Curriculum & Instruction

• Craft special education in a way that offers solutions for students
  The current system of diagnosing and educating children with special needs is such a morass that Washington Post education reporter Jay Mathews writes that he is reluctant to report about it because what students and their families go through is all so complicated and yet very similar. One mother's plight shamed him into sharing her all-too-typical story, however. Her son needs additional help but his school system will not provide instruction recommended by outside experts. The Washington Post (8/17)

• Children with and without autism come together at Iowa summer camp
  An inclusive Iowa summer day camp is the first in the state to combine activities for children with autism spectrum disorder and their peers without autism. "They're learning great things," said a Camp Be A Friend official. "Children teaching children how to behave, how to socialize (and) how to be friends." A two-week pilot session at the new camp served 43 children, about half of whom have autism, and there are plans to expand next year. The Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, Iowa) (8/15)

• Alaskan educators meet to focus on students with disabilities
  Alaska's children with disabilities are being left behind on annual assessment tests and educators in the Anchorage School District recently discussed ways to improve student achievement. The training session focused on tailoring individual lessons, improving parental involvement and placing a greater emphasis on reading. The district plans to follow up to determine best practices. KTUU-TV (Anchorage, Alaska) (8/14)

• Other News

• Kentucky boarding school offers gifted students a free opportunity
  The Courier-Journal (Louisville, Ky.) (8/16)

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Educational Leadership

• Special-education teacher wins classroom makeover in contest
  Peggy Erickson, a special-education teacher in North Dakota, had her classroom transformed with a $25,000 makeover she won in a contest. She wrote a 100-word essay about her classroom's needs and earned votes online. Erickson "puts a lot of time and effort into her program," said principal Tom Six. "This will be a great learning environment now." Jamestown Sun (N.D.) (8/15)

Hot Topics

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

• District says boy with autism cannot bring service dog to school (KTVI-TV (St. Louis))

• Research points to non-drug therapies for ADHD (U.S. News & World Report)

• Researchers: OCD may come from sore throat (The Daily Mail (London))

• Rights groups: Ban corporal punishment of students with disabilities (The New York Times (free registration))

• Year-round school calendar helps avoid summer brain drain (ABC News)

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

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Technology Trends

• Tongue moves magnet to direct wheelchair
  Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology are developing the tongue drive, a device that can read tongue movement inside the mouth and use it to send commands to computers or wheelchairs. A small magnet is adhered to the tongue, and headphones with magnetic sensors can translate tongue motions into movement instructions. Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)/Tribune Newspapers (8/17)

• Children who are deaf benefit from early cochlear implants
  Advances in cochlear implant technology are making the devices "smaller, faster and smarter," said John Niparko, a Johns Hopkins cochlear implant surgeon. These advances are allowing the use of implants in infants and toddlers with hearing disabilities. Younger children are more likely to benefit because their developing brains are able to "absorb all the potential benefits of that sound stimulation," said Gordon Hughes, program director of clinical trials at the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. USA TODAY (8/17)

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Policy News

• Advocacy group minimizes connection between vaccines, autism
  The chief science officer of the advocacy group Autism Speaks recently downplayed any connection between vaccines and the occurrence of autism. On the Autism Speaks Web site, Dr. Geri Dawson said that research has not found a link between a mercury preservative used in some vaccines and autism. While a spokeswoman said it is not a new position for the group, observers say Dawson's comments mark a significant policy shift for the nation's largest autism advocacy group. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (8/16)

• Families say autism treatment falls short for adults in England
  England is in the midst of updating services and therapies available to adults with autism. A study by the National Autistic Society found that there are no records of how many adults with autism are in England. Families say their experience with the system illustrates a system without adequate provisions for adults with the disorder. The Times (London) (8/16)

• Study: U.K. universities must improve accessibility: An investigation by the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign found that one in 10 students with disabilities could not find dining or living accommodations on university campuses in the United Kingdom. Of 78 institutions that were reviewed, 40% did not provide housing for caregivers. The universities said they are constantly making upgrades to improve accessibility. BBC (8/17)

Eye on Exceptionalities

• Canadian boy prepares for World Transplant Games
  An 11-year-old Canadian boy who has received two heart transplants will compete in swimming and cycling events this month at the World Transplant Games in Australia. Robbie Thompson suffers from muscle weakness that makes even writing difficult, but he has flourished as he's trained, says his mother, Sue. "The games are a good opportunity for him to participate with other kids that have the same challenges as him," she said. Times Colonist (Victoria, British Columbia) (8/16)

• Other News

• Some Mormons call for more church support of children with disabilities
  The Salt Lake Tribune (Utah) (8/14)

CEC Spotlight

• Save 10% on valuable assistive technology resources from CEC and TAM
  Assistive technology allows students with exceptionalities to access the general education curriculum and become active members in the classroom. That's why CEC and its Technology and Media Division are offering special packages to help you learn more about AT principles and resources. For a limited time, you can stock up on the resources you need at discounted prices. Find out more.

• What's new in the field of physical disabilities?
  "Physical Disabilities: Education and Related Services," a semiannual publication from CEC's Division for Physical and Health Disabilities, provides professionals with information on relevant research, instructional innovation and current issues in education and related services for individuals with physical, orthopedic or health impairments. Purchase your copy today by calling 1-800-877-2693, ext. 118. Find out more.

Extended Standards Education Program Manager University of Idaho Boise, ID Special Education Superintendent - ABA Focus Comprehensive Kids Development School New York, NY

SmartQuote

Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt." --Special Olympics motto