Week in Review - October 15, 2021

October 22 2021


NASET

WEEK IN REVIEW

National Association of Special Education Teachers

October 15, 2021                 Vol 17 Issue #42



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 Classroom Management series

Behavior Assessment, Plans, and Positive Supports

What is a student trying to communicate with his or her behavior? Why is a student exhibiting challenging behavior? Behavioral assessments can help you answer that question. They also are helpful in developing a behavioral intervention plan that reduces problem behavior, including positive behavior supports. This issue of NASET’s Classroom Management series focuses on these three elements: conducting behavioral assessments, developing behavior plans, and providing positive behavior supports. The resources listed below from the Center for Parent Information and Resources aren’t exhaustive of all those available, but they will certainly get you started and connect you with lots of other useful information.

Read More


JAASEP FALL 2021

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  • JAASEP Editorial Board of Reviewers
  • Educational Leaders’ Perspectives on their Preparation, Practice, and Professional Development in Multi-Tiered Systems of Support
  • Where is the Paraeducator Content in Introductory Special Education Textbooks?
  • Classroom Membership: What Does That Mean Exactly?
  • Teaching Middle School Students with Disabilities to Solve Multi-Step Equations using the Hands-On Equations System
  • The Impact of a Community-University Partnership Program on Special Education Teacher Training in Autism Spectrum Disorder
  • The Practices of Teachers in the Development of Post-Secondary Skills in Students with Learning Disabilities
  • Using Social Stories to Decrease Negative Behaviors in Students with Autism and Other Disabilities
  • Using Technology-Based Interventions to Improve the Social-Communication Skills of Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
  • Association of Intellectual Risk Taking with Science Achievement of Gifted Students and Comparison of their Intellectual Risk Taking in Different Grades and Gender
  • Applying Empathy Curriculum to Enhance the Role of the Paraprofessional for Students with Multiple Disabilities
  • Teaching Children with SMA 1 to Expressively Communicate Using Augmentative and Alternative Communication Systems: Extending Functional Communication Teaching Using a Model of Verbal Behavior
  • What School Psychologists Should Know About Multiple Sclerosis
  • Increasing Independent Toileting in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Other Developmental Disabilities: A Systematic Review
  • Author Guidelines for Submission to JAASEP
  • Copyright and Reprint Rights of JAASEP
  • Download this Issue of JAASEP - Download Page

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One in Three Kids with Food Allergies Say They’ve Been Bullied Because of Their Condition

Living with a food allergy can greatly impact a child's everyday life -- from limiting participation in social activities to being treated differently by peers. While previous research indicates many kids experience food allergy-related bullying, a new study in the Journal of Pediatric Psychology found that offering kids with food allergies a multi-question assessment gives a more accurate picture of the size and scope of the problem. When asked a simple "yes" or "no" question about food allergy-related bullying, 17% of kids said they'd been bullied, teased or harassed about their food allergy. But when asked to reply to a multi-item list of victimization behaviors, that number jumped to 31%. Furthermore, Children's National Hospital researchers found that only 12% of parents reported being aware of it. The reported bullying ranged from verbal teasing or criticism to more overt acts such as an allergen being waved in their face or intentionally put in their food. Researchers say identifying accurate assessment methods for this problem are critical so children can get the help they need. Read More

How Much Screen Time is too Much? The Answer is ‘It Depends’

One of the biggest critiques of full-time virtual and blended learning is that kids spend way too much time on screens. Students have complained about getting headaches, and educators have suffered from “Zoom fatigue.” So how worried should educators be about all that time students spend staring at a Chromebook, iPad, or cellphone screen, especially if it’s followed by hours of television or video games? How many hours of screen time per day is too much? To answer those questions, Education Week spoke with Lisa Guernsey, a senior fellow and strategic advisor with the Education Policy Program at New America, and Michael Levine, Senior Vice President, Learning and Impact, for Noggin, Nickelodeon’s online interactive learning service for preschoolers. Read More

‘Once-in-a-Generation Opportunity’: Research Heavyweights Team Up to Help Districts Use Real-Time Data to Aid Students’ Pandemic Recovery

Three education research organizations are joining forces to help school systems use data to aid student recovery from pandemic learning disruptions. NWEA, Harvard University’s Center for Education Policy Research and CALDER, at the American Institutes for Research, will partner with a consortium of districts across the United States to provide timely information about tutoring, after-school programs and other interventions educators hope — but are not sure — will help children regain ground in reading, math and other core subjects. The goal is to allow educators to pivot quickly when an academic intervention does not work as well as they had hoped, or to double-down on strategies that yield good outcomes. Read More

Mother Introduces Cycling to Those on Autism Spectrum

Twin brothers Ron and Arturo love to ride their bicycles with their family. "They were diagnosed with autism. They are on the spectrum," said Patricia Muñoz-Upton with Cycling For Autism and Other Abilities. TThey were diagnosed. Ronald was diagnosed at the age of two and Arturo wasn't diagnosed until almost four. They are tip-toe walkers, so they have a lot of sensory issues." It all started one day when Muñoz-Upton and her husband wanted to teach the boys how to ride a bicycle. "We love the outdoors, we love exercising, we love cycling, skiing and we wanted our children to participate with us," Muñoz-Upton said. "We just got them on bikes and it took a while, but they finally got it. We ride 10 miles sometimes a day." Read More

 



Indiana Violated Federal Law by Issuing Emergency Special Education Licenses

Indiana issued thousands of emergency special education teaching permits in violation of federal law over the last four years — placing some of the highest need students in the state with untrained teachers. State officials say this is an oversight they’re now trying to correct by requiring special education teachers to be fully licensed or meet new requirements for provisional licensing. But the sudden shift in policy will be a difficult change for Indiana schools, which have become increasingly reliant on emergency permits due to a shortage of special education teachers. Advocates fear this could force the licensed educators who remain to shoulder large caseloads of students with special needs, including students who may require substantial and time-intensive services. Indiana issued 43 percent more special education emergency teaching permits in 2019-20 than it did four years before — rising to more than 1,200 from about 850 in 2016-17. That includes teachers with emergency licenses in mild intervention, intense intervention, deaf and hard of hearing, and blind and low vision. Read More

Special Education Questions on Colorado Charter School Applications Violate Federal Law, Complaints Allege

Advocates have filed civil rights complaints against more than two dozen Colorado charter schools alleging that questions on their application forms about whether prospective students receive special education services violate federal law. Colorado charter schools enroll students with disabilities at a lower rate than the state average — and at a lower rate than charter schools in most other states, according to a study by the Center for Learner Equity. The study, commissioned last year by the Colorado Department of Education’s Schools of Choice Unit, identified such screening questions as one reason for the lower enrollment. Even when schools don’t use the question to screen out prospective students, advocates fear parents will be deterred. They might think a school isn’t prepared to serve their child — or doesn’t want to. Read More

Gifted Children with ADHD, and the Challenges their Parents Face

With the new school year underway, some parents will have a harder time than others because of a little known, but very real phenomenon: their child is “twice exceptional”. These children have both the potential for high achievement (“gifted”) and a one or more disabilities, such as ADHD or generalized anxiety. While giftedness is a strength, being twice exceptional creates a vulnerability for a child. The number of twice-exceptional children in Québec is estimated to be between 20,000 and 30,000, but their exact number is unknown because it is difficult to identify them. Their parents, however, know that something needs to be done. Read More

Better Understanding of Cystic Fibrosis

Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) are hopeful new understanding of cellular defects related to Cystic Fibrosis (CF) could help pave the way for treatment of the disease. A team in the College of Medicine led by Drs. Juan Ianowski (PhD) and Julian Tam (MD) found that sodium transport is abnormal in lungs with CF. The researchers, affiliated with the Respiratory Research Centre, studied the swine model of CF and used a specialized microelectrode technique that allowed them to perform experiments with very high resolution. They discovered there is excessive sodium absorption in the small airways, a previously unstudied site in the body. "A precise understanding of the cellular basis of CF lung disease is a prerequisite for the development of treatments such as gene therapy that have the potential to cure CF," said Tam. "CFTR modulators, such as Trikafta, can improve life for about 90 per cent of patients. Our work is especially relevant to that 10 per cent of people with CF who cannot benefit from these medications." Read More

Onset of Allergies Including Asthma and Hay Fever Not Directly Causally Linked to Mental Health Traits

Allergic diseases such as asthma, atopic dermatitis and hay fever do not cause the onset of mental health conditions or vice versa, according to the findings of a new University of Bristol-led study published (6 October) in the journal Clinical and Experimental Allergy. While previous studies have?reported an observational relationship between mental health and common allergic diseases, until now, causal relationships?had not yet been identified. Researchers from Bristol Medical School: Population Health Sciences (PHS) and School of Psychological Science wanted to find out whether allergic diseases actually cause mental health traits including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia or vice-versa. Read More


October 22 2021


TRIVIA QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Congratulations to: Nancy Maxwell, Lori Otto, Morgan Lee, Amy Ross Bradl, Mary Ellen Denmon, Zenaida Lemus, Tracey Christilles, Brandi Reyna, Elizabeth Ciccarelli-Rosa, Cindi Maurice, Katrina White, Karen Frantz-Fry, Patsy Ray, Kylie Powell, Susan Mason, Diane Campbell-Mitchell, Debra Pearce, Lizzie Sheldon, Lauro Esquilona III, and Wanda Routier who all knew the answer to last week's trivia question:

This type of hearing follows disciplinary actions for a student with a disability by the school that results in suspension, expulsion from a student’s current school or a changing in placement. If a disciplinary action involves a request for removal from a student’s current educational placement for more than 10 cumulative school days, the IEP team must meet to determine whether the misconduct resulted from the disability. What is the name of this type of hearing?

Answer: MANIFESTATION DETERMINATION

This week's trivia question: In 1990, the name of the federal law in special education was changed to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Along with this name change, two new disability classification were added under IDEA. What were the 2 disability classifications added to IDEA in 1990?

If you know the answer to this week's trivia questions, email it to us at contactus@naset.org by October 18, 2021. If you are correct, you will be acknowledged in next week's NASET's Week in Review


Agriculture, Marketing at the Root of New Program for Students with Special Needs

Beginning this season, special needs students from across Long Island will harvest crops at the Nassau BOCES Rosemary Kennedy School in Wantagh to feed senior citizens and food insecure families in their communities.  “This new program gives us many new opportunities to provide vocational instruction for our students,” Rosemary Kennedy School principal Matthew Zegers said. “The green house area serves as an outdoor classroom for them to grow healthy produce.” Approximately 78 students with developmental disabilities who attend Nassau BOCES will participate in the new program which is tied to Smile Farms, a nonprofit which finds job opportunities related to agriculture for people with disabilities and aims to teach farming skills, according to the organization’s website. Read More

School Focuses on Mental Health Wellness for Students

The pandemic has led to a renewed focus on taking mental health seriously, but schools in Loudoun County have been making it a priority for years, and they introduced some of their programs on Wednesday to a former educator — the first lady of Virginia. “The whole concept of the United Mental Health Team is just amazing,” Pamela Northam said. “We fought for additional counselors in our schools, and it almost brings me to tears, to see five counselors in a school and to be able to say, ‘Hey, not only is this working on the ground, but this was so important through this devastating last year, year-and-a-half,” Northam said. “We’re really proud of our Team Mental Health First Aid,” Freedom High School director of school counseling Ken Christopher told Northam during a presentation in the school’s library. Read More

Five Common Myths About Intellectual Disabilities

There are many myths and misunderstandings about people with intellectual disabilities. People tend to believe what they’ve heard or experienced, but sometimes that means information that isn’t entirely accurate. As the sibling of a brother with disabilities, I’ve experienced some of these misperceptions. I may have even believed a few of them at one time. We all make mistakes. The important thing is being open to learning and changing. Today’s blog will scratch the surface by looking at five common myths or misperceptions. Read More

A Simple Way to Boost Kids' Reading Skills?

A small fix might make reading a bit easier for kids with dyslexia, as well as their classmates: Increasing the amount of space between printed letters. That's the finding of a small study that tested the effects of "extra-large" letter spacing on school children's reading speed and accuracy. And it adds to a conflicting body of research into whether visual aids are useful to people with dyslexia. Dyslexia is a learning disability that affects 15% to 20% of Americans, according to the International Dyslexia Association. It causes difficulty with reading, spelling and writing. In the new study, researchers found that putting extra room between printed letters seemed to make the task of reading aloud a little easier for kids with and without dyslexia. Read More

 



PROOF POINTS: Focusing on Glasses in Schools

An argument for providing social services in schools is that students will learn better when their basic needs are met. The national lunch program exists because children don’t learn well on an empty stomach. By a similar logic, it’s hard to learn to read or multiply if you can’t see the whiteboard. It’s estimated that more than 1 in 5 school children are nearsighted or have another vision impairment that can be corrected by glasses, and nearly 40 states screen all school children for vision problems. But screening isn’t enough. Only 5 to 8 percent of school children actually have glasses. Scheduling eye exams, ordering glasses and dealing with insurance are big impediments for many low-income families. That leaves some 12 to 15 percent of U.S. school children with blurry vision. Read More

 

What Happens to Adults with Autism When Parents Die?

Children with autism sometimes need more support than neurotypical children as they grow up. Autism can come with challenges in school, social interactions, the professional world, and daily life, not to mention the various medical issues that may occur alongside being on the spectrum. Parents and caregivers of autistic kids know they are especially important to their child’s quality of life, which may leave many wondering: What will happen to my child when I die? This is a scary question for all parents, but especially parents of special needs children. Every family is different, so your plan will depend on your child’s needs and capabilities. Beyond the logistics, you may worry about how your child will emotionally handle your passing. In this article, we’ll give parents and caregivers of people on the spectrum an overview of what to consider when preparing for the future and how to help your child understand death. Read More

 

 


October 22 2021


JOB POSTINGS

* Special Education Teacher - Avondale House is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit agency that provides educational services to children with autism/ Avondale House offers a generous benefit program that includes medical with an employer contribution, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, vacation, holiday, and sick leave. To learn more - Click here

* Learning Disabilities Teacher, ES/MS/HS - Provides and is accountable for the planning, assessment, instruction, communication, human relations, safety, and management of a classroom or assigned instructional setting. Supports FCPS mission to inspire, enable, and empower students to meet high academic standards, lead ethical lives, and demonstrate responsible citizenship. To learn more - Click here

* Emotional Disabilities Teacher, MS/HS - Supports FCPS mission to inspire, enable, and empower students to meet high academic standards, lead ethical lives, and demonstrate responsible citizenship. Provides and is accountable for the planning, assessment, instruction, communication, human relations, safety, and management of a classroom or assigned instructional setting. To learn more - Click here

* Multiple Disabilities Teacher, ES/MS/HS - Provides and is accountable for the planning, assessment, instruction, communication, human relations, safety, and management of a classroom or assigned instructional setting. Supports FCPS mission to inspire, enable, and empower students to meet high academic standards, lead ethical lives, and demonstrate responsible citizenship. To learn more - Click here

*Special Education Teachers - Pennsylvania Virtual Charter School (PA Virtual), an online school providing over 20 years of home-based, public education to K-12 students across Pennsylvania, has a vacancy for Special Education Teachers. All Pennsylvania Counties are welcome to apply!! To learn more- Click here

*Special Education Teacher - Plan, prepare and deliver a quality instructional program based upon student Individual Education Plan goals, state standards, district curriculum, and effective instruction to students of diverse backgrounds and learning needs in inclusive settings. To learn more- Click here

* Special Ed Teacher: Secondary Emotional Support - (Fredericksburg, PA) The IU13 is an innovative leader in providing educational services to students, school districts, and communities in Lancaster and Lebanon counties and across Pennsylvania. Special Education Teachers are responsible for planning and implementing an effective program of instruction based on students’ Individual Education Programs (IEP’s). To learn more - Click here

* Special Ed Teacher: Secondary Emotional Support - (Lancaster, PA) The IU13 is an innovative leader in providing educational services to students, school districts, and communities in Lancaster and Lebanon counties and across Pennsylvania. Special Education Teachers are responsible for planning and implementing an effective program of instruction based on students’ Individual Education Programs (IEP’s). To learn more - Click here

* Special Ed Teacher-Preschool Early Intervention- What is the key to IU13's success? A talented, dedicated team of employees working together toward making a positive difference for all we serve. We are looking for Special Education Teachers that are ready to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow! Teachers who are excited about doing “Work Worth Doing”! To learn more- Click here

* Special Education Teacher, Institutional Settings- The Collaborative for Educational Services (CES) has an opening for a licensed Special Education Teacher for 2021-2022 School Year to work in Department of Youth Services program sites in the Metro Region of Massachusetts as a member of our Special Education in Institutional Settings (SEIS) team. We are especially excited about candidates with experience working in institutional settings. To learn more- Click here

* Special Needs Tutors - is seeking dynamic, state credentialed special needs teachers to tutor on our virtual platform teaching learners all over the world. This is a perfect second job to earn extra money from the safety of your own home. There is no minimum hourly requirement; all you need is a computer, reliable internet, a quiet space and willingness to teach. To learn more - Click here

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


FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a ladder it will live it's whole life believing it is stupid. Albert Einstein

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