Week in Review - March 4, 2016

NASET

WEEK IN REVIEW

National Association of Special Education Teachers

March 4, 2016                   Vol 12 Issue # 10



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 at news@naset.org. Have a great weekend.

Sincerely,

NASET News Team

NEW THIS WEEK ON NASET

NASET's Educating Children with Severe Disabilities Issue #36


Assistive Technology


Introduction

For years, different modes of technology have been used to improve the quality of life of people who have various developmental disabilities. However, the varied use of technology for children with autism continues to receive limited attention, despite the fact that technology tends to be a high interest area for many of these children.
This issue of the Autism Spectrum Disorder Series will discuss how various modes of technology (including technology designed as augmentative communication systems), can be used for children with autism to increase or improve their:
* Overall understanding of their environment
* Expressive communication skills
* Social interaction skills
* Attention skills
* Motivation skills
* Organization skills
* Academic skills
* Self-help skills
* Overall independent daily functioning skills
Read More

NASET Special Educator e-Journal

March 2016


Table of Contents

* Update from the U.S. Department of Education

* Buzz from the Hub

* From the Journal of American Academy of Special Education Professionals ( JAASEP): High Stakes Testing in the 21st Century: Implications for Students in Special Education. By Lola Gordon, Ed.S.

* NCWD: Intersection: Navigating the Road to Work

* Latest Employment Opportunities Posted on NASET

* Acknowledgements  Read More
Latest Job Postings -Click Here

Gene Abnormality May Be Key to Down Syndrome, Scientists Say

Researchers say they've discovered a genetic abnormality that affects brain development in people with Down Syndrome, and they say this finding might lead to new treatments. "This discovery of the genetic changes that alter communication within the brain uncovered a completely new target for therapies in the brains of people with [Down syndrome]," study co-leader Tarik Haydar, associate professor of anatomy and neurobiology at Boston University School of Medicine, said in a university news release. His research team compared the activity of genes in different areas of the brain in people with Down syndrome as they grew from infants to adults. Read More

Study Details Dire Consequences of Fetal Alcohol Disorders

The many behavioral problems experienced by children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders require early attention, a new research review suggests. This group of health problems -- caused by mothers drinking alcohol during pregnancy -- may include anxiety, aggression, inattention and more, the researchers found. They analyzed published studies and identified three main types of behavioral problems among children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders: "internalizing" behaviors such as anxiety, withdrawal and depression; "externalizing" behaviors such as aggression and delinquency; and other issues such as problems with social skills, attention and thought processing. Read More

Board Certification in Special Education Available to NASET Members

AASEP Logo
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

Could Adults' Expectations Drive Up ADHD Diagnoses in Kids?

Rates of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have risen globally, and adults' unreasonable expectations of young children could be one reason why, researchers suggest. Reporting in the Feb. 22 issue of JAMA Pediatrics, researchers from the University of Miami point to evidence that the rise in ADHD diagnoses coincided with ever-growing demands on young children's attention and focus. Since the 1970s, the researchers said, elementary school children have been getting more and more homework, while preschoolers have spent more time in full-day programs -- and getting coached in reading and numbers by mom and dad. Read More

Pot Habit Early in Life May Alter Brain, Study Suggests

Young teens who smoke pot may wind up with brains that look strikingly different from those who start using marijuana later in their lives, a new study reports. Early pot use may alter the physical development of a young teen's brain. It seems to obstruct the natural process by which the body eliminates unneeded neurons and synaptic connections, the researchers reported. As a result, the brains of people who started smoking pot younger than age 16 tend to have fewer surface wrinkles and folds in the outer layer of the brain, also known as the cerebral cortex, said study lead author Francesca Filbey. She is chair of Behavioral and Brain Sciences at the University of Texas at Dallas' Center for BrainHealth. 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.

THIS WEEK'S TRIVIA QUESTION:
According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, are charges of job bias related to disability rising, staying the same or decreasing?

If you know the answer, send an email to contactus@naset.org
All answers must be submitted no later than Monday,March 7, 2016 at 12:00 p.m.

For Transgender Kids, Support Is Key to Emotional Well-Being

Transgender children who feel supported seem to have no greater risk of depression and anxiety than other kids do, a new study suggests. Experts said the findings are welcome news -- especially in light of past studies finding high rates of depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts among transgender children and adults. These latest results suggest that when transgender kids feel supported in their "social transition," their mental well-being is on par with their peers, the researchers said. Social transitioning is considered an option for children who consistently identify as transgender. It means that the children take on a name, clothing, hairstyle and other characteristics typical of the gender they identify with, rather than the gender they were born with. Read More

Program Helps Kids With Special Needs Learn To Swim

There are few things Michael Birkelien will bug his mother Jennifer about. But when Thursdays roll around, the 10-year-old diagnosed with autism buzzes around the family's home outside Baltimore. "He will ask, 'Swimming Thursday?'" Jennifer Birkelien said. "It's definitely something he looks forward to, and he communicates that with me." Michael Birkelien's anticipation stems from his participation in Sensory Swim, a program that instructs children with special needs on how to swim. Founded and run by husband and wife Andrew and Mary Ross, Sensory Swim operates out of five Kids First Swim School locations. Read More

Exercise + Classwork May = Better Math Scores

Schoolchildren may have an easier time learning if exercise is part of their math and spelling lessons, a new study suggests. Dutch researchers found that second- and third-graders given "physically active" lessons did better on math and spelling tests, compared with their peers who learned the old-fashioned way. Experts not involved with the study called the findings "encouraging." But they also said it's too soon to push for physically active classrooms everywhere. Weaving exercise into traditional lessons could offer the "amazing possibility" of helping kids learn, while also helping them stay healthy, said Sara Benjamin Neelon, an associate professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, in Baltimore. 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

Prenatal Use of HIV Drug May Slow Child's Development Slightly

A drug used to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission during pregnancy may slow language development slightly in children, a new study suggests. Researchers followed more than 900 infants who were born to HIV-positive mothers but were not infected by the AIDS-causing virus. All of the mothers took antiretroviral drugs during pregnancy. Some of the treatment regimens included a drug called atazanavir (Reyataz), while others did not. The infants underwent a standard test of development at 1 year of age. The 167 infants whose mothers took atazanavir during pregnancy had slightly lower language and social development scores than the 750 infants whose mothers did not take the drug. Read More

Federal Proposal Calls For Disability Hiring Quota

Under a new proposal, the federal government would be required to take sweeping steps to utilize affirmative action to increase the number of workers with disabilities in its ranks. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said this week that it is proposing a rule that would require federal agencies to work toward a 12 percent workforce representation rate for people with disabilities and a 2 percent representation rate for those with targeted or severe conditions including intellectual disability. Moreover, the rule calls for government agencies to provide personal assistance to employees with disabilities who need help with eating, using the restroom and other basic human functions while at work. Read More

Paid Family Leave Tied to Decline in Child Abuse

Paid family leave might lead to reduced risk of abuse-related head injuries in young children, according to a new study. Researchers compared data from 1995 through 2011 in California -- which introduced paid family leave in 2004 -- with seven states without such a policy: Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts and Wisconsin. After California introduced paid family leave, there was a decline in rates of hospital admissions for abuse-related head injuries in children younger than 2 years old, the investigators found. After accounting for factors such as adults' job status and education level, the researchers concluded that paid family leave was associated with a drop of 5.1 admissions per 100,000 among children younger than 1 year, and a decrease of 2.8 per 100,000 among children younger than 2 years. Read More

ABA Therapy Hard To Come By Despite Mandates

All morning at the Autism Academy of South Carolina, 6-year-old Brooke Sharpe has been doing what her therapist tells her to do: build a Mr. Potato Head; put together a four-piece puzzle of farm animals; roll a tennis ball. Now it's Brooke's turn to choose. She touches an icon of Elsa from the movie "Frozen" on her iPad. When "Let It Go" begins to play, she swings her braids to the music. For Brooke, who has a severe form of autism and doesn't speak, this is progress: Last year, unable to express a preference, she might have just flailed to the floor in tears, said Kristen Bettencourt, her therapist. Read More

Tommy Hilfiger Debuts Adaptive Clothing Line

A major clothing designer is launching a line of apparel just for children with special needs. Tommy Hilfiger released a line of adaptive clothing on its website Tuesday. The 22-piece children's offering is comprised of items that look just like clothing in the company's regular spring collection, but include magnets, velcro and other modifications to allow for easy on and off for kids with disabilities.
All of the items are priced the same as the versions for typically-developing kids, the company said. For the clothing line, Tommy Hilfiger collaborated with the nonprofit Runway of Dreams. Mindy Scheier founded the group - which works to increase the availability of fashionable clothing for kids with special needs - after adapting jeans for her son Oliver who has a rare form of muscular dystrophy and wears leg braces.Read More

Braille Maps for Blind, Visually Impaired Created with 3-D Printer at Rutgers

Using a high-tech 3-D printer, a Rutgers undergraduate and his professor created sophisticated braille maps to help blind and visually impaired people navigate a local training center. The three plastic tactile maps are for each floor at the Joseph Kohn Training Center, a state-funded facility for the blind and visually impaired in New Brunswick. And the goal is to print maps for all of the center's students. "It was a very fulfilling experience," said Jason Kim, 25, a senior mechanical engineering student in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering in Rutgers' School of Engineering. "I learned a lot. The most difficult part was trying to imagine what it would be like to be blind myself so I could better tackle the problem, and it opened my eyes to the whole visually impaired and blind community." Read More

'Preemie' Babies May Face Long-Term Anesthesia Risks

Children born prematurely may be at risk for complications from anesthesia and sedation at least into young adulthood, a new study suggests. "Perhaps we should look at these children differently and provide different care to them," said study lead author Dr. Jeana Havidich, a pediatric anesthesiologist at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H. Premature babies often face medical issues that require diagnostic tests and procedures, even as they grow older, the study noted. And physicians know prematurity puts these people at higher risk when they need to be sedated, Havidich said. Read More

Honor Society for Special Education Teachers

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Link Between ADHD, Vision Impairment in Children

A new study sheds light on a link between noncorrectable vision problems and ADHD in children. Results from a large survey of 75,000 children suggest an increased risk of ADHD among children with vision problems that are not correctable with glasses or contacts, such as color blindness or lazy eye, relative to other children. This finding suggests that children with vision impairment should be monitored for signs and symptoms of ADHD so that this dual impairment of vision and attention can best be addressed. Read More

Brain Cancers Both Common and Deadly Among Teens, Young Adults: Report

Brain cancers are the most common cause of cancer deaths among teens and young adults, but the types of cancers that strike can vary widely as people age, a new report shows. "For these individuals -- who are finishing school, pursuing their careers and starting and raising young families -- a brain tumor diagnosis is especially cruel and disruptive," said Elizabeth Wilson, president and CEO of the American Brain Tumor Association (ABTA). "This report enables us for the first time to zero in on the types of tumors occurring at key [age] intervals over a 25-year time span, to help guide critical research investments and strategies for living with a brain tumor that reflect the patient's unique needs," Wilson said in an association news release. Read More

Protein That Triggers Juvenile Arthritis Identified

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis, or JIA, is the most common form of childhood arthritis. It appears to be an autoimmune disease, caused by antibodies attacking certain proteins in a person's own tissue. But no "autoantigens" -- the proteins triggering an immune attack -- have been linked to JIA. Now, a new study offers evidence that a human protein called transthyretin (TTR) causes an autoimmune reaction in the joints of JIA patients. The study, led by researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and the Children's Hospital at Montefiore (CHAM), was published online in the journal JCI Insight. Read More
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LATEST JOB LISTINGS POSTED ON NASET


* First and Second Grade Head Teacher (16001076) - Eliot-Pearson Children's School is a laboratory demonstration school for the Department of Child Development at Tufts University. The Head Teacher's responsibilities include providing a dynamic, developmental, inclusive program for multi- age first/second grade children, working with families, therapists, team-teaching and supervising and mentoring University undergraduate and graduate students. To learn more -Click here

* Early Childhood Special Educator (Bahrain) - The EDIS program is a Department of Defense program that helps active-duty military members' special needs children from birth to 3 years of age living in base housing by providing free in-home physical, speech, occupational, and cognitive therapies to help them reach their age-appropriate developmental milestones. 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

* 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

* Upper School Math Teacher- Is sought by the Lighthouse Point Academy with the ability to articulate the Mission, Vision, and Values of the school both verbally and in writing and have a comprehensive knowledge of curriculum and instruction within the appropriate content area and/or grade level. To learn more - Click here

* Alternative Assessment Developers - Work at home! Ceres Publishing Services LLC (www.ceres-llc.com) is assembling a team of special education teachers or former teachers to lend their expertise to the development of state alternative assessments. 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

* Assistant Professor of Special Education- Texas Woman's University College of Professional Education is seeking qualified candidates for a tenure- track position as Assistant Professor of Special Education in Denton, Texas. 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..........


Don't let life discourage you; everyone who got where he is had to begin where he was.
Richard L. Evans
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