In this issue you will find resources in the following areas:
- Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
- Assistive Technology
- Autism
- Classroom Instruction
- Classroom Management
- Classroom Medical Concerns
- Classroom Resources
- Early Childhood Education
- Family and Community Information-English
- Family and Community Resources-Spanish
- Funding Information
- IEP Issues
- Intellectual Disabilities
- Learning Disabilities
- Middle School Issues
- Orthopedic Impairments
- Response to Intervention (RTI)
- Self Determination
- Speech and Language Impairments
- Transition Services
- Visual impairments
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Have you visited CHADD lately, especially their new education pages? CHADD stands for Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. https://www.chadd.org/Content/CHADD/AboutCHADD/CHADDPublicPolicy/Education/default.htm
Assistive Technology
Assistive technology: What every school leader should know.
https://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3673/is_3_129/ai_n31481907/
Autism
Autism and resources for professionals.
The National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorders has posted a number of resources for the public: Evidence-Based Practices for Children and Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Autism Internet Modules; and Foundations of Autism Spectrum Disorders Online Course.
https://www.fpg.unc.edu/~autismPDC/resources/resources_public_ebp.cfm
How prevalent is autism?
The American Academy of Pediatrics has released a Q&A for parents about autism and the results of a recent national survey of parents, which suggested that autism spectrum disorder affects approximately 1 in every 91 American children. https://www.medicalhomeinfo.org/health/Autism%20downloads/AutismOct5parenthandout.pdf
A statement from CDC on the prevalence of autism.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released an official statement about the recent autism findings and parent survey (see item above). https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/index.html
Community of practice on autism.
This new community is still in its infancy but moving quickly to organize. With 14 states represented so far, members have set up 11 practice groups around shared issues of concern.
https://sharedwork.org/
Queries: Screening and early identification of ASD.
New version from NECTAC.
https://www.nectac.org/pubs/titlelist.asp#queries_asdscreening
Autism spectrum disorder resources.
Courtesy of the National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorders, new resources for the public include: Evidence-Based Practices for Children and Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders; Autism Internet Modules; and Foundations of Autism Spectrum Disorders Online Course. All are available at: https://www.fpg.unc.edu/~autismPDC/resources/resources_public_ebp.cfm
Classroom Instruction
A synopsis of The Power of Feedback.
Feedback, defined as information about performance, is an integral aspect of instruction and learning. Want to know what a synthesis of 12 meta-analyses of 196 studies found when feedback was included as an instructional strategy? The Center on Instruction has produced a synopsis of Hattie and Timperley’s (2007) “The Power of Feedback” published in the Review of Education Research (Review of Education Research, 77, 81-112), Find COI’s synopsis at:
https://www.centeroninstruction.org/files/Corrected%20Synopsis%20Power%20of%20Feedback.pdf
The new National Center on Universal Design for Learning.
CAST has just launched this new website to provide educators and stakeholders with resources, expertise, and analysis of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), a research-based set of principles for designing and developing curriculum and instructional practices that meets the educational needs of all learners. https://www.udlcenter.org
Learning to read: What we know about cracking the code.
Over the last decade, neuroscience breakthroughs and educational research findings have led to an entirely new understanding of how the human brain learns to read. If you want to visit a truly fascinating website, this one will take you on an odyssey you won’t soon forget, in the classroom or out. Allot a chunk of time, because you won’t want to leave, once you start delving in. (Of course, you can always go back…) https://www.childrenofthecode.org/
Written expression: Grades 2-5.
The IRIS Center has also published a new case study set that presents writing strategies to help students in the elementary and middle-school grades who struggle with writing. https://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/case_studies/ICS-013.pdf
ClassroomManagement
Functional behavior assessment and behavior plans.
The IRIS Center offers a new STAR Legacy module: Functional Behavior Assessment: Discovering the Reasons for Problem Behavior and Developing a Behavior Plan. https://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/fba/chalcycle.htm
More on behavior: Conduct an A-B-C analysis.
https://iris.peabody.vanderbilt.edu/activities/independent/iin005.pdf
Conduct disorders.
A “soft place to land for the battle-weary parent.”
https://www.conductdisorders.com/
Classroom Medical Concerns
Guidelines for students with disabilities in case of flu outbreaks.
The U.S. Department of Education has issued guidance on flexibility and waivers for SEAs, LEAs, postsecondary institutions, and other grantee and program participants. The guidance includes a section on students with disabilities whose attendance might be disrupted due to flu. The guidance is now available to download. https://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/safety/emergencyplan/pandemic/guidance/flexibility-and-waivers.doc
Chronic pain: How to cope.
Managing your chronic pain doesn’t just mean receiving treatment and taking medication–it’s also about paying attention to your mental and emotional well being, and becoming a proactive patient.
https://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/coping.html
Diabetes: November is American Diabetes Month.
And one of the go-to places is the American Diabetes Association, both for information on diabetes and to learn more about the Stop Diabetes campaign.
https://main.diabetes.org/site/PageServer?pagename=SD_homepage/
Epilepsy:November also marks National Epilepsy Awareness Month.
Visit the Epilepsy Foundation, learn about epilepsy and connect with others, and join Talk About It!, this year’s awareness month theme.
https://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/epilepsyusa/news/National-Epilepsy-Awareness-Campaign.cfm
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: A resource collection.
Visit the Maternal and Child Health Library for key resources on FASD, including websites; fact sheets and brochures; screening, diagnosis, surveillance, intervention, and training tools; and prevention-education materials (in both English and non-English languages). https://mchlibrary.info/guides/fasd.html
Food allergies: Reducing the risk.
A Consumer Update from the FDA.
https://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm089307.htm
Hearing impairments: FDA offers a new online hearing aid guide.
From the Food and Drug Administration, this guide is intended for current and potential users of hearing aids.
https://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm185723.htm
Classroom Resources
Looking for complimentary teaching materials?
Still trying to find basic classroom items for your students? Edutopia suggests free online tips for obtaining the everyday supplies you need.
https://www.edutopia.org/free-school-supplies-fundraising-donation
Early ChildhoodEducation
Foundations of Inclusion Birth to Five video.
This 11-minute video can be found at CONNECT (Center to Mobilize Early Childhood Knowledge). https://community.fpg.unc.edu/connect
Would you like to preview a module on Embedded Interventions?
CONNECT is also making its Module 1 available for preview through November 30th, 2009. The preview is a slimmed-down version of the actual module, designed to give instructors a quick glimpse of content and resources available for learners. https://community.fpg.unc.edu/connect
Headsprout Early Reading.
“Headsprout Early Reading” is an Internet-based supplemental early literacy curriculum of forty 20-minute animated episodes designed to teach phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. The What Works Clearinghouse’s review of the research on its effectiveness found this literacy curriculum to have potentially positive effects on oral language and print knowledge. https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/reports/early_ed/headsprout/
Videos and presentations from the National Early Childhood Summit.
On September 16-18, 2009, the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) held a first-of-its-kind national summit called Building Brighter Futures for Our Children. The summit brought together teams from 39 states to develop a coordinated policy agenda among state health, early education, and human service systems for improved child outcomes. If you missed it, you can view videos from the summit here.
How much are we spending on our children?
First Focus recently released Children’s Budget 2009, a comprehensive guide to over 180 federally funded programs seeking to improve the lives of America’s children. This year’s guide includes a special analysis of investments in children provided through the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA)–almost $144 billion. https://www.firstfocus.net/pages/3631
What works in early childhood mental health?
The Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development (GUCCHD) released a new report entitled What Works? A Study of Effective Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Programs.
https://gucchd.georgetown.edu/78358.html
Early literacy? 2 new CELL reviews.
CELL is the Center on Early Literacy Learning, with two new reviews:
Development of Infant and Toddler Mark Making and Scribbling
https://www.earlyliteracylearning.org/cellreviews/cellreviews_v2_n2.pdf
Research Informing the Development of Infant Finger Drawing
https://www.earlyliteracylearning.org/cellreviews/cellreviews_v2_n1.pdf
Public policy developments in state early care and education.
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) has published its annual report, State Early Care and Education Public Policy Developments (FY10), which shows that ARRA stimulus funds are giving states opportunities to avoid cuts to certain early childhood programs and fund some new or expanded initiatives. Governors and state legislatures have approved policy changes for FY10 in areas such as: infant/toddler initiatives, professional development, and child care subsidies.
https://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/policy/state/StateECEPublicPolicyDevelopmentsFY10.pdf
Revised NAEYC early childhood professional preparation standards.
https://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/ProfPrepStandards09.pdf
How’s Head Start doing in your state?
Find out in these state fact sheets from the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP). Each fact sheet includes all Head Start programs in the state (Early Head Start, Head Start preschool, American Indian and Alaskan Native Head Start, and Migrant/Seasonal Head Start), as well as data on participants, families, staff, and programs. https://www.clasp.org/in_the_states/
Challenging common myths about young English language learners.
This article challenges six commonly held beliefs about the development of young children who are learning English as their second language and presents research evidence drawing from a variety of disciplines that can better shape education policies for all children.
https://www.fcd-us.org/resources/resources_show.htm?doc_id=669789
Training teachers to support young children’s behavior and emotional development.
Can Teacher Training in Classroom Management Make a Difference for Children’s Experiences in Preschool? provides promising findings from Foundations of Learning (FOL), a demonstration and random assignment evaluation of an intervention that trains preschool teachers to better support young children’s behavior and emotional development.
https://www.mdrc.org/premium-publications/527/full.pdf
Family and Community Information-English
Spread the Word: United We Ride National Dialogue.
November 2-13, 2009
Do you have a suggestion about how to increase access to affordable and reliable transportation services for people with disabilities, older adults, and people with limited incomes? Sign up now to participate in an upcoming online National Dialogue with representatives of the federal government, as well as state and community leaders. www.UWRdialogue.org
November is National Family Caregivers Month.
America’s family caregivers are family, friends, partners, and neighbors. A wealth of resources for caregivers is available at the National Family Caregivers Association, plus you can read all about what they have planned for this month, find ways to participate, and get posters and kits.
https://www.thefamilycaregiver.org/national_family_caregiver_month/
9th annual Inclusive Schools Week: December 7-11, 2009.
Sponsored by the Inclusive Schools Network, this year’s event is subtitled “Inclusive Technologies.” https://www.inclusiveschools.org/
Special education scorecards: How’s your state doing?
THe National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) has updated its Special Education Scorecards, which provide each state’s special education enrollment (including students with learning disabilities), student performance on key performance indicators, federal funding provided to states in support of special education, and the state’s latest rating by the U.S. Department of Education regarding implementation of IDEA.
https://www.ncld.org/on-capitol-hill/policy-related-publications/special-education-scorecards
Understanding the ADA Amendments Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
This Parent Advocacy Brief will help you understand the changes brought about by the ADAAA, how they apply to Section 504, and how these changes may impact children with disabilities, including learning disabilities, as well as other conditions such as AD/HD, Aspergers Syndrome, diabetes, asthma, and life-threatening food allergies.
https://www.ncld.org/publications-a-more/parent-advocacy-guides/understanding-the-americans-with-disabilities-act-amendments-act-and-section-504-of-the-rehabilitation-act
New Medical Home state data website.
The Data Resource Center is partnering with the American Academy of Pediatrics to help state and family leaders quickly access data on how children and youth in each state experience receiving care within a medical home.
https://medicalhomedata.org/content/Default.aspx
CapScribe.
CapScribe is a free, open-source technology application that adds caption and/or audio description to audio and video files.
https://atmac.org/capscribe/
Family and Community Resources-Spanish
Guía para la familia sobre los sistemas de cuidado para niños con necesidades de salud mental.
The link below takes you to the Spanish version of SAMHSA’s Family Guide to Systems of Care for Children With Mental Health Needs.
https://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/premium-publications/allpubs/sma-4054S/
Haciendo frente a la sobrerepresentación: Pautas para los padres.
This brief, in Spanish, defines the concept of overrepresentation, identifies possible causes for the problem, and offers a variety of ways that parents and families can help prevent or decrease overrepresentation of culturally and linguistically diverse students in special education programs.
https://www.nccrest.org/Briefs/BRIEF_spanish_parent_guide_DOCUMENT.pdf
Funding Information
Forecast of Funding Opportunities under the Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs for Fiscal Year 2009
https://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/find/edlite-forecast.html
This document lists virtually all programs and competitions under which the U.S. Department of Education has invited or expects to invite applications for new awards for fiscal year 2009 and provides actual or estimated deadlines for the transmittal of applications under these programs. The lists are in the form of charts organized according to the Department’s principal program offices and include programs and competitions previously announced as well as those to be announced at a later date.
FY 2009-2010 Discretionary Grant Application Packages
https://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/grantapps/index.html
This site, from the Department of Education, provides information on grant competitions that are currently open.
Do Something Awards
https://www.dosomething.org/programs/awards
Since 1996, Do Something has honored the nation’s best young world-changers. Do Something Award Winners represent the pivotal “do-ers” in their field, cause, or issue and are rewarded with a project grant, participation in a special award ceremony, media coverage, and continued support from Do Something. The awards are given to young people (age 25 or under) in recognition of their leadership in community improvement and concern for the lives of others. Recipients of the award receive a grant of up to $100,000 toward the cause of their choice. Deadline for application: December 15, 2009.
Do Something Invites Teens to Organize Food Drives
https://www.dosomething.org/feedtheneed
Selected teens from middle and high schools, sports teams, Do Something Clubs, and church groups across the nation will win a $1,000 donation to their local food bank for their work in effectively organizing food drives to help fight hunger in their community. Do Something’s goal for the drives is 1 Million lbs of food collected by teens. Entrants could win a pizza party sponsored by DoSomething.org and a $1000 donation to their local food bank. Deadline for submission: December 15, 2009.
Emerging Leaders Summer Internship Program
https://www.emerging-leaders.com/
Emerging Leaders is a competitive program that places undergraduate and graduate students with disabilities in fulfilling summer internships and provides them with leadership development opportunities. Emerging Leaders partners with America’s leading businesses to help them find outstanding young talent while also considering diversity and inclusion in their hiring practices. To be considered for an internship, a student must be an enrolled undergraduate or graduate student who has completed at least 60 credits and is maintaining at least a 3.0 GPA. Application deadline: December 31, 2009.
Fund for Teachers Accepting Applications for 2010 Summer Education Grants
https://www.fundforteachers.org/
Fund for Teachers invites educators from across the United States to submit proposals for their own educational adventures next summer. The program is designed to provide educators with the opportunity to pursue areas of personal and professional interest and bring their experiences back to the classroom for the benefit of their students. Eligible projects include tours, conferences, and independent studies anywhere in the world. Individual grants of up to $5,000 and team grants of up to $10,000 will be awarded. Deadline: January 29, 2010.
Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries Accepting Applications from School Libraries
https://www.laurabushfoundation.org/web2/index.html
The foundation makes grants of up to $6,000 each to update, extend, and diversify the book collections of school libraries. All LBF grants are made to individual schools rather than to school districts, county systems, private organizations, foundations, or other entities. LBF gives selection preference to schools in which 90% or more of the students receive free or reduced lunches and are likely to have the fewest books at home. Deadline for application: December 31, 2009.
National Endowment for the Humanities and American Library Association Announce We the People Bookshelf Grant Opportunity
https://publicprograms.ala.org/bookshelf/
Each year, NEH chooses a theme important to the nation’s heritage and selects books that embody that theme to build the We the People Bookshelf. The theme for the 2009-2010 Bookshelf is “A More Perfect Union.” Four thousand public and K-12 libraries will receive seventeen books that help young readers understand great literature and explore themes in American history. Deadline: January 29, 2010.
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Career Planning and Placement for Youth in Transition
https://tinyurl.com/ybxace4
The University of Maryland, in conjunction with TransCen, Inc., is offering scholarships for the Career Planning and Placement for Youth in Transition Graduate Certificate Program. The scholarships are intended for professionals with a bachelor’s degree who are employed in special education, rehabilitation or related programs; and offer a tuition and stipend award for 12 graduate credits in the University of Maryland’s Department of Counseling and Personnel Services. (Available in pdf, 392 KB, 1 p.) Deadline to apply: December 31, 2009.
Powered by Service Offers Funding to Seed Youth-Led Service Projects
https://tinyurl.com/y8l7j44
Grants will be awarded to young people around the world who are conducting service projects that encourage youth to become involved in addressing problems facing their communities. Grants presently are being accepting only from Atlanta GA, Detroit MI, Los Angeles CA, Milwaukee WI, New Orleans LA and New York NY, but other communities will be added at intervals. Deadline: Open.
VSA arts and MetLife Foundation Invite Applications for Arts Connect All Grant Program
https://www.vsarts.org/x273.xml
For access to the arts, all people need opportunities to attend, participate in, and learn through arts experiences. VSA arts and MetLife Foundation’s Arts Connect All grants encourage arts organizations to create or enhance inclusive education programs by strengthening partnerships with local public schools. Ten grants of up to $15,000 will be awarded to arts organizations working to enable students with disabilities to experience social, cognitive, and cultural development alongside peers without disabilities through arts learning. Deadline: December 11, 2009.
American Association on Health and Disability (AAHD) Announces the Creation of the 2009 AAHD Scholarship Program
https://aahd.us/page.php?pname=Scholarship%20Program
The AAHD Scholarship will provide support for students with disabilities who are pursuing higher education. Those who are pursuing undergraduate/graduate studies in the field of public health, health promotion, or disability studies, to include disability policy and disability research will be given preference. Please, visit the above website to download the application.
Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge Invites Sudents and Teachers to Address Environmental Issues
https://wecanchange.com/
Students and teachers in grades K-8 will be awarded grants and publicity for their solutions to classroom environmental issues. Grades K to second will seek to create solutions to environmental issues in their classroom, grades third to fifth in their school and grades six to eight in their community. Student and teacher/mentor prizes, which vary according to grade level, include savings bonds, school grants, trips, TV appearances, and more. Deadline: Elementary-level entries is January 31, 2010; the deadline for middle-school entries is March 15, 2010.
Home Depot Accepting Applications for Building Healthy Communities Grant Program
https://tinyurl.com/mug82r
Grants of up to $2,500 will be awarded to nonprofits, public schools, and tax-exempt public service agencies in the U.S. working to improve their communities by using volunteers to build and refurbish affordable housing or transitional housing, increasing energy efficiency or sustainability, landscaping, planting of native trees, community facility improvements, and the development and/or improvement of green spaces. Grants are made in the form of the Home Depot gift cards for the purchase or tools or materials. Only registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, tax-exempt public schools, and tax-exempt public agencies in the U.S. are eligible to apply. The two remaining grant cycles for 2009 run July 15-September 15, 2009, and October 15-December 15, 2009. All applicants are required to pass an eligibility quiz before being considered for a grant. Program information and eligibility quiz are included on the Home Depot Web site. Deadlines: December 15, 2009.
Travelocity’s Travel for Good Volunteer Travel Opportunities
https://tinyurl.com/2v7sh2
Travelocity’s Travel for Good offers funding quarterly for its Change Ambassadors Grant to help support Americans who wish to travel to participate in volunteer opportunities (volunteer vacations). Two grants of $5,000 each will be awarded to individuals or groups going on volunteer vacations; applicants must demonstrate a previous commitment to volunteering and financial need. Deadline: not applicable.
Financial Aid On Disabilityinfo.Gov
https://www.disabilityinfo.gov/digov-public/public/DisplayPage.do?parentFolderId=84
This Web site includes links to scholarship applications for students with various disabilities for graduate and undergraduate as well as vocational studies.
Got Grants?
https://www.teachersourcebook.org/tsb/articles/2009/03/16/02grants.h02.html
Successful education grant writers offer advice on how to access teacher-learning funds.
Michigan State Library of Financial Aid
https://www.lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants/3disable.htm
Michigan State’s comprehensive list of financial aid resources for students with disabilities can be found at their Web site.
Scholarships4students.Com
https://www.scholarships4students.com/special_scholarships.htm
Scholarships4students’s Web site includes a list of scholarships for students with disabilities, by disability category.
National Scholarship Providers Association
https://www.scholarshipproviders.org
The National Scholarship Providers Association (NSPA) web site offers information on NSPA scholarships for Latino students and for students formerly in foster care. A new NPSA product, the Scholarship Data Standard, allows students to complete an online scholarship application and then re-use the information with other scholarship providers without retyping their data.
Charles Lafitte Foundation: Grants for Education & Child Advocacy
https://www.charleslafitte.org/education.html
The Charles Lafitte Foundation Grants Program helps groups and individuals foster lasting improvement on the human condition by providing support to education, children’s advocacy, medical research, and the arts. Maximum award: varies. Eligibility: 501(c)3 organizations. Deadline: rolling.
Plum Grants
https://www.dosomething.org/programs/plum-grant-guidelines
Individuals who have recently created a sustainable community action project, program or organization and need $500 to further the growth and success of the program are eligible to apply for a Plum Youth Grant. Plum grants are given out weekly. Deadline: None.
Nonprofit Music Programs
https://www.guitarcentermusicfoundation.org/grants/index.cfm?sec=info
The Guitar Center Music Foundation’s mission is to aid nonprofit music programs across America that offer music instruction so that more people can experience the joys of making music. Maximum Award: $5000. Eligibility: 501(c)(3) organizations. Qualifying applicants are established, ongoing and sustainable music programs across the United States that provide music instruction for people of any age who would not otherwise have the opportunity to make music. Deadline: N/A.
Live Monarch Educator Outreach Program
https://www.lmf-educator-award.com/index.html
The Live Monarch Foundation Educator Outreach Program provides funding for U.S. teachers to enroll in the National Campaign to bring monarch butterflies into the classroom. This program provides education and materials to strengthen the monarch’s 3,000-mile migratory route within North America by creating self-sustaining butterfly gardens and refuges. Materials will be provided for each participant to raise a virtual butterfly and start a real butterfly garden with professional instruction on each level of its maintenance and care. Maximum Award: n/a. Eligibility: teachers and classrooms in areas on the monarch migratory route. Deadline: rolling.
IEP Issues
Cochlear implants, the IEP, related services, and IDEA.
This article from the American Society for Deaf Children examines the standing of cochlear implants in a child’s IEP, what types of cochlear-related services are excluded by IDEA, and what services are not.
https://www.deafchildren.org/resources/31_What’s%20the%20IDEA%20-%20AT.pdf
Intellectual Disabilities
Intellectual disabilities.
Just out in September from the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD): The 11th edition of Intellectual Disability: Definition, Classification and Systems of Supports, known in the field as the “Definition Manual.” This edition establishes an advanced paradigm that professionals will use when evaluating and delivering the support services that a person with intellectual disability needs at school, at home, in the physician’s office, or (perish the thought) in court.
https://www.aaidd.org/news/news_item.cfm?OID=2819
Learning Disabilities
Are vision problems the reason?
The American Academy of Pediatrics (Section on Ophthalmology and Council on Children with Disabilities), American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, and the American Association of Certified Orthoptists published a Joint Policy Statement in August 2009. Find it on the International Dyslexia Association’s website, at:
https://www.interdys.org/InsInt.htm
Reading and language instruction: Matrix of multisensory structured language programs.
https://www.interdys.org/ewebeditpro5/upload/MSL2007finalR1.pdf
Middle School Issues
Vital characteristics of successful middle grades schools.
If this caught your eye, then you may be pleased to know that, on November 5, National Middle School Association will release the fourth edition of This We Believe: Keys to Educating Young Adolescents and a companion book of research and resources that support its concepts.
https://www.nmsa.org/u_rd/102009/twb.htm
Middle schools save the date.
April 22-23, 2010.
That’s when the Middle Level Essentials Conference will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada. https://www.nmsa.org/ProfessionalDevelopment/conferencesWorkshops/MiddleLevelEssentials/tabid/590/Default.aspx
What works in adolescent literacy: Read 180.
The What Works Clearinghouse’s review on the effectiveness of “Read 180” found this reading program to have potentially positive effects on comprehension and general literacy achievement. https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/reports/adolescent_literacy/read180/
Orthopedic Impairments
Orthopedic impairments.
Project IDEAL (Informing and Designing Education for All Learnings) offers info on orthopedia impairments (such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, degenerative diseases, and musculoskeletal disorders) to both teachers and parents.
https://www.projectidealonline.org/orthopedicImpairments.php
Response to Intervention (RTI)
RTI as it relates to early intervening services: Recommendations.
This document provides the legal background of RTI and EIS, as well as a potential barriers and policy recommendations.
https://www.projectforum.org/docs/RtIasitRelatestoEIS.pdf
Response to Intervention: Select State Programs
Policy Brief
https://www.projectforum.org/
The Project Forum Web site has released a brief policy analysis, giving background on RTI and describing the U. S. Department of Education’s role in RTI. Project Forum at the National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE) worked with two other OSEP-funded centers, the IDEA Partnership and the National Center on Response to Intervention (NCRTI), to select six states for review of their RTI frameworks. The data on states (Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island) were gathered based on a document search protocol. The areas described include the state RTI frameworks; RTI administration including rules, guidance, and funding mechanisms; implementation; data and outcomes; and challenges.
Self Determination
Youth Empowerment and Participation in Mental Health Care
Journal
https://www.rtc.pdx.edu/pgFPS09TOC.php
This issue of “Focal Point” highlights a number of successful and innovative efforts to promote youth voice and youth empowerment. Many of the articles are authored by or include contributions from youth who are directly involved in the featured programs.
Building the Legacy / Construyendo el Legado: A Training Curriculum on IDEA 2004
Curriculum
https://www.nichcy.org/Laws/IDEA/Pages/BuildingTheLegacy.aspx
The Building the Legacy / Construyendo el Legado training curriculum was produced by National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY) at the request of the Office of Special Education Programs, U.S. Department of Education. The curriculum is intended to help all those involved with children with disabilities understand and implement IDEA 2004, the nation’s special education law. Many modules are available in both English and Spanish, and all handouts for participants are available in both languages.
Speech and LanguageImpairments
Speech and language disorders in the school setting: Frequently asked questions.
If you are wondering if a possible speech-language disorder is affecting your child’s school performance, you may find this FAQ helpful.
https://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/schoolsFAQ.htm
Transition Services
Travel training for student success.
Are you worried that your student will not be able to get to work when s/he finishes high school? This curriculum will help a student learn to travel safely and independently on fixed-route public transportation.
https://projectaction.easterseals.com/site/PageServer?pagename=ESPA_travel_training&s_esLocation=tc_
NICHCY Updates the Transition Section of its Web site
https://www.nichcy.org/EducateChildren/transition_adulthood/Pages/Default.aspx
NICHCY recently updated the transition planning for youth with disabilities section of its Web site. They launched a new transition section for those who asked for it to be differently organized and expanded. The updated section contains more resources and in-depth information on transition planning.
Going to College
https://www.going-to-college.org/
This new Web site, designed for high school students, has information about living college life with a disability. The site contains video clips, activities, and resources that can help students get ahead and start planning for college. Video interviews with college students with disabilities provide firsthand information about how they have been successful in college. Modules include activities that will help students explore more about themselves, learn what to expect from college, and how to be better equipped with important considerations and tasks to complete when planning for college.
Success at Every Step: How 23 Programs Support Youth on the Way to College and Beyond
https://www.aypf.org/premium-publications/SuccessAtEveryStep.htm
This report by the American Youth Policy Forum focuses on programs that have been proven to help young people successfully complete high school and be prepared for success in postsecondary education and careers. These programs represent a wide range of interventions, including school-wide reform initiatives, community-based afterschool services, work-based learning opportunities, and college access programs. From an analysis of the included programs, the report identifies common programmatic and structural elements that may contribute to their effectiveness and summarizes key outcomes.
NCWD/Youth Releases Helping Youth with Mental Health Needs Avoid Transition Cliffs: Lessons from Pioneering Transition Programs
Info Brief
https://www.ncwd-youth.info/information-brief-24
Youth with mental health needs often face unemployment, underemployment, and discrimination when they enter the workforce. Moreover, they often find it difficult to find or maintain services they need to successfully transition to adulthood, including mental health treatment, employment and vocational rehabilitation, and housing. NCWD for Youth recently released an info brief which discusses challenges faced by youth and young adults with mental health needs during their transition to adulthood and describes strategies used by youth service professionals to avoid age-related transition cliffs and prevent service interruptions during this critical stage of development. This InfoBrief is one in a series and is based on research about transition-age youth with mental health needs published in four separate reports in the last two years, including two produced by the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth.
Getting Ready for Postsecondary Education? (Spanish Version)
Report
https://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/transition-sp.html?exp=3
The U.S. Department of Education offers a Spanish version of the report entitled Students With Disabilities Preparing For Postsecondary Education: Know Your Rights and Responsibilities (Preparacion Para La Educacion Postsecundaria Para Los Estudiantes Con Discapacidades: Conozca Sus Derechos Y Responsabilidades). The information within this report is provided by the Office of Civil Rights within the U.S. Department of Education. The report explains the rights and responsibilities of students with disabilities who are preparing for postsecondary education.
Visual Impairments
Connect with info and with others at NAPVI (National Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments). Find, for example:
- state and local chapters of NAPVI – https://www.spedex.com/napvi/chapters.html
- an online multimedia community for parents and guardians of children with visual impairments (a combo effort of the American Foundation for the Blind and NAVPI) https://www.FamilyConnect.org
- speech-friendly text index to the site
https://www.spedex.com/napvi/speech-links.html - info in Spanish
https://www.spedex.com/napvi/index_sp.htm
