In this issue you will find resources in the following areas:
- Academic Intervention
- Adults with Disabilities
- Administrator Information
- Autism
- Behavior Management
- Early Intervention Resources
- Educational Progress
- Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
- Health and Disability
- Hearing Impairments
- IEP Information
- Response to Intervention (RTI)
- Summer Camps
- Transition Services
- Vocational Rehabilitation
- Work Related Topics for Adolescents with Disabilities
Academic Intervention
Reading interventions for students with learning disabilities.
This article on the Reading Rockets website provides research-based information and advice for sizing up reading programs and finding the right one for a child with a specific learning disability.
https://www.readingrockets.org/article/33084
Adults with Disabilities
Supporting adults with challenging behaviors in community settings (Webinar series).
TASH is hosting a series of Thursday Webinars (February 11 and 18; March 4, 11, and 18) from 12:30 PM- 2:00 PM eastern time. The prices associated with the series are per site, meaning that it doesn’t matter how many participants you have in the room. For TASH members, each webinar costs $75 ($337.50 for the entire series). Non-member cost is $115/session and $515 for the series.
• Find out more at:
https://www.tash.org/dev/tashcms/ewebeditpro5/upload/PBS_for_adults_Session_descriptions(1).pdf
• Register at:
https://www.tash.org/dev/tashstore/ONSCategory.aspx?catid=4
Administrator Information
ADA Best Practices Toolkit for state and local governments.
The Tool Kit is designed to teach state and local government officials ways in which to identify and fix problems that may prevent people with disabilities from gaining equal access to state and local government programs, services, and activities. The Tool Kit also includes how to conduct surveys of accessibility in their buildings and facilities to insure physical access for all people.”
https://www.ada.gov/pcatoolkit/toolkitmain.htm
Quality Counts 2010 Presents “Broad Perspective” on Common-Standards
https://www.edweek.org/ew/toc/2010/01/14/index.html
Editorial Projects in Education (EPE) has released its 14th edition of Quality Counts, an annual report card on public education as measured by states’ education policies and outcomes, focusing this year on the national debate over common academic standards. EPE conducted a 50-state survey that found solid foundations for a unified approach to standards, since many states already look beyond their own borders for guidance.
Evaluating SPP/APR improvement activities. This document is intended to assist State Education Agency (SEA) and Lead Agency (LA) staff and technical assistance providers in designing a meaningful evaluation for the State Performance Plan (SPP)/Annual Performance Report (APR) improvement activities. Visit NECTAC, at:
https://www.nectac.org/~pdfs/pubs/evaluatingsppapractivities.pdf
Handbook on effective implementation of school improvement grants. This handbook is designed to bolster the effective implementation of the intervention models and strategies outlined in the 2009 School Improvement Grant (SIG) program in order to achieve the program’s clear goal-rapid improvement of persistently low-achieving schools. The handbook was edited by the Center on Innovation and Improvement and was developed by the five national content centers (Assessment and Accountability Comprehensive Center, Center on Innovation & Improvement, Center on Instruction, National Comprehensive Center for Teacher Quality, and National High School Center).
https://www.centerii.org/handbook/
Training opportunity: How to use the National Longitudinal Transition Study 2 (NLTS2) database.
April 13-15, 2010, in Washington, DC.
A free 3-day seminar is being sponsored by the National Center for Special Education Research (NCSER) at the Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education. The NLTS2 is designed to support research on a wide range of topics pertaining to youth with disabilities as they move from secondary school into adult roles. The seminar is open to advanced graduate students and faculty members from colleges and universities nationwide and to researchers, education practitioners, and policy analysts from federal, state, and local education and human services agencies and professional associations. NCSER will pay for transportation and hotel accommodations. Participants will be responsible for their meals during travel and while in Washington, DC. To view the announcement and application information, visit:
https://ies.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/?id=607&cid=4
Another training opp: On cluster-randomized trials.
July 25 – August 6, 2010, at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL.
The National Center for Education Research is clearly going to be very busy. It’s also announced the fourth Summer Research Training Institute on Cluster-Randomized Trials, designed to increase the national capacity of researchers to develop and conduct rigorous evaluations of the impact of education interventions. Find out more by visiting:
https://ies.ed.gov/whatsnew/conferences/?id=605
High school improvement efforts and the ARRA.
The National High School Center announces the release of several new resources to guide high school improvement efforts related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) as well as college and career readiness.
• Using the Right Data to Determine if High School Interventions are Working to Prepare Students for College and Careers.
https://www.betterhighschools.org/docs/NCEA_CollegeCareerReadiness.pdf
• A Coherent Approach to High School Improvement: A Needs Assessment Tool.
https://www.betterhighschools.org/docs/EightElementsNeedsAssessment.pdf
The health and well-being of children: A portrait of states and the nation.
This chartbook is based on data from the 2007 National Survey of Children’s Health. It reports on the health and well-being of children, as well as the factors in the family environment and aspects of the neighborhood that may support or undermine the health of children and their families. Information is presented on the health status and risk and protective factors experienced by children on the national level, within the subpopulations who are at particular risk, and on the state level for each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. https://mchb.hrsa.gov/nsch07/index.html
Concerned with disproportionate representation?
You may wish to visit the National Center on Response to Intervention’s new webpage on the subject, where you’ll find guides, briefs, and research citations on the issue of disproportionate representation of certain student groups in special education.
https://www.rti4success.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=76&Itemid=169
Indicators of school crime and safety, 2009.
This annual report provides the most current detailed statistical information on crimes occurring in school as well as on the way to and from school. The report is a joint effort of the National Center for Education Statistics and the Bureau of Justice Statistics. https://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2010012
Autism
How prevalent are autism spectrum disorders?
According to the latest report from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), autism occurs in approximately 1% of the population, or 1 in 110 of children 8 years of age.
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss5810a1.htm
And speaking of autism…are you a parent of a child on the spectrum?
A research study is being conducted at Boston University to develop a measure of everyday function for children and youth with ASD. It involves an online focus group for parents of children and youth with ASD. If you’re interested in participating, read more at: https://www.bu.edu/kidsincontext/pedi-asd-cat/
Behavior Management
Workshop for paraeducators on supporting students with learning and behavior challenges.
March 4, 2010, in Manchester, NH
April 6, 2010, in Concord, NH
The Institute on Disability is offering this workshop, which it calls The Paraeducator’s Toolbox, Preschool & Elementary School: Practical Strategies to Support Academic Achievement for Students with Learning and Behavioral Challenges. Registration: $75. For more information, visit:
https://www.iod.unh.edu/pdf/ParaPE_2010.pdf
Early Intervention Resources
New website from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (APA) has launched a new website, HealthyChildren.org, which was created to provide reliable, up-to-date information on child health and parenting issues.
https://www.healthychildren.org/english/our-mission/Pages/default.aspx
Coping with your baby’s challenging behaviors.
ZERO TO THREE has developed a set of resources designed to help parents better understand and cope with some of the typical challenges they face in the early years: aggression, defiance, inconsolable crying, slow-to-warm-up children, and sleep.
https://www.zerotothree.org/site/PageServer?pagename=key_challbehav
Understanding and addressing children’s mental health.
In April 2009, the Society for Research in Child Development sponsored an interdisciplinary summit on children’s mental health. The summit focused on: (1) the importance of mental health for normal child development; (2) everyday challenges for parents and child mental health; (3) prevention opportunities in child mental health; and (4) child mental health disorders and effective treatments. Read the report from the summit at:
https://www.srcd.org/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=838
Making play accessible to children with disabilities.
The National Lekotek Center is presenting three training seminars on the subject from March 8-10, 2010. The seminars are intended for social workers, pediatric therapists, special educators, early childhood educators, parents, caregivers, and any others who wish to enhance their skills in play for children with disabilities.
• Understanding Children with Disabilities and How they Play
Monday, March 8th (10:30 am – 4 pm) — $150
• Integrating Technology into Play
Tuesday, March 9th (9 am – 5 pm) — $175
• Adapting Toys, Equipment & Activities for Accessible Play
Wednesday, March 10th (9 am – 5 pm) — $175
• To register., go to: https://www.lekotek.org/services/educators/training_fam_play_specl.html
Inclusive early childhood education and children with disabilities.
This publication, from the Institute on Community Integration and Research and Training Center on Community Living, addresses how early childhood professionals, researchers, and families can provide quality, inclusive early childhood education for young children with and without disabilities.
https://ici.umn.edu/products/impact/221/221.pdf
10th National Early Childhood Inclusion Institute: Registration is now open!.
To be held May 17-19, 2010 in Chapel Hill, NC.
https://www.nectac.org/~meetings/inclusionmtg2010/splash.html
Presentations now available from the 2009 OSEP National Early Childhood Conference.
Presentation materials and conference photos are now available from the 2009 OSEP National Early Childhood Conference, Strengthening Partnerships to Improve Early Learning and Development for Young Children, which was held on December 5-9, 2009, in Arlington, VA.
https://www.nectac.org/~meetings/national2009/mtgpresentations.asp
Signing up for NECTAC’s newsletter.
We are always amazed at the wealth of early intervention/early childhood resources identified in NECTAC’s newsletter. We also really like its brief format in a weekly schedule. We highly recommend that all those involved in early childhood issues sign up via NECTAC’s page at:
https://lists.unc.edu/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=nectac-enotes
To give you a taste of eNotes’ quality, here are a few recent listings we’d like to repeat cos we found them quite on-target:
- The importance of investing in early childhood education.
The Heckman Equation Project has a Web site featuring Nobel prize-winning economist James Heckman’s work to better understand the long-term benefits of investing in early care and education for disadvantaged children and their families. https://www.heckmanequation.org/ - 5 new products from the Center on Everyday Child Language Learning.
These products are designed to assist practitioners in implementing an approach to early childhood intervention that uses everyday activities as sources of learning opportunities to promote the development of the language and communication skills of young children with disabilities and delays. https://www.cecll.org/articles1.php - Early literacy practices for young children.
The Center for Early Literacy Learning (CELL) recently announced the availability of on-line technical assistance materials for promoting parent and practitioner use of early literacy learning practices.
https://www.earlyliteracylearning.org/technicalasst.php - FAQ: Using Title I of ESEA for early education.
The Center for Law and Social Policy has published this FAQ providing answers to frequently asked questions on using Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act funds on early education. https://www.clasp.org/admin/site/premium-publications/files/titleifaq-1.pdf
Early childhood mental health services: Case studies from 4 states.
This in-depth policy analysis from Project Forum provides a background of the early childhood mental health focus of many organizations and the legal elements of why it is essential that children with disabilities be included in a comprehensive mental health system.
https://projectforum.org/docs/EarlyChildhoodMentalHealthServices-FourStateCaseStudies.pdf
Educational Progress
Do you have (or teach) a student in grade 4, 8, or 12 who’ll be participating in NAEP this year?
NAEP stands for the National Assessment of Educational Progress. NAEP 2010 assessments are being conducted from January 25 through March 5 in civics, geography, and U.S. history. FYI: The NAEP website has a wealth of resources to help those selected students, parents, teachers, and schools who are participating.
• Student pages (with answers to frequently asked questions, student videos, games, study tools, and more for students of all ages!)
https://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/students/
• Parents’ page
https://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/parents/
• En español.
https://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/parents/index_sp.asp
• Selected Schools pages (offering fact sheets for teachers and principals, tools to encourage student participation, and helpful links to get more information).
https://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/about/schools.asp
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Adolescents and adults with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: Upcoming conference.
April 14-17, 2010, Vancouver, BC (Canada).
Save the date if this topic hits home. The conference is entitled Facing the Future Together: Where Do We Go From Here?
https://www.interprofessional.ubc.ca/
Health and Disability
Images of health and disability.
The World Health Organization invited amateur and professional photographers to participate in an international contest with a theme of “images of health and disability” and a special focus on work and disability. The 33 winning photos are available at the link below and enrich our perceptions of health and disability.
https://www.who.int/features/2005/disability/en/index.html
Hearing Impairments
Interested in cochlear implants?
Cochlear implants are surgically implanted in the inner ear, allowing individuals who are profoundly hearing impaired to “receive” sound. Visit the featured health information page of the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery to find out more.
https://www.entnet.org/HealthInformation/patients.cfm
IEP Information
IEPs for children with behavior problems.
Must the IEP team develop a plan to address these problem behaviors? Are school districts required to train teachers to use positive behavioral interventions and support? Visit Wrightslaw’s article for answers to questions from parents whose children have behavior problems.
https://www.wrightslaw.com/nltr/07/nl.0516.htm
Identifying Students Eligible for SSI Pass Plans at IEP Meetings
Podcast
https://ruralinstitute.umt.edu/training/premium-publications/fact_sheets/student_eligibility.asp
Many transition-aged students with disabilities are receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), a financial benefit available to families who meet income and resource requirements and who have a child with a disability. SSI has several Work Incentive programs that could provide resources to eligible students to assist them in obtaining, advancing, or maintaining employment. Plans for Achieving Self Support (PASS plans) are one such work incentive program.
Response to Intervention (RTI)
The role of parents in the RTI process. – Ever wondered “what role do parents play in the RTI process, including when do they become involved, are they on the decision making team, and where can they learn more about RTI?” Watch the video of Dr. Daryl Mellard from the University of Kansas as he answers these questions in the fourth installment of the RTI Center’s Ask the Expert video series. https://www.rti4success.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1430
When a student isn’t progressing adequately in Tier 2 of RTI.
This article, from the RTI Action Network, discusses the identification of students not progressing adequately in Tier 2 of an RTI model. The authors review different decision-making methods and provide recommendations for measuring response to Tier 2 instruction.
https://www.rtinetwork.org/Learn/Research/ar/Making-Decisions-About-Adequate-Progress-in-Tier-2
Webinars on RTI for middle schools and high schools
The National Center on Response to Intervention (NCRTI) announces two upcoming free webinars on RTI.
• RTI in middle schools.
Tuesday February 9, 2010, 2:00-3:00 Eastern
https://tinyurl.com/ydvw23x
• Implementation of tiered interventions and RTI in high schools.
Thursday, February 11, 2010, 3:00-4:30 Eastern
https://tinyurl.com/yfxzane
Summer Camps
So here’s our quick connect to camps and summer opportunities. Some identify camps available to all children, and some are especially for children who have disabilities. It is also very likely that your community has summer camps or recreational opportunities available, that you won’t find listed here! To find out what’s available in your community, consult local sources of information such as your child’s teachers, parks and/or recreation departments, area private schools, religious organizations, other community groups, parent centers, and fellow parents.
General Camp Info and Opportunities
American Camp Association
www.campparents.org
Association of Independent Camps
www.aiccamps.org
Camp Channel
www.campchannel.com/campers/search
The CampPage Guide to Summer Camps
www.camppage.com/
Kids’ Camps
www.kidscamps.com
My Summer Camps
www.mysummercamps.com
Summer Camp Search
https://summercamps.com/cgi-bin/summercamps/search.cgi
Camps for Those with Special Needs
Be sure to check out the National Center on Physical Activity & Disability’s Fun & Leisure section on camp resources, available at:
https://www.ncpad.org/fun/fact_sheet.php?sheet=88&view=all
And now let’s look at camps that are described as supporting children with specific types of disabilities. The list is alphabetized according to the disabilities mentioned:
Amputees and Those with Limb Differences
https://www.amputee-coalition.org/fact_sheets/Kidscamps.html
Chronic, Life-Threatening Illnesses or Disabilities
www.bravekids.org/camps
Cancer
https://www.acor.org/ped-onc/cfissues/camps.html
Deaf or Hard of Hearing
https://tinyurl.com/yzk3ngx
Diabetes
www.childrenwithdiabetes.com/camps
Diabetes
https://www.diabetescamps.org/
Easter Seals Directory of Day and Residential Camps
https://www.easterseals.com/site/PageServer?pagename=ntl_directory_camprec
Hemiplegia and Stroke (CHASA)
https://www.chasa.org/summercamps.htm
Special Needs in the Metro New York Area
https://www.resourcesnyc.org/premium-publications/camps-2009-2010
Special Needs Camps
https://www.mysummercamps.com/camps/Special_Needs_Camps/index.html
Special Needs Camps
https://tinyurl.com/yzr66da
Transition Services
The Best Journey to Adult Life
https://transitions.canchild.ca/en/OurResearch/resources/BestPractices.pdf
“The Best Journey to Adult Life for Youth with Disabilities” is a model that represents the developmental process of a young person’s life course, with the transition to adulthood depicted as an important “journey.” Best Practice Guidelines for the transition to adulthood for youth with disabilities have been written using the words of youth, parents, community members, service providers, educators, and researchers in Ontario, Canada. The Guidelines are organized into six themes: Collaboration, Capacity-building, Navigation, Education, Information, and Research. Available in pdf (90 pages, 990 KB).
Think-Plan-Do Encourages Self-Determination
https://www.dds.ca.gov/ConsumerCorner/ThinkPlanDo.cfm
The State of California Department of Developmental Services has released a guide with leadership tips, from decision making to managing money, for people with disabilities. The Think-Plan-Do guide presents a simple plan for participating in the direction of one’s own future and establishing leadership goals. The guides are divided into four areas, covering 15 topics. Under each area are stories to assist in goal-planning.
Transition from College to High School Podcast
Podcast
https://dll.ada-podcasts.com/shownotes/DLLPod35.php
The Disability Law Lowdown Web site has posted a podcast called Transitioning from High School to College for Students with Disabilities. Interviews are conducted about facts, myths, and tips for students with disabilities transitioning from high school to college.
VocationalRehabilitation
Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation Takes an In-Depth Look at Challenges Youth with Severe Disabilities and Their Families Face
journal article
https://www.mathematica-mpr.com/newsroom/releases/2009/jourvocrehab8_09.asp
Youth who receive benefits from the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, the largest federal program providing cash payments to low-income youth with severe disabilities and their families, face challenges transitioning to adulthood. Highlights from six articles in the September 2009 issue of Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, by researchers from Mathematica Policy Research, TransCen Inc., and the Social Security Administration, include the public cost of child dependence on SSI , the high number of SSI students at age 18 who are not working or in school, and how parents of these youth often face difficult tradeoffs between providing child care and entering the work place.
Work Related Topics for Adolescents withDisabilities
• A student’s guide to jobs.
https://www.nichcy.org/InformationResources/Documents/audio/st2.mp3
• Relish is for more than hot dogs: A student’s guide to making your own sweet success.
https://www.nichcy.org/InformationResources/Documents/audio/Relish.mp3
• Find the student guide booklet and technical assistance guide accompanying each of these programs on our Publications page. Look under “S” for Student Guides.
https://www.nichcy.org/InformationResources/Pages/NICHCYPublications.aspx#s
