SpedPro

VA ED bows on consent and hearing officers

By JohnL on Sep. 12, 2008.

The Department of Education in the Commonwealth of Virginia (US) has withdrawn controversial proposals that would have limited parents’ authority in the education of their children with disabilities and would have changed the administrative reporting lines of special education hearing officers. Here is the lead from an article entitled “Special education proposals ruled out: Overwhelming opposition dooms bids to cut parent input and revise hearings” by Tyler Whitley of the Richmond (VA, US) Times-Dispatch

Under pressure from politicians and thousands of parents of special-education students, the state Department of Education has backed down from proposed rule changes that would limit parental consent for ending special-education services.

Billy K. Cannaday Jr., superintendent of public instruction, said the department also would withdraw a proposal to move the due-process hearings from the Virginia Supreme Court to the Department of Education.

Cannaday said the two proposals will not be included in new regulations that will be presented to the Board of Education in about a week.

Read the entire story. Flash of the electrons to Dan Hallahan for alerting me to this story.

Chairperson/Professor

By jgcp on Sep. 12, 2008.

The School of Education
Department of Special Education

Position Announcement for Chairperson/Professor
The School of Education at the University of Kansas is seeking a Chairperson/Professor for the Department of Special Education to assume responsibility by July or August, 2009. The Department of Special Education is nationally recognized for its doctoral, post-doctoral and master’s programs, and its graduate and undergraduate teacher licensure programs. It is a major center for research and development in the field.
The Department is looking for an individual who will embrace and advance our commitment to effective preparation of special education and early intervention teachers and leadership personnel for professional practice in school, community, and higher education settings. Our program graduates are prepared to serve infants, toddlers, children, youth, and adults with special educational needs in inclusive learning environments. Administratively, the Department is located on the main campus in Lawrence. The faculty offers preparation programs at this location and at the Edwards campus in suburban Kansas City.
Read the rest of this entry »

CEC PDS Director

By JohnL on Sep. 11, 2008.

The Council for Exceptional Children is searching for a director for its office of Professional Development and Standards

Insuring service for individuals with disabilities

By admin on Sep. 10, 2008.

I got this quite welcome news from a representative to the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities.

House and Senate negotiators have hammered out a compromise on legislation to require private health insurance plans to cover mental health and addictive disorder services under the same terms and conditions as other types of care. Mental health and addictive disorder advocacy organizations—including groups as disparate as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Mental Health America, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the National Retail Federation, and the Alliance for Children and Families—are pushing for passage of this legislation before Congress adjourns. The parity legislation is based on H.R. 1424 and S. 558, and would go a long way toward reducing the stigma associated with mental health care, and improving access to treatment. Mental illness is the leading cause of primary disability in the U.S.

People who work with individuals with disabilities understand that this is a substantial step forward. It is likely to provide access to services for many families of children with disabilities, services (e.g., intensive behavioral intervention) that are often crucial the children’s success.

As the American Counseling Association (ACA) noted, today is a great day for US residents to call their representatives in the US Congress. Link to the ACA Web site.

Disability rights treaty

By JohnL on Sep. 10, 2008.

The International Task Force of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) is holding a program and live Webcast entitled, “The New International Disability Rights Treaty And Why the Disability Community Should Care” on Wednesday, 17 September, from 2:00-3:15. The event, which is co-sponsored by Easter Seals, the Association of University Centers on Disabilities, and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, features presentations by Katherine Guernsey (attorney and adjunct professor, American University), Alison Hillman de Velásquez (director of Americas Programs, Mental Disability Rights International), and Elisabeth Doyle (health and disability practice at Powers, Pyles, Sutter, and Verville).

To register for the event, click here. Folks who can make it to the Easter Seals offices in Washington (DC, US) should contact Jennifer Dexter at (jdexter_at_easterseals.com) about reserving a seat. For more information, contact David Hutt of the National Disabilities Rights Network at david.hutt_at_ndrn.org.

To learn more about the CCD, click here.

Assistant Research Professor:Project Coordinator

By jgcp on Sep. 9, 2008.

University of Kansas: Assistant Research Professor

Working title: Project Coordinator

Position Number: 00207039

Position Overview: Juniper Gardens Children’s Project is a community-based research institute affiliated with the University of Kansas. We are seeking an Assistant Research Professor who will work with a multi-site team of senior researchers who are collaborating on a new center funded by the Institute of Education Sciences to conduct research to prevent reading delays. The research group, called the Center on Response to Intervention in Early Childhood, is conducting a nationally prominent program of research to develop and validate preschool-level measures for monitoring children’s progress acquiring language and early literacy skills and to develop and evaluate interventions for children who are not making expected rates of progress. A highly skilled individual is sought who with the team of Principal Investigators will provide national leadership in this area of research.
Continuation is contingent on a satisfactory yearly employee evaluation and funding availability. Position will be responsible for project coordination and leadership for externally funded research projects with the intention of later developing an independent research program within the center. Candidate must sucessfully pass a background check.
Read the rest of this entry »

Palin news

By admin on Sep. 9, 2008.

Though I have no intention of creating the turning SpedPro into a focus on Sarah Palin and Special Education, I thought some might find it helpful to have a set of links to other sources about the topic. Herewith, my current collection. Please add others by commenting.

There are two threads (stories?) entwined in the brouhaha over Ms. Palin’s connection to special education: (a) Her choice to deliver a baby with Down Syndrome and (b) her gubernatorial record on funding of special education in Alaska. And then, there’s about 30-11 different spins on each thread.

On the child:

• New York Times: Parents of Special-Needs Children Divided Over Palin’s Promise to Help;
• Washington Post: The Support the Palins Really Need;
• Los Angeles Times: Trig Palin’s story is safe ground for the Republican ticket;
• Wall Street Journal: Palin’s Pitch to Parents of Disabled Raises Some Doubts;
• Philadelphia Inquirer: Disability advocates see Palin as a leader;
• Ed Week: Palin Raises Hope for Parents of Disabled Children;
• Bakersfield Californian: Parents share experiences as Palin’s nomination puts focus on Down syndrome;
• Newsweek: Trig’s Promise–Advocates for the disabled receive Sarah Palin’s pledge of support with the wary optimism of a group accustomed to unfulfilled promises (see later entry, too);
• USA Today: A spotlight for special needs; Parents hope Palin lifts awareness of Down syndrome

On the funding:

• DailyKos: Palin cut Special Education budget by 62%
• Huffington Post: Palin Gutted Special Ed Funding In Alaska
• Newsweek: Sliming Palin.
• Dakota Voice: Fact Checking the Palin Slimers

A very good way to keep up is to monitor Christina Samuels’ blog, On Special Education; she has three entries (8 September, 5 September, and 4 September). For the latest on both stories, try this Google news search.

Palin and special education

By JohnL on Sep. 8, 2008.

For those who are seeking accurate reporting about Republican Vice Presidential Candidate Sara Palin and her action regarding special education funding as governor of Alaska, Christina Samuels has the best content I know. She’s thoroughly examined the evidence and laid to rest some of the misinformation that’s floating around the Internet. Link to her post on the subject.

Child and Adolescent Conference

By JohnL on Aug. 31, 2008.

International Child & Adolescent Conference XIV
November 6-8, 2008
Minneapolis, MN

Session Proposals Invited-Deadline extended to September 15

Colleagues and Friends:

The Behavioral Institute for Children and Adolescents and co-sponsors, the Council for Children with Behavioral Disorders (CCBD) and the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), are pleased to present the biennial International Child and Adolescent Conference XIV on November 6-8, 2008 at the Hilton Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport-Mall of America Hotel. The conference theme is zxcvDecoding RTI-PBS-EBD to Improve Learning and Social Outcomes for Students.

This event will feature keynote addresses, in-depth workshops and topical strands. The conference is a transdisciplinary forum for individuals from education, mental health, juvenile justice and related fields to share information on effective interventions and programs for challenging children and youth.

Proposal deadline has been extended to September 15, 2008.

We are seeking proposals for a wide variety of presentations surrounding this theme from practitioners, administrators, researchers, trainers, advocates, parents, students and others who work in or with education, mental health, juvenile justice or related fields. You are invited to submit a proposal and participate in the program. Topical strands include: .Assessment/RTI * Autism Spectrum. Behavioral/Clinical Interventions * Coaching/mentoring/professional training * Community/Interagency Services * Curriculum and Instruction - Academic * Curriculum and Instruction - Social Development * Diversity and Culture * Families * Gender-specific Interventions * Hospital/Residential Services * Inclusion Services in General Education * Juvenile Justice/Secure Settings * Law/Policy/Research * Mental Health. Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) * Transition

• All proposals must be submitted on line at our website, www.behavioralinstitute.org
• Click the conference logo on the home page and complete the requested information. Please note:
• All presenters and co-presenters must register for the conference. BICA is unable to offer either an honorarium or a waiver of registration fees to program presenters. Presenters will be eligible for discounted registration rates. Your proposal is an acknowledgement of this requirement.
• Acceptance of a proposal does not imply approval or support by BICA, its employees or Board of Directors or co-sponsoring organizations.

See the website for additional information about registration, lodging, program and exhibiting opportunities.

NASP policy recommendations

By JohnL on Aug. 28, 2008.

The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) has introduced recommendations about education policy.

The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) released its education policy recommendations, Ready to Learn, Empowered to Teach: Excellence in Education for the 21st Century, for inclusion in the national debate over how best to help all of America’s children achieve their fullest potential. Ready to Learn, Empowered to Teach outlines five principles necessary to ensure excellence in education by lowering barriers to learning and teaching, which call for providing:

1. Comprehensive curricula matched with individualized instruction.
2. Sufficient student support services to address barriers to learning for all students on a continuum of care that engages families and community providers.
3. Comprehensive accountability and progress monitoring measures that provide a valid picture of student and school functioning.
4. Professional development and supports for teachers and other educators necessary for instructional excellence.
5. Federal leadership and school-based research to promote effective services that support the whole child in the learning context.

Download a copy of Ready to Learn, Empowered to Teach.