After You’ve Done All You Can…

Posted on 17 May 2012 by Special Ed.

From Special Ed. over on Special 2 Me.

Right now I am listening to one of my favorite songs of all time- Stand by Donnie McClurkin. This song has gotten me through so many different situations. I’m listening to it because, even though there are only about 5 weeks left in the school year, I still have parents complaining left & right. One I’m so through with I don’t know what to do. If there’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s a back stabber. I would really much rather have someone punch me in my face that stab me in the back. But I guess that’s not how the world works now, is it?

I’m not going to make this a long post. I will simple say that I will listen to stand before I go to sch (Read more...)

Posted in Food for thought, life, teaching | Comments Off

CEC Calls on Department of Ed to Change Definition of ‘Evidence-Based’ in State Personnel Development Grant Program

Posted on 16 May 2012 by Kristin McDonald

30395652.thbJust what constitutes ‘evidence-based practice’ is a widely discussed topic of conversation, particularly among educators who are determining which interventions, instructional strategies, and curricula to use with children and youth with disabilities.  With federal laws mandating their use, educators need guidance when making these determinations. 

That’s where CEC’s evidence-based practice resources come in.

For the last few years, CEC has been working with a group of special education researchers and practitioners to highlight and explain ‘evidence-based practice’ through two special editions of Exceptional Children, CEC’s premiere research journal, and through other initiativ (Read more...)

Posted in Opportunities for Advocacy, U.S. Department of Education | Comments Off

U.S. Department for Health and Human Services Names 15 New Members to Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee

Posted on 16 May 2012 by Kristin McDonald

Hhs sealRecent, Secretary Kathleen Sebelius of the U.S. Department for Health and Human Services (HHS) announced 15 new members to the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee. The IACC is an advisory committee composed of individuals from federal and the general public and is charged with three major responsibilities. The first is to coordinate all the HHS efforts concerning Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The second is to develop and update the strategic plan for ASD and the third is to provide advice to the HHS Secretary on ASD. The committee pulls its members from a wide range of federal agencies and public institutions involved in Autism research and services.

IACC meetings are open to the pub (Read more...)

Posted in Administration, Opportunities for Advocacy | Comments Off

Job Accommodation Network

Posted on 16 May 2012 by Patrick Black



If you are looking for more information about ADA and how to get accommodations for you or someone you know in the workplace, the Job Accommodation Network, may be a great resource for you.  JAN is a federal funded program from the Office of Disability Employment.  They will work with an employer and help them create and manage accommodations a person may need to do their job.  They are confidential and easy to contact.  If you'd like to get in touch with them you can head to their website

http://askjan.org
Voice - 800.526.7234
TTY - 800.781.9403

*Thanks to Wade Wingler of Assistive Technology Update for sharing this resource!




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Posted in accommodations, ADA, assistive technology update, JAN, Job Acoommodation Network, job skills | Comments Off

Not Teacher of the Year, But…

Posted on 16 May 2012 by Special Ed.

From Special Ed. over on Special 2 Me.

Dear Readers,

I haven’t been elected Teacher of Year (yet), but I feel fantastic. I’ve been so busy I haven’t had time to write about the beautiful, handmade card I received, courtesy of my room mom. It was signed by 14/15 of my students. The only reason the 15th one didn’t sign it is because he was in the classroom with me while the other students were helping with the surprise. Here are the comments they wrote.

We love you.

You are  the best teacher I ever had.

We love you and will really miss you next year.

Thank you for all that you did for us and you are weak (inside joke) and we like you.

Thank you for teaching me.

Thank you for being a good teacher and teaching (Read more...)

Posted in teaching | Comments Off

Feds Issue Principles on Seclusion and Restraint

Posted on 15 May 2012 by Jim Gerl

Seal of the United States Department of Education
Seal of the United States Department of Education (Photo credit: Wikipedia)











Today, the United States Department of Eucation  issued 15 principles concerning seclusion and restraint. The document amount to suggestions to states and school districts in formulating their own policies on seclusion and restraint. NOTE: these principles are not a law or regulation, or even policy guidance, they are instead merely suggestions.  But I am already wondering what impact these principles may have in practice.  Parent advocates and lawyers may cite them as authority when they are not followed.  Similarly school lawyers may cite them as a shield when a distric (Read more...)
Posted in Department of Education, Education Law, Gerl, Legal Information, restraints, seclusion, Special Education, special education law | Comments Off

US ED resource on restraint and seclusion

Posted on 15 May 2012 by JohnL

From JohnL over on EBD Blog.

The US Department of Education (ED) published Restraint and Seclusion: Resource Document today. After the extensive discussions the last few years about abuses of management procedures (see , especially those used with children and youths with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, ED contracted with an agency to create this document that provides guidelines for the appropriate [...]
Posted in Administration, advocacy, Behavior management, current issues, effective treatment, Families, intervention, News, Parents, policy, Public policy, restraint, seclusion, The press, treatment, youth | Comments Off

Richard: Where to Next?

Posted on 15 May 2012 by CEC

RichardAs the year comes to an end, I have to review my students’ progress and determine if I want to recommend placement, advancement, or retention for next year. As I began this process as a novice, I looked over my school provided rubric to determine if my students met the criteria quantitatively. I went through and according to that rubric, everyone should move on to the next grade.

Something didn't feel right with that process, so I decided to confer with my paraprofessional on how she felt regarding student placement. We had a conversation on the qualitative growth of each student. We asked each other if the student matured sufficiently, if the level of work he or she was able to produce (Read more...)

Posted in Blogger Richard, Collaboration and Co-Teaching, Planning Ahead, Progress Monitoring, Teacher Support | Comments Off

You’re Not Alone: Adventures of Parenting a Teenage on the Spectrum #02

Posted on 14 May 2012 by Patrick Black



Today I came to the horrible realization that things are only going to get worse in the next few years. I feel like we have been coasting along in Middle School, we have had many hurdles but things have been relatively calm. My son Corey’s social issues are really beginning to cause him to stick out. His lack of social graces makes his little brother crazy!

For instance, Corey chews on everything! I mean everything! He has destroyed headphone cords, blankets, and clothing. When we go out to eat, he devours his straw to the point that it is gross. We have tried many things. Gum worked for a while, until I started finding chewed gum all over the house...in the carpet, in my closet, on the co (Read more...)
Posted in Adventures of Parenting a Teenager on the Spectrum, Anne Truger, atruger | Comments Off

#AppMondayTAS – Compare A Twist

Posted on 14 May 2012 by Patrick Black

Compare A Twist ($2.99 | iPad Only) is the first app from a company I mentioned recently, App of Approval.  Run by Scott Meech (founder of the iEAR.org community), they have put out a solid first app.  Compare a twist is a simple app that allows you to have a list of items and then sort them into categories.  Some of the example lessons included with the app are - equals 10 or does not equal 10, president or not a president, and primary or secondary color.

The real power of this app is that you can create these lessons quickly and easily on the app, or import them from your Google Docs account!  I've had my kids help me create the lessons, and then they pract (Read more...)
Posted in App Of Approval, categories, Compare a Twist, iOS, iPad, sorting | Comments Off