NASET

WEEK IN REVIEW

National Association of Special Education Teachers

July 3, 2020                    Vol 16 Issue #27

Dear NASET Members and Guests,

Welcome to NASET's WEEK 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,

WHATS NEW AT NASET

NASET’s Special Educator e-Journal July 2020

Table of Contents

• Special Education Legal Alert. By Perry A. Zirke
• Buzz from the Hub
• Replacing the “Special” in Special Education. By Steven Benson, Ed.D
• Children with an Intellectual Disability in an Inclusive Setting. By Keishla Candelario
• Visual Supports for Students with Disabilities: A Review of Literature. By Krystal Fernandez
• Masters of Morphology: Explicit Multisensory Structured Metacognitive Language Strategies to Foster Adolescent Learners’ Content Vocabulary. By Samantha Ashley Forres
• An Analysis of the Interactions between Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Oppositional Defiance Disorder, and Conduct Disorder, and Implications with Juvenile Delinquency. By Justin M. Tarradell
• Book Reviews
• Hacking Leadership: 10 Ways Great Leaders Inspire Learning That Teachers, Students, and Parents Love. By Bridget Barahon
• Lead Like a Pirate. By Demetria C Johnson
• The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People Will Follow You (10th Anniversary Edition). By Bryanna Nune
• Acknowledgements

Read More

Department of Education Issues New COVID-19 Guidance for Students with Disabilities

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) has released new guidance on how states and schools can address special education disputes during the COVID-19 pandemic. The OSEP released the details in two Q&A documents in response to inquiries concerning implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) dispute resolution procedures. Due to COVID-19, children may not have been able to receive programs as they were pre-pandemic. The OSEP is encouraging parents, service providers and administrators to collaborate creatively to continue to the meet the needs of children with disabilities and their families. Read More

Three Potential New Targets for Treating Epilepsy

A major international study has uncovered three molecules that have the potential to be developed into new drugs to treat epilepsy. The findings are an important step towards discovering new drugs for people with epilepsy whose seizures cannot be controlled with current treatments. The study was led by researchers at FutureNeuro, the SFI Research Centre for Chronic and Rare Neurological Diseases and RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences. It is the result of seven years of research, involving contributions from 35 scientists, based in eight different European countries, across the fields of neuroscience, genetics, computer science and synthetic chemistry. The research is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) USA. Read More

Scientists Uncover New Genetic Mutations Linked to Autism Spectrum Disorder

Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute and Radboud University Medical Center in the Netherlands have identified mutations in a gene called CNOT1 that affect brain development and impair memory and learning. The study is the first to link neurodevelopmental delays with CNOT1, suggesting that drugs that help restore the gene's function may have therapeutic benefit. The research, published in The American Journal of Human Genetics, also revealed that CNOT1 interacts with several known autism spectrum disorder (ASD) genes, opening new research avenues for the condition. "Prior to this work, the CNOT1 gene was not on the radar of autism researchers," says Rolf Bodmer, Ph.D., director and professor in the Development, Aging and Regeneration Program at Sanford Burnham Prebys and the study's co-corresponding and co-senior author. Read More

A Shorter IQ Test for Children with Special Needs

For decades, neuropsychologists have used the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children test as the gold-standard intelligence quotient (IQ) test to determine the intellectual abilities of children with special needs. However, this comprehensive test can take up to 2 hours to complete, and many children with special needs have a difficult time participating in such long tests. To solve this problem, researchers at the University of Missouri's Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders identified measures in the test that appeared to be repetitive and succeeded in shortening the test by up to 20 minutes while still maintaining its accuracy in determining a child's IQ. Read More

Treating Leukemia More Effectively

In the current issue of Communications Biology, Professor Jindrich Cinatl from the Institute for Medical Virology at Goethe University and Professor Martin Michaelis from the School of Biosciences at the University of Kent report on their investigations with nelarabine on different cell lines. "Nelarabine is the precursor of the drug, a prodrug, that does not become effective until it is combined with three phosphate groups in the leukaemia cell," explains Professor Cinatl. "In studies of various ALL cell lines and leukaemia cells from ALL patients, we have been able to demonstrate that the enzyme SAMHD1 splits the phosphate groups off so that the medicine loses its effect." Because B-ALL cells contain more SAMHD1 than T-ALL cells, nelarabine is less effective with B-ALL. Read More

Oregon Audit: Children with Disabilities Not Getting Needed Services

An audit form Oregon’s Secretary of State presents structural problems with how the state supports thousands of students with disabilities. The bottom line from the 21-page document was straightforward: “Children experiencing disabilities are not consistently receiving the access to services and supports they are entitled to and need.” Officials with the Oregon Department of Education said they agree with most of the audit’s recommendations, but they cited costs, different priorities and the separation between state and local roles in supervising schools as reasons that state education leaders won’t pursue some suggestions. The director of ODE, Colt Gill, also noted that schools have been turned inside-out over the last four months by the coronavirus, dramatically changing the context for how to conduct school. Read More

COVID and Disability

As COVID-19 continues to disrupt life as we know it, and its impacts are felt far and wide across the world, there is a growing need to ensure those most vulnerable are not left behind. In particular, the world’s one billion people with disabilities. For many and varied reasons, people with disabilities are highly vulnerable during this pandemic. For one, people with disabilities are more likely to experience pre-existing health conditions that put them at a higher risk of illness and death due to COVID-19. They are also more likely to fall within the category of low-income earners, increasing their likelihood of living in a crowded home. They may also lack access to adequate water, sanitation and hygiene services and not be able to afford medical assistance and medication. People with disabilities are often excluded from receiving public safety information. People with disabilities are also represented in age groups most impacted by COVID-19, making up one third of people aged 50 or older in low and middle-income countries. Read More

Children with Disabilities are Losing Skills They Worked Hard to Develop as They’re Forced to Miss School

While on the phone with her son's caseworker in early April, Nardia Greaves heard a crash and scream in her Bronx apartment. The single mother raced to the bathroom and found Nate, her 7-year-old son, on the floor, pinned underneath the sink. He had climbed onto it from the radiator and pulled it down from the wall. The boy lay in a pool of blood, and it looked like a "chunk of his arm was gone," Greaves told Insider. When they got to the emergency room, she learned that her son had severed an artery in his left arm. He underwent three surgeries and got two blood transfusions. He's now recovering at home, but there's a chance he may not regain full use of the injured limb. Read More

Dept. of Justice Warns of Fake Flyers Exempting People with Disabilities from Wearing Mask

The Department of Justice is warning Americans that flyers on the internet regarding face masks and disabled Americans are not legit. Some cards have been circulating online that allegedly exempt the holder from ordinances that require face coverings. Many of these cards cite the Americans with Disabilities Act and contain the Department of Justice seal. Authorities say all official information issued on the topic is available on ada.gov. Read More

Hybrid School Schedules: More Flexibility; Big Logistical Challenges

Opening school with a mix of online and face-to-face instruction—the so-called hybrid model—is shaping up to be the most likely option for scheduling this fall. A hybrid schedule can take many forms. It offers schools the most flexibility but does carry risk by putting people inside buildings together, even if it’s in smaller groups and with social distancing protocols. The logistics will not be simple. And the learning curves for everyone will be steep. Limited in-person instruction gives districts a chance to at least restart daily, in-school classes for their most vulnerable students, including those in special education, low-income students, English-language learners, or younger students, who generally had more difficulty with remote learning than secondary school students. Read More

New Laws Provide Tools for Drivers with Autism and Hearing Issues

Michigan has new laws designed to make it easier for police to know if they're talking to someone who has autism, or hearing problems. Now those on the autism spectrum or who suffer with communication difficulties will be able to select an option when applying or re-applying for their driver’s license, state ID, enhanced ID, or registration. Xavier DeGroat, CEO of the Xavier DeGroat Autism Foundation was diagnosed with autism at 4-years old and has been a key figure championing the legislation. "I faced being pulled over before and I was very focus and fixated with a phone call and a police rushed me to answer his questions when he had me roll the window down. It made me very eager to disprove the mistreatment and allow other people with the same chan have better chances at getting what they need when pulled over with slower reaching them, and giving them more tones, and more social distance to allow the person on the spectrum to not be so stimulated," said DeGroat. Read More

Cannabis Companies Eyeing How Plant Could Help Autism Symptoms

After seeing some success around a treatment for epilepsy, the cannabis industry is increasingly eyeing for products for people with the autism spectrum disorder. Autism is a lifelong developmental disorder that affects communication, behavior and the ability to socialize. In addition to companies looking expand their customer base and come up with new treatments, the Autism Science Foundation is also urging further study on the safety and efficacy of medical marijuana in autism. "While the FDA has eased some regulatory requirements to study CBD, the legality of CBD is still in question making human-based research highly challenging," said the foundation recently. "We urge the DEA to move medical marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule II compound to expand future research possibilities." Read More

Alternative Baseball Provides Experience for Teens, Adults with Special Needs

Alternative Baseball provides experience for teens and adults with autism and special needs. In 2016, the idea of Alternative Baseball® originated in Dallas, Georgia by Taylor Duncan, a young man on the autism spectrum, according to the organization's website. Taylor always wanted to play traditional sports growing up, but was often denied opportunities due to the commonly low perception of what one with autism can and cannot accomplish.  WESH 2's Michelle Imperato caught up with Taylor to talk about Alternative Baseball and how it is changing lives and helping people. Read More

Bedtime Media Use Linked to Less Sleep in Children who Struggle to Self-Regulate Behavior

For some children, screen time before bed translates to less sleep. According to a study from the Arizona State University Department of Psychology, media use in the hour preceding bedtime impacts how kids sleep, especially children who struggle to self-regulate their behavior. Frequent media use before bed in these children predicted later bedtimes and less sleep. The work is now available online in Psychological Science. "Among kids who used the same amount of media in the hour before bed, we found differences that were explained by a personality characteristic called effortful control," said Leah Doane, associate professor of psychology at ASU and senior author on the paper. "Kids who score low on measures of effortful control are the ones who struggle to wait to unwrap a present or are easily distracted. Read More

Medicinal Cannabis May Reduce Behavioral Problems in Children with Intellectual Disabilities

Cannabidiol, a type of medicinal cannabis, may reduce severe behavioral problems in children and adolescents with an intellectual disability a new study has found. The pilot study, led by the Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI) and published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, recorded a clinically significant change in participants' irritability, aggression, self-injury, and yelling. The intervention was also found to be safe and well-tolerated by most study participants. The randomized controlled trial involved eight participants, aged 8-16, years who took either cannabidiol or a placebo over eight weeks. Participants were recruited from pediatric clinics from both hospital and private pediatric practices. Read More

LATEST JOB LISTINGS POSTED ON NASET

* Chief Executive Officer - St. Coletta of Greater Washington is seeking an experienced Chief Executive Officer to lead and manage the organization while achieving educational and operational goals. This person will be responsible for strategically growing St. Coletta with an eye toward achieving success not only for the school, but for the children and adults that benefit from their services.To Learn more - Click here

* Asst Supt - Exceptional Children - The Assistant Superintendent for Special Education Services is a critical leadership role that directly affects the acceleration of improved student outcomes for GCS’s 10,534 students with special needs. This role directs, monitors and strengthens programs and ensures all services are implemented within federal, state, and local regulations. To learn more - Click here

* Education Specialist - We are always looking for compassionate, exceptional educators to join our SPED Team (grades K-5 or 6-8) ! You’ll work collaboratively with your colleagues to drive the achievement of all students in your grade level. You will be encouraged and supported to lead engaging, personalized, and rigorous lessons that integrate our four pillars: Heart, Smart, Think, and Act. To learn more - Click here

* High School Special Education Teacher - New Trier High School is a large, high-achieving school in the northern suburbs of Chicago with two campuses in Northfield and Winnetka, Illinois. The outstanding Special Education department is large and comprehensive. To learn more - Click here

* Special Education Teacher PreK-12 - Essential duties are: aid each student, consistent with his or her abilities and educational needs to develop competence in the basic learning skills, progress on the basis of achievement, qualify for further education and/or employment, develop ethical standards of behavior and participate in society as a responsible family member and citizen. To learn more - Click here

* Assistant Principal - Avondale House is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit agency that provides, educational services to individuals with autism, a day habilitation program for young adults, where clients receive training in daily living skills and pre-vocational activities, employment services for those with disabilities and four residential homes for adults unable to live in their own home. This position will assist the Principal in order to maintain smooth operations, administratively and pro-grammatically, of the Avondale House School. To learn more - Click here

* Exceptional Student Education, Teacher - Responsible for the educational leadership of students placed in exceptional education programs, including gifted students and students with disabilities. This position encompasses the three standards included in Teacher Professional Expectations in School Board Policy, which are high student achievement, safe learning environment, and effective and efficient operations. To learn more - Click here

* Academic Resource Center Math Specialist/Teacher - Academic Resource Center (ARC) Mathematics Specialist/Teacher is a teacher leader who is responsible for supporting effective Grade 9 through 12 mathematics instruction and student learning with a particular focus on students with service plans and exceptional needs. To learn more - Click here

* Diverse Learner Teacher - We are seeking experienced full-time Diverse Learner Teachers (K-8 Grades) to join CICS Avalon, CICS Basil, and CICS Washington Park Campuses for the 2020-2021 school year. A Diverse Learner Teacher holds primary responsibility for providing academic, emotional, and physical services for students who require additional support to thrive within the school’s core academic program. To learn more - Click here

* Special Education Teacher - We are looking for highly motivated and skilled Special Education teachers to join our team at District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS). DCPS serves more than 51,000 students through the e?orts of approximately 4,000 educators in 117 schools. DCPS intends to have the highest-performing, best paid, most satis?ed, and most honored educator force in the nation and a distinctive central o?ce sta? whose work supports and drives instructional excellence and signi?cant achievement gains for DCPS students. To learn more- Click here

* Special Education Teacher - Environmental Charter Schools is seeking a talented and dynamic Special Education Teacher who is passionate about preparing low-income students of color for college success. The mission of the Environmental Charter Schools (ECS) is to reimagine public education in low-income communities of color to prepare conscious, critical thinkers who are equipped to graduate from college and create a more equitable and sustainable world. To learn more - Click here

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

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

The difference between something good and something great is attention to detail.

Charles R Swindoll