Week in Review - October 8, 2021

October 8th 2021


NASET

WEEK IN REVIEW

National Association of Special Education Teachers

October 8, 2021                 Vol 17 Issue #41



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

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

Read More


‘Zoom in a Room’ Makes a Comeback in NYC High School

There is no option for New York City students to learn remotely this year. But every day, students at Park East High School log into online classes. There isn’t much room for social distancing at the East Harlem school, so students rotate attendance at the main campus, where they learn in-person with their teacher, and a satellite campus about five blocks away, where they learn via livestream, according to interviews with more than half a dozen students. The school’s principal and PTA members did not respond to requests for comment. The education department said the school’s layout made social distancing a particular challenge, and school leaders worked with higher ups throughout the summer to find a workaround. Read More

The Decline of Hybrid Learning for This School Year, in 4 Charts

School districts all over the country spent the 2020-21 school year using a mix of in-person and remote instruction to keep kids learning while limiting the spread of COVID-19. At the beginning of this school year, however, their focus has shifted almost entirely from such hybrid learning models to a mix of fully in-person learning and full-time virtual schools. That switch in philosophy, detailed in a recent Education Week special report, left some experts concerned about continuity of learning in the face of rising virus-related quarantines. “I see the fact that schools aren’t making plans for continued disruptions as irresponsible,” said Michael K. Barbour, an expert in virtual learning at Touro University California, as the new academic year got underway. “The reality is that this school year is going to look a lot more like 2020-21 than 2018-19.” Read More

Most Students Fearful of Math

Fear of math increases as students transition from middle school to high school. According to a new survey, confidence in math drops 9% between grades 7 and 10. And overall, less than 20% of students in grades 7–10 are confident in their math ability. The survey was conducted among 900 students in the United States by math and coding tutoring service Cuemath (Respondents to the survey were non-Cuemath users.) According to the survey, for girls, negative perceptions of math increase 11% between grades 7 and 8. For boys moving from grade 8 to 9, negative perceptions increase by 20%. Read More

A School Librarian is a ‘Jack of All Trades.’ Now Every DCPS Student Has Access to One

Walking into Christopher Stewart’s classroom at Johnson Middle School feels less like stepping into a library, and more like entering a sunlit coffee shop. Windows out to a courtyard completely line the back wall, across from a wall of bookshelves. At his desk in the center of a room, Stewart plays upbeat music on his radio. An electric massage chair is nestled into the back corner. “I find that really, with interior design, it does make students want to come in here,” says the Johnson Middle School librarian. “It makes a big difference to them, to be able to come into a space when you know that it’s yours, and it’s taken care of. It makes you want to take care of it, it makes you want to go to it.” After a school year of disrupted learning, Zooming into classes from bedrooms or kitchen tables, Stewart wants to make the library a room not just for researching and wrapping up assignments, but a place where students can learn about themselves and each other. Read More

 

 


Autism Cases Skyrocket in the U.K. by 787 Percent in Just 20 Years, Study Reveals

Autism diagnoses have jumped by nearly eight times in just the last two decades, a new study finds. Although many may associate autism with children and men, researchers at the University of Exeter say doctors are seeing this rise in cases more often among women and adults. Their study reveals that, between 1998 and 2018, autism diagnoses across the United Kingdom have skyrocketed by 787 percent. Researchers reviewed the medical records of nine million patients to reach these findings. Specifically, the team discovered that cases of Asperger’s syndrome — a form of autism with no link to intellectual disabilities-- were rising before health officials retired that particular diagnosis in 2013. Asperger’s now falls under the greater diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Read More

The Search for a Link between Autism and Neurodegenerative Conditions

About five years ago, when his younger twin brothers reached their thirties, Giacomo Vivanti started to wonder how the pair, who both have autism, would fare in middle and old age. In particular, he wondered if they might be prone to develop age-related neurological conditions. His brothers didn’t show any signs of ill health or cognitive deterioration, but Vivanti, associate professor of early detection and intervention at the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, knew that the scientific literature provided few clear answers. “I was pretty shocked to learn that we have such limited knowledge of outcomes as children with autism become adults, and as they age,” Vivanti says. Read More

No Link between Epidurals and Autism, Two Studies Confirm

The epidural anesthesia commonly given to pregnant people during labor is not linked to autism in children, according to two studies published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The results contradict a study published last October that seemingly connected epidurals among women in California to a slightly increased chance of autism in their children. That study drew widespread criticism and concern from researchers and professional medical societies for its failure to account for confounding factors, such as a family history of psychiatric conditions. In April, a follow-up study in Manitoba, Canada, that controlled for some additional factors found no such association. “There really is no solid evidence, from any of the studies actually, that epidural labor analgesia causes autism,” says Cynthia Wong, professor of anesthesia at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, who co-wrote a commentary accompanying the new studies. “I don’t think either clinicians or parents at this point in time need to take that consideration into account.” Read More

PROOF POINTS: What Almost 150 Studies Say about How to Motivate Students

An unmotivated student is unlikely to learn much at school. But there’s a wide range of opinion on what parents and teachers can do to instill that motivation. Some swear by rewards and prizes. Others lavish praise or dole it out judiciously.  A team of Canadian and Australian researchers decided to take a scientific approach and comb through classroom studies across the world on sparking student motivation. They found 144 studies involving nearly 80,000 students, from elementary school through university.  Two conclusions jumped out. First, teachers are far more influential than parents in motivating students to learn. “If you want your students to be motivated at school, parents are important but they’re not enough,” said Julien Bureau, associate professor at Université Laval in Quebec and lead author of the study. “The teacher has more tools to work with for student motivation.” Read More

October 8th 2021


TRIVIA QUESTION OF THE WEEK

This 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?

If you know the answer to this week's trivia questions, email it to us at contactus@naset.org by October 11, 2021. If you are correct, you will be acknowledged in next week's NASET's Week in Review


Unusual Visual Examination of Objects May Indicate Later Autism Diagnosis in Infants

Unusual visual inspection of objects by infants 9 months of age and older is predictive of a later diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a new UC Davis Health study has found. Unusual visual inspection is defined as: looking out of the corners of the eyes, holding an object up very close to the face, looking at something with one eye closed, or staring at an object uninterrupted for more than 10 seconds. "Unusual visual inspection behavior has long been associated with autism but never yet as early as 9 months of age," said Meghan Miller, associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and UC Davis MIND Institute and the first author on the study. The study, published in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology, also found that this behavior at 9 months predicted 12-month social behavior, but not vice versa. Read More

Let’s Stop Fixing Disabilities and Start Appreciating Differences

Able-bodied people comprise the dominant culture in America; thus, our cultural understanding of “normal” is contextualized around the contours of able-bodied activities. We consider, for example, an autistic mind or a visual deficiency that enhances other senses to be a detriment. In truth, these traits are often different ways of perceiving, understanding, and interacting with the world. For many of the 60+ million Americans who have some kind of disability, this is frustrating. Their experience is not centered, and so their needs are not understood by a society built around how the able-bodied navigate the world. Instead, they are left to puzzle out their days with pieces that don’t always fit together. This despite the fact that even minor accommodations like a well-placed ramp or a thoughtful, private breakout space might make all the difference in helping these people lead “normal” lives. Read More

Raising Awareness about Disabilities in the Workplace

For many people, work can be stressful. Between the deadlines, meetings, presentations and other responsibilities to be managed, the professional world can be tough to navigate. And it can be made that much harder for people who suffer from a disability. Alan Grantham ’05 knows how that is. And in his organization, he’s working to make it a little easier. Grantham is executive director of leveraged finance at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) and co-head of the Recruitment and Workforce Committee for UNIQUE, a program that focuses on engaging people in the workplace to both understand and support those with disabilities. “What is important to understand is not all disabilities come in the same size, shape or form. Education and awareness are key components to ensuring we as a firm have the appropriate accommodations and level of empathy to foster a safe, healthy, and productive workplace,” Grantham says. Read More

How Happy Valley FitLink Creates a Wellness Community for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities
Two years ago, as Jonna Belanger was teaching her disability sport class at Penn State, she gave her students a message and a challenge. Her goal, she said, is to give her students the confidence to go out and open doors for people. “To be the people that say ‘yes.’ ” It’s the same message Belanger gives to all of her students. But that year, Jacob Corey was taking the class while volunteering with LifeLink PSU, a life skills program for young adults with intellectual disabilities. “While volunteering with them, it became apparent that they did not have as many opportunities for physical activity as individuals like myself, without disabilities,” Corey said. Read More

Colorado's First Tuition-Free Charter School for Kids with Learning Differences to Open in 2022

On Saturday, education leaders and families will break ground on Colorado’s first tuition-free charter school specifically for students with learning differences. Prospect Academy will open in Arvada in the fall of 2022.  The school will focus on students with diagnosed learning differences including autism, ADHD, or dyslexia. But founding Principal Mia Coffing said even students without learning differences may benefit from this non-traditional environment. “You don’t have to have a learning difference to come to Prospect (Academy). If you’re looking for smaller class sizes, more support in executive function, and social emotional skills, we are definitely the place that will do that,” Coffing said. Read More



Virginia Earns Top Federal Special Education Rating for 10th Consecutive Year

For a 10th consecutive year, Virginia has earned the U.S. Department of Education’s highest rating for improving outcomes for students with disabilities and for compliance with the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, also known as IDEA. The commonwealth received a “Meets Requirements” designation for 2021 under the federal education department’s Results-Driven Accountability System for special education. The rating is based on student outcomes and compliance data from the 2018-2019 school year — the most recent data available under the federal reporting system — as well as a May 2019 monitoring visit conducted by the federal education department’s Office of Special Education Programs. Only five states and state-level education systems have earned the Meets Requirements designation for 10 consecutive years. Read More

When it Comes to Communication Skills, Maybe We’re Born with It?

From inside the womb and as soon as they enter the world, babies absorb information from their environment and the adults around them, quickly learning after birth how to start communicating through cries, sounds, giggles, and other kinds of baby talk. But are a child's long-term language skills shaped by how their brain develops during infancy, and how much of their language development is influenced by their environment and upbringing? Following dozens of children over the course of five years, a Boston University researcher has taken the closest look yet at the link between how babies' brains are structured in infancy and their ability to learn a language at a young age, and to what degree their environment plays a role in brain and language development. Read More

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October 8th 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

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.

-Helen Keller

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