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| IN THIS ISSUE |
| This Month from the National Dissemination Center |
| It All Starts...in Families...and Communities |
| The Little Ones: Early Intervention/Early Childhood |
| Schools, K-12 |
| State & System Tools |
| Special Focus: After School | |
Greetings!
It's back to school and lunch bags, school buses and science projects. May your academic year be off to a good start!
OSEP's TA&D Network has many disability-related resources to offer, and NICHCY is pleased to bring a selection to your attention. We're also pleased to identify resources from beyond the TA&D network.
Since we're back in school now (well, maybe most of us), our Special Topic for September will be afterschool, with an emphasis on how to include children with disabilities in afterschool programs, activities, and settings. We hope you find this information useful. As always, we welcome your feedback. Please feel free to contact us at nichcy@aed.org.
Best wishes for September! Your friends at the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities
p.s. Note our new address! Please correct us in your databases and other systems, as need be, because our mailing address is now:
NICHCY
1825 Connecticut Avenue N.W., Suite 700 Washington, DC 20009
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THIS MONTH FROM THE NATIONAL DISSEMINATION CENTER
This month, we'd like to thank all of you who've been rating our web pages using the Rate This Page gizmo and leaving us suggestions and comments. We're working hard to make the changes you've suggested. To date, you'll now find:
The #1 comment, though, related to our Transition pages. Update them! you said. All right, we hear that! And we're working on it. As you probably noticed, there are a lot of links and a lot of pages. We'll let you know when it's done. And then we'll start washing the windows all over again, because you know how fast these links go out of date...
A final word, very important: Leave us your contact info if you leave us a request for direct assistance! One thing we've really noticed is that many people use the comment box on the Rate This Page feature, ask for direct help or info, but don't tell us how to get in touch. Oh, that's a problem! Please don't think we're ignoring you. We just don't know where to call or write. So....if you leave such a comment and want a response, please tell us how to catch up with you. Email ...phone...address. Thanks! (Or...you can just write to us at nichcy@aed.org and we're sure to be able to respond.)
Keep telling us what you think, what you need. We're listening!
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IT ALL STARTS IN FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES
Looking for newborn screening and genetics programs and policies?
Try the National Newborn Screening and Genetics Resource Center.
More on genetics.
Part of the National Resource Center just mentioned is its Genetics and Educational Materials (GEM) Database. It's searchable and can help you identify materials developed by regional genetic networks, HRSA projects, publications and other materials.
Recognizing reading (and other) problems early: Programs for parents.
Empowering Parents, a PBS special hosted by Al Roker, visits schools to help families identify early signs of reading problems and find ideas for getting their kids the help and support they need to succeed at reading.
Concerned about your child's food allergies at school?
Managing food allergies at schools can be challenging. Education, communication, and cooperation are the keys to preventing allergic reactions.
http://www.foodallergy.org/school.html
Have you met Alex?
First, meet Alex's mom. She wanted the IEP team at the new school to see her son as a person, not a label, so she made a wonderful 3-minute video to introduce him at the beginning of the IEP meeting. It worked even better than she expected. Check it out.
http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/iep.video.moody.htm
Parents get involved.
Project Appleseed is the #1 ranked resource in Google and Yahoo! for "parental involvement in public schools" (or so they claim). But a look at this organization's bristling-with-purpose website is bound to make parents feel...well, like getting involved. Find out how at the link below. Pssst: National Parental Involvement Day is coming up soon (November 19th) but we thought we'd tell you early, so you can plan ahead.
http://www.projectappleseed.org
Parenting, A-Z.
Visit the Center for the Improvement of Child Caring (CICC), sign up for its newsletter, and join the National Effective Parenting Initiative. The site includes info on special needs and preschoolers.
Communicating with your child's school.
This resource from CADRE offers specific communication skills that may be helpful to parents as they develop and maintain partnerships with their child's school.
Building a good relationship with your child's teacher.
From the National Center for Learning Disabilities.
Effective IEP meetings: Tested tips.
Here's another from CADRE, offering suggestions for convening successful IEP meetings. It includes preparation tips for parents and educators.
http://www.directionservice.org/cadre/testedtips.cfm
Watch a video on IEP teams.
Want to see an IEP team at work? Watch this clip from Empowering Parents, part of the PBS series, Launching Young Readers. (When you click the link below, you'll come to the Reading Rockets "For Principals" page. In the right column, you'll see "The IEP Team" and a link to "Watch video clip." That's the one you want.)
Online educational games.
We know, we know, we're all trying to get our kids OFF of the computer. But this site will hook you up to online educational games. Phonetics, math, science, art....you name it, you can play it to learn.
Respite care is a service that offers temporary care for a child or adult with disabilities or chronic or terminal illnesses. The National Respite Locator Service helps parents, caregivers, and professionals find respite services in their state and local area to match their specific needs.
Interested in autism?
CDC (the Centers for Disease Control) has a new autism website. Very snazzy. http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/index.html
A parent's guide to developmental delays: A podcast.
LD Podcasts are a weekly event at LDonline about all aspects of learning disabilities and kids who struggle in school, and this one focuses on DD. Listen at:
Is challenging behavior a problem at home?
Then you may be interested in what the Center for Evidence-Based Practice: Young Children with Challenging Behavior (CEBP) has to say. This document gives parents eight practical tips they can use when their young children exhibit challenging behavior. Each tip includes a brief explanation and an example to show parents how they might use the specific approach with their own family in everyday life.
http://www.tats.ucf.edu/wg_inclusion/PositiveSolutionsforFamilies_CEBP.pdf
Q&A: Taking service dogs into places of business.
If you need to know what the law says, read this brief from the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division.
Planning your transition from high school: A tool kit.
A very good tool kit from PACER for youth with disabilities and their parents.
Also for youth: Talking with your doctor.
Talking with Your Doctor and Other Medical Professionals is a Web site with videos designed to help you communicate more effectively with your health care providers. Talk about how you're feeling, listen and ask questions about medical conditions, and get involved in decisions about your health!
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THE LITTLE ONES: EARLY INTERVENTION/EARLY CHILDHOOD
Quick! If you want to comment...
The U.S. Department of Education has published a 30-day comment request for the IDEA Part C State Performance Plan (SPP) and Annual Performance Report (APR), which has recently been revised. Comments are due by September 11, 2009. So best be quick, if you have something to say.
December 7-9, 2009, in Arlington, VA. Registration's open!
Do you have questions about infant mental health?
Find answers in this research synthesis of frequently asked questions that early childhood providers have about Infant Mental Health (IMH), early social and emotional development, and the IMH system. From the Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning.
Recognizing child development problems early: A video.
This 4-minute video is in the public domain, courtesy of the CDC.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrUNBfyjlBk
Weaving cultural competence into program standards and monitoring.
Here's a new tool to help spark discussion and to serve as a guide to help early childhood programs respond to the needs of diverse children and families in a positive way. It was developed by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) as part of its Quality Benchmark for Cultural Competence Project (QBCCP) that's determining key elements of cultural competence for early childhood programs and ways to meaningfully integrate these elements within quality rating and improvement systems.
http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/policy/state/QBCC_Tool.pdf
Home visits.
Home visitation programs offer family-centered services to pregnant mothers and families with infants and young children. If you're looking for resources about home visitation programs, you'll find them in a new brief from the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Library.
Managing food allergies in child care and preschools.
The Child Care and Preschool Guide to Managing Food Allergies is designed to educate caregivers of children under age 5. Endorsed by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology and the American Academy of Pediatrics, the guide includes two educational videos (one for adults, one for children), a binder of information, and much more. Cost? $75. Available from the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN). Read how to order at:
Disability awareness and inclusion in early childhood programs.
Need materials you can use in your program? Try Including Us All, a nonsexist, multicultural guide for incorporating the topic of disability into the early childhood curriculum: same/different (hearing impairment), body parts (visual impairment), and transportation (mobility impairment). Cost? $15. Read all about it (and order, if you like) at the Educational Equity Center at AED:
Raid the treasure chest at the TATS program.
TATS is a statewide project in Florida that supports programs serving preK children with disabilities by providing technical assistance and training. Check out its Documents page! From there, branch into the area of your interest, including finding a scad of documents on:
- curriculum and instruction
- evaluation and assessment
- family involvement
- inclusion
- transition
- program effectiveness and quality
Have fun. You may need a truck to bring all the loot home.
Another treasure trove.
Are you interested in quality materials on topics related to early childhood and early intervention? The Natural Resources listserv is one way to stay up-to-date with the latest free or low-cost booklets, CD-Roms, videos, Power Point presentations and other items. Go to the link below to learn more and find out how to sign up for the listserv.
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A vision of K-12 students today.
Start your school year off by watching this 4-minute video. Not a word is spoken, all is visual.
And while we're watching videos, how about TeacherTube?
Launched in 2007, TeacherTube provides teachers with an online community for sharing instructional videos. The service is free for everyone.
H1N1 preparedness guidelines for schools.
The feds have issued guidelines designed to help educators and administrators share health information, plan for staff and student absences, and maintain a learning environment in the event of a flu outbreak.
http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2009pres/08/20090807a.html
We'll mention it again cos it's that important: Accessible books.
Bookshare is free for all U.S. students with qualifying disabilities. Funded by an award from OSEP, Bookshare's library includes more than 50,000 digital books, textbooks, teacher-recommended reading, periodicals, and assistive technology tools. Talk about a back-to-school resource!
http://www.bookshare.org/
Stretched thin?
Are you a teacher dealing with fewer resources in your classroom this fall because of budget cuts? What suggestions do you have for educators who are faced with crowded classrooms, a shortage of supplies, or the need for an extra pair of hands? What suggestions do they have for you? Join the featured discussion this month at:
The difference a dedicated principal can make.
Check out The Principal Story on PBS and take an inside look at the challenges facing America's public schools---and the great difference a dedicated principal can make. You'll go on an emotional ride that reveals what effective educational leadership looks like in the 21st century. You can also borrow the film and download the discussion guide, for FREE if you're a nonprofit, educational institution, library, or local PBS station.
What about those 9 multiple intelligences?
The link below will take you to the PBS educational resource page that includes an overview of Howard Gardener's 9 multiple intelligences as well as tips to include a multiple intelligences approach in teaching. You'll also find multiple intelligence resources.
www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/education/ed_mi_overview.html
Food allergies: A back-to-school toolkit.
For the 2.2 million school-age children with food allergies and their parents, staying safe at school requires the help of teachers and friends. The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network has put together a tool kit for all grade levels so the entire class can help by learning how to Be a PAL: Protect A Life(tm) From Food Allergies.
A toolkit for Title I parental involvement.
Hot off the press from SEDL.
Sourcebook for effective family-school-community partnerships.
Educating Our Children Together includes guiding principles for family-school-community involvement, tips for getting started, a self-assessment tool to determine current practices, and program descriptions that have been organized around eight interrelated cluster strategies. From CADRE.
How are schools using the stimulus money?
Find out from the American Association of School Administrators, at the link below.
From the Personnel Improvement Center.
Change the world every day in 5 minutes.
Can a bunch of school kids really change the world in five minutes a day? This class of primary school kids demonstrates over the course of a week that it only takes five minutes a day to make a positive impact---from recycling to planting fruit and vegetables to telling jokes. Watch the video at:
AboutCEC/Awards/Professional/default.htm
Nominate a student for a Yes I Can! award.
CEC's Yes I Can! Awards honor students with disabilities who excel in nine categories. Students may be nominated by a parent, teacher, principal, or other adult. Nominations are due by October 9.
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STATE & SYSTEM TOOLS
50-state report on PK-12 policies.
From CCSSO (Council of Chief State School Officers). The report informs policymakers and educators about the current status and trends in policies across the 50 states that define teaching and learning in elementary and secondary schools.
Financial accounting for local and state school systems: 2009 Edition.
From the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). This NCES handbook has been designed as the national standard for state and local education agencies to use in tracking and reporting financial data and for school districts to use in preparing their comprehensive annual financial reports (CAFRs).
Guide to analyzing data from the Family Outcomes Survey.
This new document from the Early Childhood Outcomes Center (ECO) will give you suggestions on how to analyze data from the Family Outcomes Survey and how to use the analyses to plan for program improvement.
Have you seen the Response to Intervention Classification Tool and Resource Locator (RTI CTRL)? This resource contains both a web-based self-assessment and a resource filtering tool that SEAs can use to find resources that are relevant to their needs. The self-assessment allows users to identify their current implementation activities within several elements of RTI, and the results of the assessment yield a unique set of useful resources that are relevant to their current implementation level and may provide guidance as RTI is further implemented. http://www.rtictrl.org/
The power of school-wide positive behavior support.
Take 30 minutes and watch this video of George Sugai, which is an excellent primer on SWPBS. Share it, too, with your school systems. And click on the link under the video that says "Go back to the Video Page" and see what other great video primers are available on PBIS. From the OSEP Technical Assistance Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), of course.
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SPECIAL FOCUS: AFTER SCHOOL
Last month our special focus was Back to School. Now that we're "back," how about what we're doing after school? Millions of children are involved in afterschool programs or activities, including children with disabilities. To help all those involved in afterschool care and programming, here's a list of resources that will give you food for thought, concrete strategies, and a world of connections to make afterschool a welcoming, active, and fruitful way to spend out-of-school time.
Afterschool.gov.
Where else to start? Afterschool.gov is a one-stop website connecting the public, and particularly afterschool providers, to federal resources that support children and youth during out-of-school time. The link below is to the Children With Disabilities page.
2009 fact sheet on out-of-school time.
Afterschool programs are for students with exceptionalities, too!
The National Center for Quality Afterschool.
SEDL's National Center helps state education agencies and local practitioners develop high-quality, balanced programs that provide a safe and fun environment for academic enrichment as well as youth development activities. While you're there, sign up for the Center's monthly newsletter, AfterWords.
Visit the California After-School Resource Center (CASRC).
Browse and download free curriculum and curriculum evaluation materials. Participate in a free curriculum lending library.
Discovering Community: Activities for afterschool programs.
The National Institute on Out of School Time, in association with the After-School Corporation, designed this curriculum to foster positive attitudes and stronger affiliations between students, teachers, and the surrounding school communities.
Working together for children and families: A Community's Guide to Making the MOST of Out-of-School Time.
This substantial, informative guide describes the theoretical basis, experiences, and learnings of the first and second phases of the MOST Initiative. It also explains how to build an out-of-school time system using the MOST approach.
http://www.niost.org/pdf/MOSTguide.pdf
Focus on Families! How to build and support family-centered practices in after school.
From the Harvard Research Project.
Resource guide for planning and operating afterschool programs.
Now in its third edition, this resource guide describes readily available and inexpensive resources that support afterschool programs. Topics include management, communication, programming, community building and collaboration, and developing connections between K-12 educational and afterschool programs.
Try the AIM guidelines.
The AIM Guidelines describe the need for and characteristics of successful afterschool inclusive math programs.
Find a tutor.
tutorfind.com is a free online search service that can help you locate a tutor. You can also call 1-800-64-TUTOR to talk to an experienced education counselor. All TutorFind tutors are certified by The American Tutoring Association.
http://www.tutorfind.com
10 tips for affirming diversity and supporting equity in new afterschool programs.
80 ways to say "Very Good!"
Not just for afterschool programs, either! This is useful everywhere.
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Publication of this eNewsletter is made possible through Cooperative Agreement #H326N080003 between AED and the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) of the U.S. Department of Education. The contents do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Department of Education, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government or by the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities.
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Comments on our newsletter? Too long? Too short? Off-target? Right on? Suggestions for future topics? Please feel free to contact us at nichcy@aed.org. We're here to help you help children with disabilities.
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