September 14, 2009 - Program eases college experience for students with autism

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September 14, 2009

News for special education professionals

Curriculum & Instruction

Program eases college experience for students with autismThe College Internship Program helps students with autism spectrum disorders adapt to college life by providing help with social and life skills through an intensive residential-counseling program. The eight-year-old program, offered at locations in Massachusetts, Indiana, California and Florida, was developed by a psychologist who was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome. "I thought, 'What would someone with Asperger's who's going to college need to be able to function in life?' " says McManmon. Orlando Sentinel (Fla.) (9/12)

Students gain ground at nontraditional charter schoolsIn the Minneapolis-St. area, five charter schools funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation are demonstrating good academic results, according to a recent report. The Star Schools Project, now 7 years old, includes a charter school targeted for students with hearing impairments. The schools in the project had a 96% graduation rate, compared with a 92% rate at Minnesota's public schools. A school official said the results show that the programs have merit, although it was hoped that more collaboration on services would cut costs. Pioneer Press (St. , Minn.) (9/11)

Arts combine with academics at magnet school for gifted studentsAn Arizona magnet school for artistically and academically gifted students is infusing fine-arts education into academic lessons as a way to improve student learning. "Kids that are artistically motivated incorporate those talents into different core-learning areas that help them go deeper in their learning and make more connections," said Lynn Tuttle, director of arts education and comprehensive curriculum for the Arizona Department of Education. The Arizona Republic

(Phoenix) (9/13)

Educational Leadership

Mentors are being used in effort to boost retention, teaching skillsOfficials in a Florida district are pairing new teachers with experienced full-time mentors through a program that officials hope will boost teacher retention rates. Officials say experienced teachers are more effective than beginners, but novice teachers can improve with the help of mentors. Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) (9/11)

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Hot Topics

Top five news stories selected by CEC SmartBrief readers in the past week.

Students with special needs are guided from school to independence (Arizona Daily Star (Tucson))

ADHD tied to disruption in brain's motivation pathway (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

District tries co-teaching method for students with disabilities (Wicked Local (Stoneham, Mass.))

Preschools enlist therapists to correct behavioral problems (The Wall Street Journal)

Obama encourages success, achievement in speech to students (The Washington Post)

Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers.

Technology Trends

Public library uses technology to serve people with disabilitiesA grant from the Texas State Library and Archive Commission has funded pilot programs to upgrade accessibility at eight public libraries in the state. At one library, modifications and tools for patrons with disabilities include adaptive furniture, webcam access to an American Sign Language interpreter, keyboards with Braille and large print, as well as equipment that can be checked out for home use. Denton Record-Chronicle (Texas) (9/14)

Schools are turning from textbooks to more versatile technologyMore schools across the country are offering students laptops, e-readers and iPods rather than traditional textbooks. Schools are basing their decisions on the expected long-term savings of investing in technology that can be updated quickly with new information. "If we continue to prepare kids for their past, that's very expensive," a Harvard educator said. "Their future is largely going to be in new media. And textbooks are no longer preparing them for that future." ABC

News (9/13)

Policy News

Court decision refines rules on reimbursement for special servicesA federal appeals court decision is the latest judicial attempt to set standards for parents of children with disabilities seeking reimbursement for educational services not provided by public schools. The ruling, in response to a lawsuit filed by the parents of a Texas girl who is autistic and bipolar, affects Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi. A three-judge panel said reimbursable services must be "essential in order for the disabled child to receive a meaningful educational benefit." The Dallas Morning News (9/12)

Professor: New methods are needed to diagnose student disabilitiesIn this column, University of Arkansas professor of education reform Jay P. Greene writes that the system of diagnosing learning disabilities in American schools is flawed. Greene writes that the rates of students diagnosed with special needs vary widely from state to state, raising the worry that students are undiagnosed or overdiagnosed. Neither case is acceptable, Greene asserts, and there should be improved, independent testing and

classification of students with disabilities. National Review (9/14)

Other News

Advocates say court protections should be offered to immigrants with special needsThe New York Times (free registration) (9/10)

Eye on Exceptionalities

Illinois Boy Scout with disabilities earns Eagle Scout rankAn Illinois Boy Scout has achieved the rank of Eagle Scout while overcoming learning, visual and hearing disabilities. Eighteen-year-old M. Huebener's disabilities would have allowed him until age 21 to earn Boy Scouts' highest rank, but his family pushed him to complete it sooner. "Everyone encouraged me to get it," he said. "It will be the proudest day of my life, other than getting my diploma in June." The Telegraph (Alton, Ill.) (9/13)

Drug treatment shrinks benign tumors that block hearingA drug that fights some tumors by shrinking their blood supply may also improve the hearing ability of people with benign tumors that cause hearing loss. Avastin, a drug that can treat advanced cancers, has been shown effective in trials at shrinking the tumors, known as acoustic neuromas. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution/HealthDay News (free registration) (9/11)

Other News

British students with disabilities create film about challengesGazette Internet Edition (U.K.) (9/14)

CEC Spotlight

Save the date for CEC's 2010 Convention & Expo Take part in the premier professional-development event for special educators, to be held under one roof April 21 to 24 at the Gaylord Opryland in Nashville. Visit CEC's Web site to check out the venue, learn more about Nashville and download save-the-date materials. Registration opens Oct. 15. Find out more.

Need a continuum of positive behavior supports in your school? "Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports," a special issue of Teaching Exceptional Children, explains how to create a continuum of supports. Topics include: schoolwide discipline, classroom management, data-based decision making, wraparound process and more. Take me to the CEC Store!

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