What's New

Past News You Can Use: 2003

• December 2003
• November 2003
• October 2003
• June 2003
• May 2003
• April 2003
• March 2003
• February 2003
• January 2003
  
  
• Past News You Can Use: 2001
• Past News You Can Use: 2002
• Current News You Can Use

December 2003

For the latest news on IDEA reauthorization, see the December 12th latest scoop!

Assistive Technology for People with Learning Disabilities

Wondering about your child’s development and/or behavior?

The Child Study Center from New York University had posted three Web sections to answer common questions about behaviors parents might see in their infant or toddler, school-age child, or teenager--everything ranging from the effects of divorce to ADHD to tantrums. Find out what's within the expected range of behavior, warning signs, and what to do next.

Is My Child OK? Common Questions about Infants, Toddlers, and Preschoolers
www.aboutourkids.org/kidok/infant/index.html

Is My Child OK? Common Questions about School Age Children
www.aboutourkids.org/kidok/school/index.html

Is My Child OK? Common Questions about Teenagers
gwww.aboutourkids.org/kidok/teen/index.html

Using Behavior Supports with People with Developmental Disabilities

New Resource Center to Address Discrimination and Stigma

The ADS Center (Resource Center to Address Discrimination and Stigma) can help people design, implement, and operate programs that reduce discrimination and stigma associated with mental illnesses. With the most up-to-date research and information, the Center helps individuals, organizations, and governments counter such discrimination and stigma in the community, in the workplace, and in the media. The ADS Center's staff is available to provide counsel and assistance in English and Spanish.

New Address for the Traumatic Brain Injury Technical Assistance Center

The Traumatic Brain Injury Technical Assistance Center at the National Association of State Head Injury Administrators has moved to new office space. Their new address and contact information is TBI Technical Assistance Center at the National Association of State Head Injury Administrators, 4330 East West Highway, Suite 301, Bethesda, MD 20814, 301.656.3500 (voice), 301.656.3530 (fax), www.tbitac.org (Web), kcurrier@tbitac.org (email).

No Child Left Behind Hotline for Superintendents

The Department of Education has a new toll-free resource hotline that provides information about all aspects of the No Child Left Behind Act, highlighting key issues for School Superintendents. This includes information on: accountability; measuring school progress; supplemental educational services; public school choice options; Reading First grants; and the highly qualified teachers provisions of the law. The phone number for the hotline is 888.NCLB.SUP, or 888.625.2787.

Research: Teaching for Understanding

Traditional lectures, exercises, and drills may help students memorize facts and formulas and get the right answers on tests. But they don't help students achieve the depth of understanding they need to understand complex ideas and apply knowledge in new settings or situations. In recent years, a number of researchers and education reformers have worked to define student understanding and to identify strategies that teachers can use to help students acquire the skills of understanding. This issue is addressed by the National Center for Secondary Education and Transition’s November 2003 Research to Practice Brief Teaching for Understanding. This brief is available online in html and PDF format at www.ncset.org/publications/viewdesc.asp?id=1309.

Educational Research Service Releases New Editions

• Handbook of Research on Improving Student Achievement (3rd Edition)
  What's effective in teaching content areas in elementary and secondary schools? This third edition will tell you! It includes over 100 research-based strategies, ways that districts can support instructional improvement, and a research synthesis on characteristics of high-performing districts.



• Understanding and Using Education Statistics: It's Easier (and More Important) Than You Think (Second Edition)

This publication is written to help novice and experienced education professionals become better consumers of statistics, better interpreters of data, and better decision makers. Statistical terms are concisely explained and then demonstrated using examples from the field. Examples are also included of how statistics can be, and often are, misused.

Contact ERS at Educational Research Service, 2000 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington, Virginia 22201, 703.243.2100 (voice), 800.791.9308 (toll-free voice), 703.243.1985 (fax), 800.791.9309 (toll-free fax), www.ers.org (Web), ers@ers.org (email).

November 2003

National Inclusive Schools Week: December 1-5

The National Institute for Urban School Improvement offers a Celebration Kit to help school systems, families, and students celebrate the 3rd Annual National Inclusive Schools Week. The Kit includes everything you will need to plan for the Week--publications that speak to the benefits of inclusive schools, a lengthy list of celebration ideas and lesson plans, and materials to use in promoting the Week and inclusive practices in your community. You may order the Kit on CD-Rom, or download the materials from: www.inclusiveschools.org

Health Insurance Help

The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) helps to provide health insurance to children from working families who otherwise would be uninsured. Find out more online using the Public Education Network’s interactive guide to CHIP at www.publiceducation.org/chip.asp.

Jobs for Youth with Disabilities

• The U.S. Education Department and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has developed a guidebook to help businesses hire people with disabilities. This introduction to the employment process, Disability Employment 101: Learn to Tap Your 'HIRE' Potential, is available in PDF and text format online at: www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/products
  /employmentguide/index.html



• Learn the basics of the Workforce Investment Act, specifically how it provides services to young people with disabilities. Serving Youth with Disabilities Under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998: The Basics is available from the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability/Youth in MS Word or PDF format at: www.ncwd-youth.info/enews2.html

Teaching Students with Social/Emotional Difficulties

Learn how social-emotional development and academic achievement are interconnected in the report Safe and Sound: An Educational Leader's Guide to Evidence-Based Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Programs. The report, as well as related resources, is available from the Laboratory for Student Success at 800-892-5550, or online at: www.casel.org/safeandsound.htm

Getting Evidence-Based Practices into the Classroom

Using Research and Reason in Education: How Teachers Can Use Scientifically Based Research to Make Curricular & Instructional Decisions, from the National Partnership for Reading , can help teachers and others examine published studies and understand how to identify high quality scientifically based instructional strategies and how to bring them into the classroom. Available from EdPubs by requesting publication number EXR0038P. Also available online in PDF and HTML format at: www.nifl.gov/partnershipforreading/publications/k-3.html

Reading Instruction

The International Reading Association has developed a brochure, What is Evidence-based Reading Instruction?, to help parents understand the research in reading, including how to identify literacy instruction methods that are likely to lead to high student achievement. Download the brochure from: www.reading.org/pdf/1055.pdf

Mental Health Fact Sheets

The Science on Our Minds Series is a collection of short research-focused fact sheets developed by the National Institute of Mental Health. Topics include:

• Mental Health in America and Worldwide
  The Impact of Mental Illness on Society



• Child and Adolescent Mental Health
  Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
  Teenage Brain: A Work in Progress
  Teens: The Company They Keep
  Unraveling Autism
  Youth in a Difficult World
  


• Depressive Disorders and Suicide
  
Depression Can Break Your Heart
Going to Extremes: Bipolar Disorder
In Harm's Way: Suicide in America , 2003
The Invisible Disease: Depression
Older Adults: Depression and Suicide Facts, 2003


• Anxiety Disorders
  
Reliving Trauma: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Step on a Crack..... Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
When Fear Holds Sway: Panic Disorder


• Schizophrenia
  When Someone Has Schizophrenia



• Personality Disorders
  Borderline Personality Disorder: Raising Questions, Finding Answers



• Women's Mental Health
  Women Hold Up Half the Sky: Women and Mental Health Research



• Neuroscience Advances
  Chairs, Houses & Visual Clutter: Watching the Brain at Work
  Gene Hunting
  How Biological Clocks Work
  Seeing Our Feelings: Imaging Emotion in the Brain
  Stress and the Developing Brain
  What We Learned from Songbirds: The Adult Brain Can Generate New Nerve Cells

Online Research Resources

Looking for where Science meets Education? Try the resources below. They are available for reading online or for purchase from the National Research Council at the National Academies Press at: www.nap.edu

• Strategic Education Research Partnership (2003)
• Scientific Research in Education (2002)
• Knowing What Students Know: The Science and Design of Educational Assessment (2001)
• From Neurons to Neighborhoods: The Science of Early Childhood Development (2000)
• Improving Student Learning: A Strategic Plan for Education Research and Its Utilization (1999)

Learn about Evaluating Research

The National Association of Child Advocates has developed a fact sheet with the top ten tips for understanding research. Learn how to decide if you can trust the results of any given study. Understanding Research: Top Ten Tips for Advocates and Policymakers is available in PDF format at:
www.voicesforamericaschildren.org/Content/ContentGroups/
Publications1/Voices_for_Americas_Children/Advocacy/
20024/understandingresearch.pdf

October 2003

We're Different!

We've been refunded as the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities! Read about our transformation, effective October 1, 2003, under "About Us."

Deadline Fast Approaching!

The competition known as Accessible America 2003 recognizes one U.S. community a year for successfully integrating its citizens with disabilities. Should this year's accessible community winner be yours? If you want to enter your city, town, or county as a contender, you'll have to do so soon! The deadline for the competition is October 31, 2003.

The prize? Fame, glory...and $25,000 to the winning community.

The Accessible America 2003 competition is sponsored by the National Organization on Disability (NOD) and funded by the United Parcel Service (UPS). Read more about the program and eligibility requirements at: www.nod.org/content.cfm?id=209

Public Comment Requested!

The Department of Education is accepting public comment on proposed regulations intended to eliminate barriers that have kept faith-based groups from partnering with the Department of Education. The notice of proposed rulemaking (called the NPRM) was published in the Federal Register on September 30, 2003, and is available online at: www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/proprule/2003-3/093003a.html

Interested parties may send their comments on the proposed regulations via any of these mechanisms:

In writing, to:
John J. Porter, Director
Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives
Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Education
555 New Jersey Avenue, NW., Suite 410
Washington, DC 20208-8300

Via fax, to:
(202) 208-1689

Via email, to:
faithandcommunity@ed.gov
Note: You must include the term "proposed rule" in the subject line of your electronic message.

The public comment period remains open until December 1, 2003.

Looking for Information ...

On AD/HD?
In September 2003, the Office of Special Education Programs, at the U.S. Department of Education, has published Identifying and Treating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Resource for School And Home. Word and PDF versions of the resource are available at: www.ed.gov/about/reports/annual/osep/index.html#adhd-res

On person-centered planning?
Learn the nuts and bolts of person-centered planning from My Life, My Dream: A Guide to Person Centered Planning, a new 29-minute video and accompanying color guidebook. Produced by the Center on Community Living and Careers, Indiana Institute on Disability & Community, the training package can be ordered at: www.trninc.com/mylife.html

For job seekers, these materials combine nicely with a new brief available from the Institute for Community Inclusion, More Than Just a Job: Person-Centered Career Planning and ICI's other publications on person-centered planning. See what's available at:
www.communityinclusion.org/publications/indexb.html

On parent involvement as a factor in student achievement?
Here's a discussion on point from CADRE: The Impact of Parent/Family Involvement on Student Outcomes: An Annotated Bibliography of Research from the Past Decade. This publication can be found at: www.directionservice.org/cadre/parent_family_involv.cfm

On peer mediation?
Peer mediation provides students and teachers an alternative to traditional discipline for resolving displutes. Read about school-based peer mediation programs in this article about how peer mediation works in schools in Chautauqua County, New York: www.directionservice.org/cadre/jalmc.cfm

New Department of Education Funding

Three national education organizations will share $1.3 million in grants for initiatives aimed at teaching families about the education options available to them under the historic No Child Left Behind Act. The organizations are:

• the Hispanic Council for Reform and Education Options (Hispanic CREO) ,
• the Black Alliance for Educational Options (BAEO), and
• the Greater Educational Opportunities Foundation (GEO).

Their mission is to develop or continue their existing public information campaigns to inform families about key components of No Child Left Behind, including the supplemental academic services and choice provisions. Read more about what's planned at: www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2003/10/10092003b.html

Mental Health Commission's Final Report to the President

The President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health delivered its report to the President on July 23, 2003. Called Achieving the Promise: Transforming Mental Health Care in America, this report completes the Commission's work, which involved a year-long study gathering expert care testimony and consumer concerns across the nation. The report, plus much more, is available at:
www.MentalHealthCommission.gov

News from the TA&D World...

Parent Training and Information (PTI) Centers
In recent re-competition, the PTI world was re-designed from 4 regional centers into 6. The regions now align with the regions served by the Regional Resource Centers. This changes was made to strengthen the connections to the larger technical assistance network and fortify partnerships between parent centers and state education systems at regional and national levels. The new regional centers are listed and linked on the Web site of the national coordinating office, the Alliance, which remains at the PACER Center. Find out more about the new regions and connect with the regional centers at: www.taalliance.org

Good-bye to FAPE
The FAPE project (Families and Advocates Partnership for Education) officially ended on September 30, 2003. PACER Center, which has operated FAPE for the 5 years of its funding, reports that, for the next several months, it will continue to operate FAPE so that key activities can be closed out. So all those great IDEA-related materials are still available online and will be for the foreseeable future, at: www.fape.org

Hello to the new IDEA Partnership Project
FAPE was one of four IDEA partnership projects funded 5 years ago by OSEP. In the recent round of recompetitions within the TA&D world, they've been consolidated into one project that must address the needs of four constituent groups: policymakers, service providers, local administrators, and families. This new project has been awarded to the National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE). No official word has spread yet regarding what remains to be done on the former partnership projects or what the new work involves. Stay tuned!

June 2003

Input Requested on the National Education Technology Plan

The U.S. Department of Education is calling for broad participation and input from a wide array of education stakeholders in crafting a new National Education Technology Plan, as required by the recently enacted No Child Left Behind law (NCLB).

The department is actively seeking advice from a variety of constituencies in education, especially students, parents, K-12 educators, colleges and university leaders, and business and industry. Individuals and organizations are being asked to identify and communicate to the Department of Education their top issues, priorities, concerns, and barriers that need to be addressed for technology to improve teaching and learning in the 21st century.

Want to share your perspective? Visit the National Education Technology Plan's web site at www.NationalEdTechPlan.org, and click on the "Participate in the Plan" link.

New Information Centers ...

Improving Practice in Educating Students with Autism
Want to know how? Contact the PDA Center—the Professional Development in Autism Center. The PDA Center's goal is to conduct training across the country so that every student with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can access high-quality, evidence-based educational services in his or her local school district. The Center provides training and support for school districts, families, and communities through six sites located around the country. The PDA Center is funded by the U.S. Department of Education. www.pdacenter.org

The National Resource Center on AD/HD
Need information on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder? Come to the National Resource Center on AD/HD, a new program of CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorders). The center is funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to serve as a national clearinghouse of information and resources on this public health concern. The center's web site answers questions about AD/HD and directs visitors to other reliable sources online. The site is a "work in progress," so some pages are still under construction. Some information is available in Spanish. http://www.help4adhd.org

Looking for Information ...

On specific genetic conditions?
Visit DiseaseInfoSearch, an Internet-based search tool you can use to find specific, high quality information about genetic conditions. Disease InfoSearch was developed by the Genetic Alliance to promote easy and fast access to information essential to making health care decisions. http://www.geneticalliance.org/DIS/

On children's health and the latest medical news?
CaringParents.org is a free public service web site dedicated to simplifying the never-ending search for news concerning children's health. CaringParents.org is for all parents who wish to keep on top of the large amount of newly published health and medical information regarding specific medical conditions or general health concerns. http://www.caringparents.org

On graduation requirements for students with disabilities?
Read the National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO)'s FAQs on the subject. Find out, for example, answers to questions such as:

• Do most states change graduation requirements for students with disabilities?
• Are re-testing opportunities available for students with disabilities?
• Do states have an appeals process available?
• Do different diploma options have different implications for continued special education services?

http://education.umn.edu/ nceo/ TopicAreas/ Graduation/ grad_FAQ.htm

On what works to keep youth with disabilities out of the juvenile justice system?
What do we know about children and youth with disabilities who are involved in the juvenile justice system or who are at risk of delinquency? How effective are the various prevention, intervention, treatment, and management strategies we're using to reduce delinquency in this population of children and youth? This report from the National Council on Disability (NCD) summarizes the research about this critical issue. http://www.ncd.gov/ newsroom/ publications/ juvenile.html

On how to address problem behavior in the classroom?
Read about effective strategies teachers can use to support all students, including how to prevent challenging behavior from occurring: http://www.pbs.org/ teachersource/ prek2/ issues/ 602issue.shtm.

Also take a look at CECP's (Center for Effective Collaboration & Practice) series of short information briefs, which translate research on effective intervention practices for behavioral problems into a format that's easy to understand, including what the research says about what does and what doesn't work. http://cecp.air.org/ familybriefs/

On testing accommodations for students with disabilities?
Visit the Online Testing Accommodations Bibliography. Brought to you by the National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO), this resource lets you search empirical research studies on the effects of various testing accommodations for students with disabilities. Plans are underway to include similar studies on students with limited English proficiency. http://education.umn.edu/ NCEO/ AccomStudies.htm

And What About Education?

Check out these resources.

Condition of Education 2003
Find out everything but the kitchen sink about the condition of education in the United States: how many students there are (from elementary school on up to adult learning), how well they're learning, who's dropping out, who's going on to postsecondary education, where the money for education comes from, and who are the teachers? This report is required by law and uses the latest data available to give us a picture of how we're doing in education. http://nces.ed.gov/ pubsearch/ pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2003067

Standards for Success
What do students need to know and be able to do in order to succeed in entry-level university courses? The Standards for Success (S4S) project can tell you. To ensure that this important information gets out as widely as possible, the project is mailing an "Understanding University Success" booklet and accompanying CD-ROM to each of the nearly 20,000 public high schools in the nation, as well as to state education departments and university leaders. These materials are also available, free of charge, on the S4S web site. http://www.s4s.org/

Aligning Special Education with NCLB
What are the implications for students with LD and ADHD of aligning special education with NCLB, the No Child Left Behind Act? Find out in this LDOnline article. http://www.ldonline.org/ ld_indepth/ special_education/ alignment_primer.html

Telephone Conferences from TASH
TASH has announced a new series of Telephone Conferences on issues related to Quality Education in the General Education Classroom for Students with Significant Disabilities. This series is intended for teachers, administrators, parents, and others. Topics include: effective support for students in general education, how to move the system towards inclusion, student-led IEP's, the effects of pull-out, academics, diplomas, employment, alternate assessment, and parent advocacy. http://www.tash.org/

How to Establish an E-Mentoring Program
The National Center on Secondary Education and Transition (NCSET) announces the availability of the newly edited and very practical Connecting to Success (CTS) Training Manual. The 151-page training manual can be downloaded or purchased by any individual or group looking for ideas and guidance in how to establish an e-mentoring program. http://ici.umn.edu/ ementoring/

Resources To Help You Address Mental Health Issues

Tips for Improving Mental Health
According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, it helps to know how to improve your mental health, because "preventing mental illness is better than any treatment available." They offer tips for parents and teens in how to do just that. http://www.ahrq.gov/ child/ mhmtips.htm

ABCs for Children's Mental Health
According to NASP (the National Association of School Psychologists), schools are excellent places to promote good mental health. They offer this on-line article for educators who want to know more about how to foster students' mental health resiliency and how to recognize and respond to signs that a child needs help. http://www.nasponline.org/ publications/ cq314abc.html

A Family Guide to Keeping Youth Mentally Healthy and Drug-Free
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has created this new web site to enhance the bond between parent and child and to help keep children healthy and drug-free. The site offers adults who influence the lives of children ages 7 to 18 suggestions for better communication, as well as other tips that aid in prevention. http://family.samhsa.gov/

May 2003

Reauthorizing Head Start

Head Start is well known for its effectiveness in addressing the developmental needs of preschool children (birth through age 5) and their low-income families. This child-focused program has the overall goal of increasing the school readiness of young children in low-income families. But did you know that, in 2001-2002, 13% of the children enrolled in Head Start were children with disabilities?

This valuable resource to low-income families with children (including those with disabilities) is authorized by the Head Start Act, which expires this year. Congress, the Bush administration, and stakeholders in the Head Start community are actively focusing upon its reauthorization. Significant changes to the legislation may be made.

Here are several resources where you can learn more:

• About the Head Start program: Visit the Head Start Bureau (at the Department of Health and Human Services), on the Web at:
  www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/hsb/

• The Bush administration's proposal for revamping Head Start, at: www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/earlychildhood/
  hspolicybook/summary.html

• An Information Brief from the Head Start Bureau about the President's proposal, at: www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/hsb/
  pdf/Presidents_Proposal.pdf

• The Children's Defense Fund's Q & A on reauthorization:
  www.childrensdefense.org/pdf/
  headstart_q&a.pdf

• The National Head Start Association's recommendations on the proposed changes:
  www.saveheadstart.org/understand.html

Public Comment Requested!

The Social Security Administration is planning to change the rules it uses to evaluate mental disorders in individuals who apply for benefits or Supplemental Security Income based on disability. Before SSA begins this effort, people are invited to offer suggestions and comments for revising those rules. Online public comment is open until June 16, 2003.

• See the Advance Notice from the Federal Register, at:
  http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/
  14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2003/03-6278.htm

• Provide your public comment online to SSA, at:
  http://policy.ssa.gov/erm/rules.nsf/Rules+Open+To+Comment

• Write to, call, or visit SSA online at:

  Social Security Administration
  Office of Public Inquiries
  Windsor Park Building
  6401 Security Blvd.
  Baltimore, MD 21235
  800.772.1213 (V)
  800.325.0778 (TTY)
  www.ssa.gov

More Public Comment Requested!

The government's Interagency Committee on Disability Research (ICDR) is asking for public comment on research needs related to disability and rehabilitation. Identify your needs and issues and influence future research! ICDR provides a Web site to take your suggestions, at:
www.icdr.us

Upcoming Conference: IDEA Partnership 2nd National Summit

• Who? IDEA Partnership 2nd National Summit on the Shared Implementation of IDEA '97

• When? June 19-21, 2003

• Where? Crystal Gateway Marriott, Arlington, VA

• What? The program for the 2003 Summit will include a variety of concurrent sessions from researchers and practitioners on key implementation issues. The program will center around six topical strands around which presenters will share information, and resources: (1) Linking School Climate with Improved Outcomes for Students with Disabilities, (2) Family/School Partnerships and Relationships, (3) Disproportionality, (4) Students with Disabilities in Standards-Based Reform, (5) Personnel, and (6) Emerging Issues.

• Need more information? Want to register online? Visit the IDEA Practices site at:
  www.ideapractices.org/summit/index.php
  
  or contact:

  The Council for Exceptional Children
  1110 N. Glebe Road, Suite 300
  Arlington, VA 22201-5704
  (703) 245-0615
  (877) 232-4332
  (866) 915-5000 (TTY)
  E-mail: chrisv@cec.sped.org

Looking for Materials...

• On IEPs? Check out the collection of articles on the IEP process at LDOnLine.
  www.ldonline.org/ld_indepth/iep/iep.html

• On Preschool Transition? What might you do when children aren't ready for kindergarten? Here are two approaches commonly used to delay a child's entry into kindergarten (or retain the child in kindergarten for an extra year). Read the pros and cons to each approach at:
  www.ascd.org/publications/ed_lead/200304/holloway.html

• On Secondary Transition? Visit the National Center on Secondary Education and Transition and find a broad array of transition materials at:
  www.ncset.org/publications/default.asp
  
  Take a look at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction's new guidebook on planning for life after high school at:
  www.dpi.state.wi.us/dpi/dlsea/een/pdf/tranopndrs.pdf

• On How to Foster Self-Determination in Your Child? The Beach Center on Disability's guide can help parents set their child on the path to self-determination, starting at an early age.
  http://people.ku.edu/~cts/parentsguide.htm

• On the No Child Left Behind Act? Here's a helpful parent's guide.
  http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/nclb.parent.guide.heath.htm

• On Federal Civil Rights for People with Disabilities? The Department of Justice provides an overview to the laws that ensure equal opportunity for people with disabilities.
  www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/cguide.htm

• On Positive Behavior Support Plans? Find sample plans for students with ADHD, autism, and Asperger Syndrome, and a working document that you can use as a template.
  (www.advocatesforspecialkids.org/pb_plan_samples_templates.htm)

Spanish Language Health Resources

For the Spanish-speaking community, here are several sources of information on health:

• Knowledge Path. The Maternal and Child Health Library offers a collection of Spanish language health resources, including Web sites, electronic publications, health hotlines, journal articles, books, reports, databases, and an electronic discussion group!
  www.mchlibrary.info/KnowledgePaths/kp_spanish.html

• Healthfinder Español. Here's a resource Spanish-speaking families can use to find the best government and nonprofit health and human services information on the Web, linking to information and Web sites from over 1800 health-related organizations.
  (www.healthfinder.gov/espanol)

• National Hispanic Family Health Helpline. Called "Su Familia," this helpline (1.866.783.2645 / 866.SU.FAMILIA) can help Hispanic families get basic health information to help them prevent and manage chronic conditions, and refer them to local health providers and federally supported programs including the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

Financial Planning Booklet

Easter Seals and the National Endowment for Financial Education® (NEFE®) have collaborated to create With Open Arms, a 72-page financial planning booklet for parents, caregivers, grandparents, or others involved in the care of a special needs child. Included is information on estate planning, finding the right lawyer or knowledgeable financial planner, wills, special-needs trusts, government benefits, savings options, insurance plans, and other available resources. Easter Seals and NEFE encourage families to start financial planning when their child with a disability is at a young age.

The booklet is available at:
www.easter-seals.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ntl_with_open_arms

Emergent Literacy and AT

Join the national online discussion, Emergent Literacy: The Role of AT, with Dr. David Koppenhaver, is a national online discussion being offered by the Family Center on Technology and Disability. The discussion will run from May 5 through June 6. To take a look at the discussion or to participate, go to: www.fctd.info

May 20th Broadcast on Students with Disabilities

• What? The latest in the Department of Education's TV series called Education News Parents Can Use, launched in September 2002 to help parents learn about the No Child Left Behind Act.

• When? Tuesday, May 20, 2003, 8:00 - 9:00 PM (Eastern)

• What's the topic? Serving Students with Disabilities: Helping All Children Achieve

• What's the format? Live! Viewer call-ins, discussions, "how-to" demonstrations, conversations with parents, educators, community leaders, and education experts.

• Viewing options? There are three viewing options:

  To participate: You need to locate a facility with a satellite downlink capability. Or, call your local cable access station or school board channel and have them register to obtain free satellite coordinates. Use the Department of Education's online registration system at:
  http://registerevent.ed.gov

  To watch locally: Use the Department's online registration system to find a local meeting, or to look for a local TV broadcast, select "viewing options" at:
  http://registerevent.ed.gov

  Live and archived Web casts: Education News is available via live and archived Web casts. To learn more, visit:
  www.connectlive.com/events/ednews

April 2003

Public Comment Requested!

The Department of Education has proposed a new Scope of Work for the ERIC Clearinghouse system and is requesting public comment on its proposal. This means that all interested parties are invited to let DOE know their opinion of the new ERIC system being proposed. The public comment period closes May 9, 2003.

Under the proposed new scope, the current system of 16 clearinghouses and their services (available at: www.eric.ed.gov/) will be replaced with a single contract award. Current customer service features for teachers, parents, principals, administrators, school board members, policymakers, librarians, and others will be eliminated. Other changes are proposed as well.

The draft scope of work is available at: www.eps.gov/spg/ED/OCFO/CPO/Reference-Number-ERIC2003/Attachments.html.

Additional information about ERIC Reauthorization is available on the ERIC Reauthorization News page located at: www.lib.msu.edu/corby/education/doe.htm.

IDEA Reauthorization News . . . Check it out!

Are you keeping up with the fast-moving developments in the process of reauthorizing IDEA? Learn what's happening! Check out NICHCY's new pages devoted to bringing you the latest scoop on the reauthorization of IDEA.

Behavior Issues, Disabilities, and Parent Interventions: Resources for Families

The following materials have stood the test of time and are as relevant today as the day they were published.

• Facts for Families, at http://www.aacap.org/ publications/ factsfam/ index.htm
  The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Web site assists parents and families in understanding developmental, behavioral, emotional, and mental disorders affecting children and adolescents. Facts for Families were developed to provide concise and up-to-date information on issues that affect children, teenagers, and their families. They cover many topics, such as information on specific disabilities, discipline, step-families, substance abuse, and adolescent development.

• Positive Behavioral Support, at http://www.bridges4kids.org/ PBS/ PBS.html
  The Beach Center Fact Sheets and Research Briefs inform families about positive behavioral support (PBS) and how they can use PBS with their children with developmental disabilities. The bridges 4 kids Web site, at http://www,bridges4kids.org , offers a vast amount of information geared toward building partnerships between families, schools, and communities.

• CECP Info Briefs, at http://cecp.air.org/ familybriefs
  The Center for Effective Collaboration and Practice aims to improve services for children and youth with emotional and behavioral problems. The Briefs for Families on Evidence-Based Practices provide families with useful and usable information about evidence-based practices.

• About Our Kids Web site, at http://www.aboutourkids.org
  About Our Kids is sponsored by New York University's Child Study Center. In the section on Mental Health, there is information about Issues, Disorders, Symptoms, and Resources. The Parenting section focuses on Behavior, Development, Emotions, School, and Social Skills. The section called "Is my kid ok?" addresses three age groups: Infant, Toddler, Preschooler; School Age Child; and Teenager.

NIH Seeks the Participation of Families of Youth with AD/HD

ADHD. What role do genes play? Doctors at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are conducting a nationwide study to identify specific genes that contribute to Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD). Participating families must have at least two children, and at least one with AD/HD (between the ages of 7 and 17). No travel is required for this study; all information will be collected over the telephone and through the mail. Participants will receive study-related tests at no cost. Call 1.800.411.1222 (TTY# 1.866.411.1010). Your participation may help doctors develop a new treatment for AD/HD. NIH is a government agency that conducts and supports research to find new ways to diagnose, prevent, and treat a wide variety of disorders. For information about clinical trials, go to the Web site of the NIH Clinical Center, at http://www.cc.nih.gov.

Reading and Learning Disabilities Information for Families and Teachers

• Ten Myths of Reading Instruction
  http://www.sedl.org/ reading/ topics/ myths.pdf

• Teaching Reading IS Rocket Science: What Expert Teachers Should Know and Be Able to Do
  http://www.aft.org/ Edissues/ downloads/ rocketsci.pdf

• On Babies and Bathwater: Addressing the Problems of Identification of Learning Disabilities
  http://www.advocacyinstitute.org/ resources/ Babies_and_Bathwater.pdf

• "Reading Disability" or "Learning Disability": The Debate, Models of Dyslexia, and a Review of Research-Validated Reading Programs
  http://www.ldonline.org/ ld_indepth/ reading/ reading_approaches.html

New Bilingual Helpline, "SU FAMILIA"

HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson announced the creation of the "Su Familia" National Hispanic Family Health Helpline (1.866.783.2645 / 866.SU.FAMILIA). Su Familia will help Hispanic families get basic health information to help them prevent and manage chronic conditions, and refer them to local health providers and federally supported programs including the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

Su Familia bilingual information specialists refer callers to one of over 16,000 local health providers, including community and migrant health centers. Callers can also request basic health information, referrals to information sources, or receive consumer-friendly, bilingual Su Familia fact sheets. Fact sheets are currently available for a wide variety of topics, including: asthma, cancer screening, cardiovascular disease, child and adult immunizations, diabetes, domestic violence and HIV/AIDS.

Su Familia is supported by the HHS Health Resources and Services Administration and the HHS Office of Minority Health, and was developed and is operated by the National Alliance for Hispanic Health. The toll-free helpline is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time.

March 2003

NEW!!!  IDEA Reauthorization News

Paige Releases Principles for Reauthorizing IDEA

U. S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige has unveiled principles to guide the Education Department in its work toward seeking reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), saying:

"Every child in America deserves the highest-quality education, including our children with disabilities. Our goal is to align IDEA with the principles of No Child Left Behind by ensuring accountability, more flexibility, more options for parents and an emphasis on doing what works to improve student achievement."

You can read the full text of the press release at
www.ed.gov/ PressReleases/ 02-2003/ 02252003.html.

Guide to Raising Children with Disabilities

The Children's Defense Fund is offering a new guide called "Grandparent's and Other Relative Caregiver's Guide to Raising Children with Disabilities." The guide is free of charge. To learn more, call (202) 662-3568 or e-mail childwelfare@childrensdefense.org.

Assessing All Students

National and state policies require all students to participate in educational accountability systems. For professionals and parents seeking information about how to include students with disabilities in state and destrict assessments, there's "Assessing One and All" at these Web sites:

• Assessing One & All book:
  http://www.cec.sped.org/ bk/ catalog2/ assessment.html

• Assessing One & All web course:
  http://www.cec.sped.org/pd/aoa.html

• Assessing One & All project web site:
  http://www.wcer.wisc.edu/aoa/

IEP Resources for Families

The I.E.P. Pop Up is a tool to help families learn the laws and find good responses to challenges that may arise in an IEP meeting. The tool is brought to you by the National Center on Low-Incidence Disabilities (www.nclid.unco.edu). The direct link is: http:// www.nclid.unco.edu/ HVoriginals/ Advocacy/ Popup/ popup.html

Online Discussion about Assistive Technology

The Family Center on Technology and Disability periodically conducts national online discussions about assistive technology. Read archived discussions and find out about upcoming ones at: http://www.fctd.info.

Need More Info on Paraprofessionals?

Survey a wealth of information available at the click of a mouse!

• National Resource Center for Paraprofessionals
  http://www.nrcpara.org/

• National Clearinghouse for Paraeducator Resources
  http://www.usc.edu/ dept/ education/ CMMR/ Clearinghouse.html

• National Clearinghouse for Professions in Special Education
  http://www.special-ed-careers.org/

• IDEAPractices
  http://www.ideapractices.org/ (search "paraprofessional")

Learn about the Brain

Project Learn is a parent resource for exploring the role of experience on the developing brain, based on recent neuroscience research. Brain Facts provide research-based information about brain development in the areas of learning and the brain and disability and the brain. It includes Web sites for parents, info, and specific suggestions on what to look for at those sites. Project Learn is funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau. Check it out at http://www.unmc.edu/ mmi/ learn/

February 2003

The First International Conference for Positive Behavior Support is coming!

Resources on No Child Left Behind

Check out the one-page fact sheets on No Child Left Behind
topics, at http:// www.nclb.gov/ start/ facts/ index.html. The fact sheets cover many topics, including:

• Adequate Yearly Progress
• English Fluency
• Faith-based Efforts
• Getting Students Help
• Getting Results
• Good Teachers
• Math Achievement
• Measuring Progress
• School Safety
• State Standards

Sign Up for The Achiever,
Newsletter of No Child Left Behind

This free newsletter provides information about issues in education and developments involving NCLB. Subscribe or look through back issues on-line, at http:// www.nclb.gov/ Newsletter/ index.html.

New Resources for Parents and Teachers

Two booklets discuss collaboration between parents and educators on writing an IEP that has positive behavior support (PBS) components. They are by Laura Riffel from the Technical Assistance Center on Positive Behavior Support (www.pbis.org) and Ann Turnbull from the Beach Center on Disabilities (www.beachcenter.org).

Tips for Parents: Incorporating Positive Behavior Support (PBS) into the IEP Parent IEP Framework   Parent IEP Framework

Tips for Educators: Incorporating Positive Behavior Support (PBS)
into the IEP Educator IEP Framework   Educator IEP Framework

The National Association for School Psychologists (www.nasponline.org) has two timely publications of interest to both parents and educators.

Grade Retention: Achievement and Mental Health Outcomes
Educational research fails to support grade retention as an effective intervention. In fact, grade retention has been associated with a host of negative outcomes on a variety of levels. Find out more at: www.nasponline.org/ pdf/ graderetention.pdf

Children and Fear of War and Terrorism: Tips for Parents and Teachers
Adults need to help children feel safe at a time when the world seems to be a more dangerous place. Parents and teachers in particular must help youngsters understand current events factually, how events do or do not impact their lives, and how to handle their emotional reactions. Find out more at: http:// www.nasponline.org/ NEAT/ children_war_general.html

IDEA Partnership 2nd National Summit on the Shared Implementation of IDEA '97

January 2003

Sixth Annual ALLIANCE National Conference:
United for Families—Unified by a Vision

Great Ideas!!! Updating Our Nation's Special Ed Law

An excerpt from Congressman John Boehner's Weekly E-Bulletin, December 27, 2002

This year, Congress is scheduled to review America's special education law, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) - the primary federal law to serve children with special needs. As Chairman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, I believe improving IDEA is a top priority as we work to meet President Bush's call to ensure no child is left behind in our education system.

In preparation for our work to reauthorize IDEA, my committee has unveiled a new website asking for recommendations from teachers, parents, school officials, students, and others on how to reform and strengthen the special education law. A link to this website — which we've dubbed "Great IDEAs" — can be found at the House Education Committee's website - http:// edworkforce.house.gov.

This site will help our committee members collect input on ways to improve educational results for students with special needs and to address the growing shortage of high-quality special education teachers... As we prepare to reauthorize IDEA, we also understand that making education reform work requires a partnership between parents, teachers, principals, and elected leaders...

I urge you to join in building this partnership by using the Great IDEAs website to reach out and provide your feedback on this very important education issue.

Welcome to GovBenefits.gov

The GovBenefits.gov website, located at http:// govbenefits.gov/ GovBenefits/ jsp/ GovBenefits.jsp provides information to citizens to help them determine their potential eligibility for government benefits. The site consolidates information about hundreds of federal assistance programs and federally funded programs managed by state and local governments currently spread across nearly 31 million federal government web pages!

GovBenefits.gov helps users access benefit eligibility information through a free, confidential, and easy-to-use online screening tool that asks basic questions about income level, employment status, and family size. Based on answers to these questions, the user receives a customized report listing the benefit programs for which he or she may be eligible.

Wanna Know More About Assistive Technology?

Here's a conference for you!

Those participating in the conference will have the opportunity to learn about tools, strategies, and resources in assistive technology that allow individuals with disabilities to live, work and learn more independently. Additionally, the conference will host interactive videoconference sessions which will include selected presentations to be downlinked to other sites, as well as an Invited Research Symposium hosted by Ted Hasselbring of TAM and the University of Kentucky. Conference attendees will be able to actively participate via the videoconference technology during presentations.

You may register on-line for the conference at: http://kihd.gmu.edu/tamkellar2003

For more information:

Phone: (703) 993-3670 or 1-800-333-7958
(TDD users are encouraged to use the relay service.)

Fax: (703) 993-3681

E-mail: emcdowel@gmu.edu or
atattend@gmu.edu

Address:
TAM-Kellar Conference 2003
KIHd (MS: 1F2)
George Mason University
4400 University Drive
Fairfax, VA 22030-4444

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