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Sad story that echoes fears of malfeasance

John Lloyd — Mon, 07 May 2012 15:10:03 +0000

In “Ex-principal: ‘Never really told the truth’ to special ed parents—
Ex-principal: I lied to parents of special-needs kids,” Shannon Mullen of the Ashbury Park (NJ, US) Press recounts a story about Sheldon Boxer, a former school administrator who says that, as a means to save funds, he misrepresented the needs of students with disabilities and the capacity of schools to serve them. Mr. Boxer accuses an attorney working with the local education agency of leading the effort without every actually issuing an edict that the purpose was to hold down costs.

Ms. Mullen captures some he-said, he-said in her story as well as some human interest (a case of a child with substantial special education needs whose parents contend say he was not provided appropriate services). You can read Ms. Mullen’s report of this sad special education story in its original form (or snag this single-page version).

Position Announcement: Assistant Professor with Specialization in Autism

rrobey — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 21:00:01 +0000

The Curry School of Education, Department of Human Services at the University of Virginia, invites applications for an Assistant Professor with the specialization in autism and related autism spectrum disorders, beginning August 25, 2012. This appointment is a twelve (12) month joint appointment in the Communication Disorders Program, Department of Human Services and the Special Education Program, Department of Curriculum Instruction and Special Education. This position is for a 3-year non-tenure track appointment with the opportunity for renewal upon satisfactory performance during the incumbent’s third year review process.

Candidates must hold a clinical or research doctorate; ASHA certification, and be eligible for Virginia license in Speech-Language Pathology. ABD candidates will be considered, however, degree confirmation is needed prior to the hire date of this appointment.

The successful candidate will integrate and lead educational and clinical enterprises within the Curry School of Education centering on autism and related autism spectrum disorders. Responsibilities include teaching a language-disorders course and a course on integrated multidisciplinary interventions in school-based settings. Responsibilities also include (a) supervising services provided to clients in the Sheilah C. Johnson Center for Human Services and (b) developing outreach collaborations with service providers and schools in the community to formulate comprehensive plans of care across a broad spectrum of clinical pictures: early intervention to college-student support at all levels of severity. The general faculty member will participate in and facilitate interdisciplinary research programs with latitude to develop research programs as background and career goals allow.

To apply, candidates must complete a candidate profile under job posting number 0609554 at http://jobs.virginia.edu. Candidates are required to attach a cover letter stating their interest in the position and qualifications, current curriculum vitae, a statement of teaching philosophy, and the contact information for three professional references. Please have your professional references e-mail their recommendation letters to Vickie Thomas at vat3w@virginia.edu. Screening of applications will begin April 16, 2012; however, the position will remain open until filled. Questions regarding the position can be addressed to Randall R. Robey (rrr7w@virginia.edu).

The Curry School of Education and the University of Virginia welcome applications from women, minorities, veterans and persons with disabilities, we seek to build a culturally diverse intellectual environment, and are committed to a policy of equal employment opportunity and to the principles of affirmative action in accordance with state and federal laws.

CCBD Webinar pending

John Lloyd — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 11:44:33 +0000

Over on EBD Blog there’s a new post about a CCBD-CEC Webinar on seclusion and restraint. It expires late 7 March 2012, so jump to it soon.

10th Sprout Film Festival

John Lloyd — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 17:56:53 +0000

The tenth annual Sprout Film Festival will be showcasing 53 films related to the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities from 13 countries. The festival will take place Friday 27 April – Sunday 29 April 2012 in NYC at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Please visit the Sprout Web Site for the schedule of films and trailers. (For folks in the SpedPro neighborhood, remember that there’s a central Virginia Sprout Festival on 9 March 2012 hosted by PREP, the Parent Resource Center, Very Special Arts, International Organization on Arts and Disability.)

Free Streams: New films are continually added to the national Sprout site. Check out these latest films that can be streamed for free:

Cared Witless an 11-minute narrative from the UK
Distinctively a 4-minute documentary from the US, and
Beyond Borders a 20-minute documentary from Belgium

Lastly, please take a look at the schedule for the Sprout Touring Film Festival.

ADHD position at U.Va.

John Lloyd — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 16:23:55 +0000

U.Va.’s Curry School is seeking an individual who is interested in a capability-focused approach to attention-deficit, hyperactivity disorders to conduct research and teach in its clinical and school psychology programs. The position is advertised as available at the assistant, associate, or full professor level and also features emphases on positive youth development and technology. Due to a generous gift, during the at least the first two years, the successful candidate will be able to devote 75% of her or his time to research and have a substantial lab fund to support that effort. This looks like a really good opportunity for a faculty member with a strengths-based research agenda in ADHD.

Open Rank Position in Special Education: Geo. Mason U.

Rick Brigham — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 15:26:46 +0000

Assistant/Associate Full Professor Special Education (tenure-line, rank open)

The George Mason University, Division of Special Education and disAbility Research in the College of Education and Human Development is seeking a tenure-line faculty member whose responsibilities will include collaborating with a group of nationally prominent scholars in special education and human disabilities; teaching and advising at the master’s and doctoral levels; and conducting and disseminating research, and securing external funding.

Candidate experience should fit with one or more of our current programs, which are in the areas of mild disabilities, severe and intellectual disabilities, autism and ABA, vision impairments, assistive technology, and special education leadership. An earned doctorate in special education or a related field, and two years of experience working with children and youth with disabilities required. Preferred qualifications include an established funded research portfolio or a promising (fundable) research agenda, and experience in university teaching including distance education implementation. The division values diversity as a factor in academic excellence. Positive consideration will be given to candidates’ experiences and research agendas that enhance understanding of issues related to race, ethnicity, gender and disabilities.

Mason faculty are empowered by an entrepreneurial culture that values and rewards consequential research and professional impact. College structures facilitate innovation and flexibility within a strong collaborative framework.

Special Instructions to Applicants
For full consideration, applicants must apply for position number F6329z at http://jobs.gmu.edu/; complete and submit the online faculty application; and upload a cover letter, CV, and list of three professional references with contact information.

pipa sopa

John Lloyd — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:01:56 +0000

search sopa & pipa at free speechmouseover
(I care about my copyrights, but some things are more important.)

US report on testing accommodations

John Lloyd — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 20:00:43 +0000

In November the US Government Accounting Office (GAO) released a report entitled “Improved Federal Enforcement Needed to Better Protect Students’ Rights to Testing Accommodations” of a study it performed at the behest of representatives to the US Congress. Based on interviews with individuals with disabilities, educators, advocates, commercial testing companies, and others, the report provides brief insight into testing accommodations at the secondary and post-secondary level and recommendations for government action based on its findings. Interested readers may download a one-page summary of the report from the GAO office.

Tenure-Track Faculty Position in Special Education at Youngstown State University

jakep — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 22:19:23 +0000

The Special Education program at Youngstown State University (Youngstown, OH) seeks candidates for this tenure-track Assistant Professor faculty position who are passionate about the education of students with exceptional learning needs, committed to the development of undergraduate and graduate special education professionals, and dedicated to the work of a faculty member through exemplary scholarship, teaching, service, and leadership. The successful candidate will be expected to (1) teach and mentor undergraduate and graduate special education students, engage in (2) scholarship, (3) professional and university service, and (4) program development and coordination. Preferred qualifications: 1) experience/interest in working with low incidence disabilities and/or autism spectrum disorders; 2) teaching experience at a university level; 3) leadership/administrative skills; and 4) involvement working with professional associations (e.g., CEC, NCATE). YSU Special Education Program offers undergraduate intervention specialist degrees (mild/moderate; moderate/intense). Graduate degrees include programs for intervention specialist, autism and related disabilities, and general special education.

Minimum Qualifications: 1) Earned doctoral degree in Special Education (by August 2012); 2) record of successful teaching in special education; 3) evidence of and/or potential for successful scholarship, teaching, service and leadership; and 4) demonstrated ability to actively collaborate with colleagues and the community.

Quick link to apply: http://jobs.ysu.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=50473

For more information about the Special Education Program, visit the website at http://web.ysu.edu/bcoe/specialeducation.

U. Washington professor of practice

ischwartz — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 19:29:18 +0000

The College of Education at the University of Washington (UW) seeks a “professor of practice” to lead programs that prepare and support educational leaders at school and district level, in support of powerful, equitable student learning and related system change. The role combines program leadership, program development, teaching, and practice-focused scholarship. The position has full voting rights and will participate, alongside tenure-line faculty, in the College’s efforts to improve the quality of practice through regular engagement with the field. Applicants must have a Ph.D. or Ed.D in education or related field; substantial P-12 administrative experience, preferably at both the school building and system level; and demonstrated ability to guide and support the professional learning of educational leaders. This position will be hired at the non-tenure rank of Senior Lecturer or Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor without tenure.

Prospective candidates are especially encouraged to visit the websites of the programs and outreach units implicated in this position (http://depts.washington.edu/k12admin/l4l/, http://depts.washington.edu/k12admin/danforth/, http://www.milead.washington.edu/mil/, http://www.k-12leadership.org/). For a more detailed description of the postion, please download a PDF document explaining the particulars of the postion and procedures for applying.

A search committee will begin reviewing applications 20 January 2011. The position will remain open until filled. Appointment is to commence 16 September 2012. Send queries about the position to search co-chairs Michael Knapp, at mknapp [at] uw.edu, or Steve Fink, at finks [at] uw.edu. Please submit your application packet both electronically and by mail to the search co-chairs care of Mr. Greg Daigle at gdaigle [at] uw.edu, 222 Miller Hall, College of Education, Seattle, WA 98195-3600.