrance with "friendly paparazzi," corsages and boutonnieres, karaoke, dancing and hair, makeup and shoe-shining stations. To read more,click here

It is well established that people with cystic fibrosis (CF) have two faulty copies of the CFTR gene, but debate continues on the question of whether certain symptoms of the airway disease are caused by the mutation or if the genetic defect precedes, but does not directly lead to some of the worst symptoms patients face. Carla Ribeiro, PhD, associate professor of medicine, and her colleagues at the UNC Marsico Lung Institute/Cystic Fibrosis Research Center fall into the latter camp. A paper from this group, published in the American Journal of Critical Care Medicine, suggests new targets for therapy and further bolsters the case for inflammation as an acquired response unrelated to the CFTR genetic mutation. To read more,click here

The number of Minnesotans with disabilities who endure prolonged waits for crucial social services has fallen sharply in recent months, as the state removes long-standing barriers to families most in need of assistance. State officials are pressuring counties to spend more of the billions of dollars allocated annually - much of it unspent in recent years - for a coveted form of Medicaid assistance that helps people with disabilities build more independent lives in the community. To read more,click here

Exposure to small amounts of lead may contribute to ADHD symptoms in children who have a particular gene mutation, according to new research published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science. "This research is valuable to the scientific community as it bridges genetic and environmental factors and helps to illustrate one possible route to ADHD. Further, it demonstrates the potential to ultimately prevent conditions like ADHD by understanding how genes and environmental exposures combine," says lead researcher Joel Nigg, professor of psychiatry and behavioral neuroscience at the OHSU School of Medicine. To read more,click here

The demand for special education continues, as more tthan six million children and youth nationwide are enrolled in special education programs, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.  The United States Department of Education has reported a shortage of qualified special education teachers for the current academic year. John Merbler, chairman for the Department of Special Education in Teachers College, said special education has been listed as a critical shortage area for the last 20 to 30 years. To read more,click here

At present, it's often far easier for people with disabilities to receive institutional care than community-based supports, but proposed legislation would ensure equal access to both. Under a bill introduced by U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., all individuals with disabilities who are deemed eligible for institutional care would be guaranteed the option to receive the services they need at home or in the setting of their choice. Known as the Disability Integration Act, the legislation would dramatically alter the status quo. Current law generally assures people with disabilities care in nursing homes and other institutional facilities if they need assistance with eating, bathing, housekeeping and other daily activities. But, the availability of community-based services is often more limited and subject to long waiting lists. To read more,click here

Some survivors of childhood cancers that affect vision may face increased risk for long-term health and economic problems, two new studies suggest. The studies, published online Jan. 11 in the journal Cancer, provide new insight that could help improve patient care and follow-up, the researchers say. One study included 470 adult survivors of retinoblastoma who were followed for an average of 42 years. Retinoblastoma, the most common eye tumor of young children, can occur in one or both eyes. Most patients live for many years after treatment. To read more,click here

Last spring, Julia Kim's students with disabilities at Fairmount Elementary in San Francisco were ready to take a new standardized test. They were excited that it had been built especially for them. In past years, students with visual perception disorders had test questions read out loud. This time, the students sat in front of their computers awaiting the new technology designed to help them complete the test on their own for the first time. But as soon as the first question appeared, students complained that the print was too small. To read more,click here