IDEIA requires schools to implement Universal Design in the classroom. Nevertheless, Universal Design is not well defined or widely implemented. CAST, a not-for-profit organization that is dedicated to promoting Universal Design for Learning ["UDL"] defines it as "[e]mbedded features that help those with disabilities eventually benefit everyone. UDL uses [...]
Arne Duncan's, former head of Chicago Public Schools and now U.S. Secretary of Education, strategy in Chicago was to move children out of underperforming schools to other schools. The only problem is that the "other schools" were also underperfoming. No surprise that this variant on NCLB of moving children [...]
As some of you might remember, I have always found Halloween to be a particularly difficult holiday. Whether it’s having neurotypical kids ring my bell, or just seeing groups of neurotypical peers in the distance, it’s enough to make me cry or padlock my door. Either way I’m left to deal with it the best [...]
In the news today are two stories that spotlight the need for better and more comprehensive services for students and training for staff. In one case a special education student with autism was shot 5 times and killed by the on-campus officer after the student stabbed him with a [...]
In the news today are two stories that spotlight the need for better and more comprehensive services for students and training for staff. In one case a special education student with autism was shot 5 times and killed by the on-campus officer after the student stabbed him with a [...]
Violence in schools appears to many to be a recent problem. However, violence in schools did not start with Columbine. Interestingly violence in schools has a long history in the good old fashioned one room school house. Apple for the teacher and a rock through the window! The difference [...]
Violence in schools appears to many to be a recent problem. However, violence in schools did not start with Columbine. Interestingly violence in schools has a long history in the good old fashioned one room school house. Apple for the teacher and a rock through the window! The difference [...]
Ron Huberman, the CEO of Chicago Public Schools, has unveiled a plan [Download Students_At_Risk pdf]to address violence in and around schools in the wake of the tragic killing of Derrion Albert, a Chicago Public School student, who is the latest victim of violence that was captured on video [...]
A recently published report addresses a new approach to teenage suicide attempts. The report is summarized as follows:
"A novel psychotherapy used in the study—cognitive behavioral therapy for suicide prevention (CBT-SP—was developed to address the need for a specific psychotherapy that would prevent or reduce the risk for suicide reattempts among teens. CBT-SP" [...]
Over this last year I have unfortunately let the blog lay fallow. I have many excuses such as being busy with teaching (that has now ended) and family obligations, but I am back and happy to report that the I have hired Pam Labellarte, a veteran advocate, to further [...]
School may be on break but here is some humor to prepare for the next term. Ho ho ho....
On the first week of Special Ed the teacher sent to me
A date for an IEP
On the second week of Special Ed the teacher sent to me
Too little help [...]
I have recently had a number of parents in Chicago Public Schools who have no busing. As a result these children miss days or even months of school. This is a chronic issue, however, CPS officials do not seem to take this issue very seriously. I was interviewed regarding this [...]
Prenatal damage to infants by drinking alcohol while pregnant is a growing problem. Estimates vary from, for every 1000 live births in the U.S. 1-2 infants are born with fetal alcohol syndrome and 3-5 are born with fetal alcohol effects (a less severe diagnosis) to fetal alcohol spectrum disorders [...]
Every year as Halloween approaches, I have to fight the desire to ignore the bell, bolt my door shut, and drown my sorrows in the bags of Milky Ways and M&Ms I pretended to buy for the neurotypical little goblins who pass my way. Personally I find Halloween to be [...]
With 19 days before the election, having just watched the final Presidential debate, it is time for me to publicly weigh in on the issues that are most vital to me. Not surprisingly, among the primary issues for me are education and special education. Senator McCain's position in favor [...]
DIR which was formerly known as Greenspan/Floortime has worked very well for a number of children with autism that I represent. The following article is from Michele Ricamato, a certified DIR therapist, SLP and a well respected colleague of mine, who has dedicated her professional life to working with children [...]
The following is a posting from Jess Butler who is an attorney and officer with COPAA.org one of the leading special education advocacy organizations in the U.S. She has summarized and explained the effect of the new amendments for school age children and in later life. These revisions represent [...]
The following is a speech given to a local autism support group. The speech is from the parents of a young adult who was diagnosed as being on the autistic spectrum in his late 20s, after his time in school had passed, and as discussed below well too late to [...]
This is the second part of the earlier post to get your new school year off to a humorous start.
You choose your child’s medical specialists by whether or not their [...]
One of the things that up to now has held back robots is the ability to have a pressure sensitive "skin" which feels and moves more naturally. A team of Tokyo University researchers has revealed a break through in material science; a rubber material that conducts electricity which would potentially [...]
Milwaukee Public Schools have been cited in a recent report for the overuse of suspensions. Over reliance on suspensions reflect a lack of effective positive behavioral interventions in favor of "remove the child, remove the problem." The reality is that when the student comes back to school he or [...]
I am presenting tomorrow at a conference on Dravet's syndrome which is a rare type of seizure disorder. Here is an excellent resource on this rare disorder. If your child has Dravet's it is important that you work to educate the school, especially the nurse and the SLP, since [...]
Video games are being cast in a different light than simply activities which encourage becoming couch potatoes. A new company has come out with a set of video games to encourage and educate children and young adults as to the importance of taking their chemotherapy medications. In [...]
I have never been much of a Ben Stiller fan. Now is another reason for me and perhaps others to dim his star as an actor. The Dreamworks movie Tropic Thunder, which stars Ben Stiller who also wrote and directed the film, due to be released next week [...]
The following is a press release from Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah who along with Senator Harkin of Iowa have sponsored a bi-partisan bill to overturn the Supreme Court's narrowing of the scope and application of the ADA. Here is an un-annotated version of the pending [...]
Paula Jackson, a special education teacher in Naperville , Illinois is suing her school district because of physical and emotional injuries she suffered during an altercation with a 4th grade student with special needs. This story is unfortunate no matter the perspective. Any time staff a teacher [...]
A recent study from CADRE, a federally-funded organization that studies and trains interested parties in dispute resolution in special education cases, found that 80% of due process cases that were filed resolved through mediation, resolution sessions or other informal means. State by state data on resolution of [...]
The amount of research or advances as to the understanding of the causes and remedies for Cerebral Palsey ("CP") has been pathetically little. Most treatment consist of surgery or bracing which have been around for decades without much change in technique or success rates. Other than the baclofen pump [...]
Here is the latest summary from the candidates of their respective positions. They have sharpened their differences on vouchers (Obama-con and McCain-pro) but with precious little that relates to IDEIA or particulars on NCLB. The candidates could take a cue from some urban education leaders who are clearly calling [...]
Home Depot and the insurance company AFLAC (the duck people) have pulled their ads from the Savage Nation radio program in protest over his comments last week regarding children with autism. If a few more major advertisers take a similar stand perhaps it will mean Michael Savage will be [...]
As freeing as summer can seem while you’re anxiously anticipating its arrival, once into its unstructured midst, a parent can grow weary. The seemingly endless days, followed by the typical sleep-deprived nights, even if interrupted by a smattering of day camp or summer school, can make three months feel like [...]
