Surviving Inclusion: At The Intersection of Minority, Disability and Resegregation
Kerima Çevik on Surviving Inclusion: At The Intersection of Minority, Disability and Resegregation “I see the work of inclusion as probably the last frontier of desegregation. If you read the brief from Brown v Board of Ed, The board of education argued that if we let the blacks be integrated then the next thing you know is that we’ll be letting people with disabilities be integrated.” Joe Petner, Principal, The Haggerty School, Including Samuel NAACP picketing St. Louis schools circa 1950s. Photo credit AARP In October of 2008, we discovered that our son, who was transferred into a full special education
On Surviving Inclusion
On Surviving Inclusion by Kerima Cevik Three young Black soldiers, bubbling over with the news that the Civil Rights act was just signed into law, and ready to demand a front door entrance and equal treatment everywhere rushed around places where people of color were formerly unseen and unheard. Image is of the first page of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Credit National Archives. I cannot impart on you what this moment in time meant to them. Imagine being told all your life that you were less than others. Imagine approaching your local supermarket
The Reason I Blog
This blog (The Autism Wars), and all the other blogs and projects associated with it, are for my autistic son, Mustafa. But this blog is actually not talking about him without him or about daily life with him with some rare exceptions for times when his daily displays of empathy, kindness, and love towards me move me to write. When I say it is for my son, I mean it is part of my activism and my exploration of what it means to try and ally myself to his cause. This cause is something that too many of us are aware of
Avonte Oquendo’s Death: Questions and Issues
Over 200 mourners gathered in New York on January 25 for the public funeral service for Avonte Oquendo. The 14-year-old autistic boy's remains were found in Queen's by the East River in January. He'd been missing since October 2013. The search for Avonte was long and intensive, involving 50 members of the NYPD at one point and a detective task force, sewer sweeps conducted by the Department of Environmental Protection, daily checks every subway station in New York by the Metropolitan Transit Authority, and the efforts of total strangers who just wanted to help search. Read more here Something about
Sign Language Researchers Broaden Science Lexicon
Imagine trying to learn biology without ever using the word “organism.” Or studying to become a botanist when the only way of referring to photosynthesis is to spell the word out, letter by painstaking letter. For deaf students, this game of scientific Password has long been the daily classroom and laboratory experience. Words like “organism” and “photosynthesis” — to say nothing of more obscure and harder-to-spell terms — have no single widely accepted equivalent in sign language. This means that deaf students and their teachers and interpreters must improvise, making it that much harder for the students to excel in
Intersection of Law, Education and Civil Rights
As a deaf-blind student with very limited sight and hearing, Haben Girma '13 learned that you must be a self-advocate and come up with creative solutions to the problems you face. If that fails, she says, then the law can be a strong ally.
Senator’s Call for Transition Action Plan An Excellent Idea
Democrat Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey has introduced a bill focused on transition services for students with developmental disabilities who are transitioning to post-high school life. The legislation, known as the Assistance in Gaining Experience, Independence and Navigation Act of 2013, or the AGE-IN Act, calls for: - Funding for research to determination the best ways to support students with developmental disabilities who are about to leave school. - Creation of a nation strategic plan focused on transition planning for students with developmental disabilities. - Grants to train "transition navigators" to assist students with developmental disabilities to plan for
The Need to Reassess the Sheltered Workshop
An emerging story in Rhode Island is raising discussion about sheltered workshop environments for people with intellectual disabilities and the culture of discrimination that they create. Discrimination? Yes. These environments, originally intended to ensure that people with intellectual disabilities had work to do and and a safe place in which to do it, have become the exact opposite. They're also created a culture where it's permissible to not only view people with intellectual disabilities in extremely outdated ways and to treat them accordingly. The most recent story that's brought these issues to the public's attention revolves around a a school
PrAACtical AAC | Presuming Competence and Using The Least Dangerous Assumption
PrAACtical AAC's latest post on the importance of presuming competence.
Some special education teachers fear losing jobs
ATLANTA (AP) — Some Atlanta special education teachers say they fear they could lose their jobs if they aren't certified to teach in another subject. Keith Butler helps special education students with math in an Atlanta high school. He said teachers are
Neurodiversity in the Classroom: Strength-Based Strategies t – Apr 29,2013
A new concept on human diversity has emerged over the past 10 years that promises to revolutionize the way educators provide services to students with special needs: neurodiversity. Just as we celebrate diversity in nature
Lawsuit alleges school bus aide slapped autistic boy
A north suburban special education school bus aide slapped an autistic student who cannot speak, according to a lawsuit filed by the boy’s mother, who claims she uncovered the alleged abuse after putting a recording device in her son’s backpack. Nabiha Z
Congress Changes Special Education Funding Regulations
This month, Congress clarified how states that fail to adequately fund special education services from year to year will be penalized. The changes to IDEA regulations, put forth by the Obama administration, are said have “broad support on Capitol Hill”. Special education funding is governed by “maintenance of effort”, or a regulation stating that funding levels must maintained or increased from one year to the next. States need special permission and a waiver from the federal government to be exempt from meeting maintenance of effort in any given year, or they may find themselves facing serious consequences. South Carolina and
School Says, “No Advanced Classes for Kids with IEPs”
My child has a learning disability. Her teachers want her to enroll in advanced classes. She is eligible based on her test scores and school performance. The School will not let her enroll her because she has an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). What
Top 25 Pinterest Boards for Education
Check out these Pinterest boards for education!
How Should We Rebuild the U.S. Education System?
Three learning enthusiasts share their blueprints for rebuilding the U.S. education system. In the 2nd century A.D., Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius penned a series of personal writings and reflections known today as “Meditations.” In Book 1, the emperor s
Free iPad Games to Improve Algebra Learning from CAST
CAST released two innovative, research-based educational games that teach essential math reasoning and problem-solving skills.
Why the Fiscal Cliff Deal Doesn’t Solve Our Education Funding Crisis
As the Washington Post points out, the deal "fails to defuse the prospect of a catastrophic national default two months from now" and it "does not raise the debt ceiling, leaving the Treasury to use what it calls 'extraordinary measures' as long as it ca
COPAA Statement on the Newtown Tragedy
The members of Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, Inc. (COPAA) work in schools every day with teachers and on behalf of the 7.1 million children with disabilities in the United States. Because of our work, we feel intense, personal pain over the
Changing the Paradigm
Sir Ken Robinson on education reform. "Changing Paradigms in Public Education" covers the importance of thinking differently about human capacity , recognizing the benefits of collaborative learning, and changing the culture of our institutions.
Longview school suspends use of isolation box
The Longview School District has suspended the use of an isolation box for special education students while it reviews the policy for isolating students who may be a danger to themselves or others. The Longview School District has suspended the use of an
Evaluating the Efficacy of the LRE
I attended an IEP meeting recently that really brought home for me the complex nuances of determining what placement, or blend of placement options, represents the Least Restrictive Environment (“LRE”) for an individual student with an IEP. Not only are
Open Letter from a Doctoral Student Who Needs Some Help with her Study
Hi, my name is Christina and I am a doctoral candidate at Grand Canyon University. The title of my dissertation is “Examining the Potential of Using Technology to Improve Academic Performance: The Experience of Autistic Children with E-Readers.” As a for
The National Center on Inclusive Education (NCIE)
The National Center on Inclusive Education (NCIE) at the University of New Hampshire’s Institute on Disability is a leader in the transformation of schools so that students of all abilities are successfully learning in their home schools within general education settings. Vision When students with disabilities are provided appropriate instruction and supports, they can learn grade-level general education curriculum, communicate in ways that are commensurate with their same-age peers without disabilities, have meaningful social relationships, and graduate from high school—college and career ready.
New report: Half of schools meeting state’s goal
(10-10) 17:13 PDT -- California schools have been weighed. They have been measured. And depending on who you ask, they have been found wanting or are doing really well. On Thursday, state education officials released the simplified roundup of state tests
Social Media Helps Student With Autism Find His Voice
Henry Miles Frost and his service dog, Denzel, protest outside a downtown Tampa building during the Republican National Convention. Since he posted the photo to Facebook, he’s found global support in his effort to enroll in his South Tampa neighborhood s
Special needs kids staying in traditional schools
LOS ANGELES The high cost of educating students with special needs is disproportionately falling on traditional public schools as other students increasingly opt for alternatives that aren't always readily open to those requiring special education. The i
NYC to Integrate Special Ed Students into Regular Classrooms
New York City’s pilot for special education inclusion has moved the district to apply the program to a majority of the schools in the city. The city’s conclusion is that students with special needs should get access to the general education curriculum, n
Leaders@ED: Alexa Posny, Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services
Alexa Posny has had 23 jobs. While she never envisioned a specific career path, every position she held was a stepping stone towards her current position as the Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) at the U.S. Dep
Special-Ed Students at Greater Risk of Bullying, Being Bullied: Study
TUESDAY, July 3 (HealthDay News) -- Students with visible disabilities and those receiving special education services for behavioral problems are at greater risk of being bullied and of bullying others, according to a new study. These children also are m
Science-Based Decision-Making in Special Ed
Last month, I wrote an article for Special Education Advisor, a blog operated by some folks located in Chatsworth, CA who are dedicated to helping parents of children with special needs. You can see the article by clicking here. The title of the article
Are charter schools bad at special ed?
Critics say public charter schools have an unfair advantage over regular public schools because they are less likely to have students with learning disabilities. That is not always true. Consider one D.C. charter management organization, DC Prep, with mo
Helping Special Education Students, and Paying With His Career
There was no particular moment when Harris Lirtzman decided to blow the whistle, and so close the door on his teaching career. A former deputy state comptroller, he had decided to give public school teaching a midcareer whirl. In 2009, he landed a job as
Comparing General Education to Special Education: What are the Differences?
Students with autism are educated in a variety of settings including general education (GE) and self-contained (SC) classrooms. In GE placements, students are educated with their peers by a general education teacher. In self-contained settings, students
Parents Wire Kids To Prove Teachers’ Verbal Abuse
CHERRY HILL, N.J. (AP) — Teachers hurled insults like "bastard," "tard," "damn dumb" and "a hippo in a ballerina suit." A bus driver threatened to slap one child, while a bus monitor told another, "Shut up, you little dog." They were all special needs st
U.S. Department of Education Reaches Agreement with School District on Services for Students with Disabilities
The U.S. Department of Education announced today that its Office for Civil Rights has reached a resolution agreement with the Memphis, Tenn., City Schools on aids and services to students with disabilities. The agreement resolves a compliance review init
Working to Give All Students the Ability to Succeed
Tech-Now, Inc. is one of the many organizations across the country implementing the High School/High Tech Program, which provides young people with all types of disabilities the opportunity to explore jobs or further education leading to technology-relat
Struggle over how to evaluate special ed teachers
Lynne Sladky / AP In this April 3, 2012, photo, teacher Bev Campbell, left, holds up stuffed animals in front of student Sebastian Rodriguez in her special education class at Amelia Earhart Elementary School in Hialeah, Fla. More than a dozen states have
Outing The Prejudice: Making The Least Dangerous Assumption
We highly recommend this brilliant article by Zach Rossetti and Carol Tashie on their interpretation of Anne Donnellan's concept of presuming competence, the least dangerous assumption.
SchoolBook: Testing Takes Its Toll on Special Needs Students
April 19, 2012, 8:12 a.m. It has been a challenging week for many third through eighth grade public school students in New York City, as they have started their days on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday with the federally mandated English Language Arts exa
Teachers Weigh-In: Do We Over Accommodate? Join the Debate…
Read more as teachers debate accommodations for students. Pete & Pam Wright and Advocate Pat Howey join the discussion. Take the poll – then click “read more” to add your comment and join the debate! I teach at a charter school. We feel that if the stude
Deaf children’s gesture mismatches provide clues to learning moments
In a discovery that could help instructors better teach deaf children, a team of University of Chicago researchers has found that a gesture-sign mismatch made while explaining a math problem suggests that a deaf child is experiencing a teachable moment. Teachers also frequently use their own gestures to help students learn. They can illustrate how numbers in an equation can be grouped, for example, to help students understand how to make both sides of an equation have the same value. The deaf child watching the interpreter will then miss any messages that the teacher sends in gesture and not in
Shoreham students “experience” autism for a day
Fourth grader Nick Donnelly counted along with the rest of his classmates seated around the small cafeteria table at Miller Avenue School in Shoreham Thursday.When they reached 15, they pulled off the colorful bandanas that covered their eyes. Nick strai
School principal reprimanded told to work from home as a result of physical altercation with student
In April 2011 before a classroom of students and a security camera, Gray became violent with a special education student, according to a written reprimand in his personnel file. “During this incident you escalated the situation, became physically violent, grabbed the child by the shirt, and yanking the child out of the classroom and down the hallway,” reads York’s reprimand.
Activists Seek To Curtail Restraining Students
WASHINGTON (AP) — Tens of thousands of students, most of them disabled, are strapped down or physically restrained in school, and disability advocates hope that a new Education Department report detailing the practice of "seclusion and restraint" will sp
Cellphone Video Provides Proof of Bullying Teacher
A special education student resorted to using his cellphone to record video that proved his teacher was bullying him. Such incidents are, unfortunately, far from uncommon. “Statistically about 1 to 2 percent of teachers are actually involved in bullying
Special Olympics Coach Accused Of Having Sex With High School Participant
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (AP) — A teaching assistant from Cayce has been charged with having sex with one of his students while in Mount Pleasant for the Special Olympics. Twenty-nine-year-old Cornelius Davis is a special education teaching assistant at Broo
U.S. Department of Education Announces Overhaul of IDEA Compliance System; More Emphasis on Student Outcomes
On Friday, the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) announced that it will revamp IDEA’s compliance system to better emphasize student outcomes, such as academic performance and graduation rates for students with disa
Special needs system ‘shocking’
The report suggests provision of special needs education is patchy MPs have expressed shock that almost a third of 18-year-olds with special educational needs are not in any form of education, employment or train
Special Ed Teacher Accused of Inappropriate Contact
A male special education teacher at Crenshaw High School who was removed from the classroom three weeks ago amid allegations of inappropriate contact with a child has resigned, the school district confirmed Wednesday. There is an ongoing investigation be
Center for Literacy and Disability Studies at UNC
The Center’s mission is to promote literacy and communication for individuals of all ages with disabilities. It is the belief of the CLDS that disabilities are only one of many factors that influence an individuals ability to learn to read and write and to use print throughout their life and across their living environments.All individuals, regardless of their abilities or disabilities, have the right to an opportunity to learn to read and write in order to increase and enhance their educational opportunities, vocational success, communicative competence, self-empowerment capabilities, and independence.
SchoolBook: Do High-Needs Students Affect a School’s Grade?
New York City’s latest plan to reform special education services encourages public school principals to take more of the neediest students. Still, it’s not clear that there’s a link between having a lot of these challenging students and getting a poor grade, contrary to what some critics contend.
Procedural Safeguards The Series – Part III
Image via Wikipedia This is the third installment in a multi-part series on procedural safeguards under the federal special education law, the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act. I work a lot in this area, so it is near and dear to my heart. Des
Unified Sports Teams Open Doors for Inclusive Athletics
“Unified has transformed the culture of this school. It was almost as if these kids weren’t noticed before we began doing this. I don’t think anyone realized how powerful they are.” “Our athletes have an unconditional appreciation for other people. They persevere even in the face of being bullied and teased. We can pull back the veil of the unknown and make people real.” Born of the idea that athletic events can be especially transformative when they include individuals who have special needs alongside those who do not, unified programs have existed about two decades. In 2008, with money from
Loss of innocence befalls Los Angeles families at Miramonte School
STORY HIGHLIGHTS A teacher sexual misconduct scandal forces parents to have difficult talks with kids The scandal is centered at Miramonte Elementary School Working-class Mexican immigrants populate school's neighborhood "It's a conversation that is like
CEC Member Brings UDL to the Senate!
For the past few years, George Van Horn, Special Education Director at the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation (BCSC) in Colombus, Indiana and current Indiana CEC President has implemented a Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework across th
Cops: Fla. boy, 11, tried to set special education student on fire with Old Spice body spray
(CBS/WTSP/AP) NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. - Authorities say an 11-year-old boy cornered a special education student in the bathroom of a Tampa Bay area middle school and tried to set him on fire. According to CBS affiliate WTSP, the police report states that t
Teacher allegedly kicked student, withheld food
(02-06) 13:36 PST REDWOOD CITY -- A Redwood City special education teacher has been charged with numerous counts of child abuse for allegedly slapping and kicking a 5-year-old student while depriving another of food and twisting his arm, authorities said
Senate Introduces Bill Limiting Restraints, Seclusion – On Special Education – Education Week
A U.S. Senate bill filed late last week would limit physical restraint and locked seclusion of students—measures often used with students with disabilities who are considered out of control, harmful to themselves or others, or in need of being calmed. Iowa Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin's "Keeping All Students Safe Act," via Senate Introduces Bill Limiting Restraints, Seclusion - On Special Education - Education Week.
More on Students With Disabilities and the Law
By JOHN O’CONNOR Tres Whitlock is trying to enroll in a charter school. The school has said they can not provide needed services. Last week we ran a story talking to attorneys about what the law requires for students with disabilities. One expert we spoke with, Joy Zabala with the Center for Applied Special Technology, responded to clarify her position.
60 Minutes: Studying Autism and iPads
Canadian professor Rhonda McEwen studies the use of iPads by autistic children in Toronto's Beverley School. She tells 60 Minutes Lesley Stahl that progress is slow, but learning to "play with language" is the first step.
Apps for Autism on 60 Minutes
People with autism whose condition prevents them from speaking are making breakthroughs with the help of tablet computers and special applications that allow them to communicate, some for the first time. Lesley Stahl reports.
Hearing Loss in the Classroom
Great simulation by Pediatric Audiology Project on what it's like to be hearing impaired in the classroom. It's much harder than you think!
Classroom Simulation of Student Who Is Deaf or Hard of Hearing
An amazing simulation of what speech sounds like for hearing impaired student by the Vermont Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Inc. You will be shocked! This simulation allows you to experience the challenges a hearing impaired student faces in the classroom, with and without a personal FM sytem. We had no idea it was this hard for hearing impaired students to hear what's being said in a typical classroom environment.
Autism Support Network
The mission of Autism Support Network is to connect, guide and unite. Their goal is to short-cut the uphill battle individuals and families undertake when faced with autism – whether that means the initial diagnosis, the day-to-day living and coping needed, relationship and therapeutic strategies and the latest information. Their support community collectively pools global knowledge and support from all those touched by ASD. Designed as a place by those living with ASD, for those with ASD, and those seeking social connection, peer guidance, and a feeling of community with those that understand.
Certain Proof – A Question of Worth
Certain Proof: A Question of Worth is a feature documentary about three children living with significant communication and physical disabilities, who struggle against the public schools in an emotional battle to prove their worth.
