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April 8, 2009 Sign up Forward Archive Advertise News for special education professionals   Curriculum & Instruction    Study examines methods for teaching social skills to teens with autism Teens with autism can be taught to interact appropriately with others, according to a 12-week experimental class at the University of California, Los Angeles. Researchers taught the students basic social skills and taught their parents how to help their teen develop the skills further. After 12 weeks, teens in the class scored significantly higher in social functioning than those in a control group. ScienceDaily (4/8) Asperger's syndrome may pose special educational challenges: Children with Asperger's syndrome often struggle with intellectual challenges at school while at the same time trying to learn the social skills they need to succeed. Some parents are working together to form charter schools focused on meeting their children's unique needs. St. Petersburg Times (Fla.) (4/5) Alternative program helps violent students find different path Special school programs in Utah help students who threaten others' safety to get back on track without traditional suspensions and expulsions. Rather than simply punishing juvenile offenders, the approach aims to reward teens for acting appropriately while protecting them from negative influences. The Salt Lake Tribune (Utah) (4/5) NEW! Build Custom Curriculum Kits in minutes with The Turbo Solutions Builder from PCI Education. Whether you are an administrator looking to meet accountability requirements or a teacher in need of materials that work for your students - PCI can help. Simply make a few selections and your custom kit is configured automatically! We also offer FREE funding assistance documents that can help you order from PCI with confidence! Learn More   Educational Leadership    Classes aim to help parents better understand mental disorders Virginia parents of children diagnosed with behavioral or mental-health disorders can learn more about their child's prognosis, how they can help with their child's education and how to cope with their own emotions in the "Visions of Tomorrow" course. "I've had parents cry for the whole eight weeks, and that's OK," said parent-educator Jeri Weeks, whose son has schizophrenia. "Knowing that your child is going to have this for life can be really upsetting." The Washington Post (4/5) Educators help protect students from anti-gay picketers Baltimore and Washington, D.C., educators are working with police to protect students and staff from anti-gay picketers outside several school buildings. Members of Topeka, Kan.-based Westboro Baptist Church -- which the Southern Poverty Law Center qualifies as a hate group -- are protesting student gay-straight alliances and pro-diversity groups. Education Week (premium article access compliments of EdWeek.org) (4/8)   Make life better for children with special needs Penn State World Campus offers programs in special education designed to help you better serve your students. Graduate-level certificates are available in applied behavior analysis, special education supervision, professional development in autism, and reading instruction for special education. Classes start soon. CLICK HERE for additional information.     Technology Trends  Virtual schools praised for innovation, individualization Online charter schools that allow children to work at their own pace may end up big winners in U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan's plan to fund more innovative education methods. A Chicago virtual school is drawing kudos from parents for challenging top students as well as helping those with learning disabilities. Chicago Tribune (4/8)   Policy News  San Francisco schools invest in better access for all students Aging San Francisco schools historically have been difficult for students with physical disabilities to traverse. The district has budgeted $255 million to bring 90 of its schools into compliance by 2012 with the Americans with Disabilities Act. San Francisco Chronicle (4/7) Study ties asthma in urban children to cockroach allergies Asthma may hit inner-city children disproportionately because they are allergic to cockroaches. When children repeatedly breathe in bits of cockroaches, their immune systems try to attack the particles, inflaming their airways and triggering the characteristic wheeze of asthma. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (4/6) Other News Disability unemployment rate decreases slightly as more considered not in work force Disability Scoop (4/3)   Eye on Exceptionalities  Michael Phelps' mother recalls childhood lessons in memoir The mother of Olympic champion Michael Phelps has co-written a book about raising her three children, including Michael, who has ADHD. Debbie Phelps, a school principal, also reflects on her son's more recent troubles in the memoir. The Charlotte Observer (N.C.)/The Associated Press (4/7) Man with autism, Down syndrome runs successful business Joe Steffy, 23, of Kansas runs a kettle-corn stand with $50,000 in annual sales despite being nonverbal and diagnosed with both autism and Down syndrome. Although Steffy lives on his own, his parents help him with the business and he has five part-time workers. U.S. News & World Report (4/2) Other News Study: Low-income children at greater risk for exposure to secondhand smoke Yahoo!/HealthDay News (4/3)   CEC Spotlight  Want to make a difference in your professional association? Consider a leadership position within CEC. Nominations for the 2010 board of directors are being accepted, and the nominations committee would like to hear from you. Find out more. How will the economic-stimulus package affect special education? CEC is pleased to offer the latest information on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, also known as the economic-stimulus package, and how it affects special education. Resources include a Q-and-A summarizing portions of the package that CEC believes to be of particular interest to its members. Find out more. Learn more about CEC -> About CEC  |  Membership  |  News  |  Prof. Development  |  Publications & Products Special Education -- Case Managers and Teachers Teach Chicago Turnarounds (Chicago Public Schools) Chicago, IL A.T. Specialist/PHD Consultant Hiawatha Valley Education District Winona, MN Multiple Positions in Special Ed, Speech Pathology Fairbanks North Star Borough School District Fairbanks, AK   SmartQuote  To read without reflecting is like eating without digesting." --Edmund Burke, British politician and writer   Subscriber Tools       Print friendly format | Web version | Search past news | Archive | Privacy policy Grab our News Widget Publish your Press Release   Advertise Director, SmartBrief Education:  Joe Riddle (202) 407-7857 Download Media Kit Job Board:  Celia Rothschild (202) 470-1159       Recent CEC SmartBrief Issues: Tuesday, April 07, 2009 Monday, April 06, 2009 Friday, April 03, 2009 Thursday, April 02, 2009 Wednesday, April 01, 2009     Lead Editor:  Susan Rush Contributing Editor:  Tammy Oseid     Mailing Address: SmartBrief, Inc.®, 1100 H ST NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20005     © 1999-2011 SmartBrief, Inc.® Legal Information