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Commentary: Pediatricians and the Drug Industry
San Francisco Chronicle
Most parents have never heard of him, but Joseph Biederman of Harvard may be the United States' most influential doctor when it comes to determining whether their children are normal or mentally ill. In 1996, for example, Biederman suggested that drugs like Ritalin might serve 10 percent of American kids for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. By 2004, one in nine 11-year-old boys was taking the drug … That's why Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley's recent revelation that Biederman did not declare $1.6 million in drug company consulting fees is so important, scary, and tragic.
Teach India: Make Room for Special Kids
The Times of India
Aranya is eight and in her drawings, elephants can fly. She enjoys art and has a vivid imagination, but when it comes to her studies, she struggles with writing and concentration. Aranya is suffering from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a neuro-behavioural developmental disorder. Often children like Aranya are labeled 'lazy' or 'dumb' although they are neither. "My daughter is very creative. She loves painting animals and working with clay. All she needs is a little more time to grasp her lessons. It is unfortunate that in the pursuit of high scores the power of the imagination is under-estimated," says Aranya's mother.
ADHD Conference Opens in Minneapolis
Pioneer Press (MN)
A national conference started yesterday in Minneapolis to help adults cope with ADHD, short for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. The Attention Deficit Disorder Association expects more than 400 adults with ADHD to attend its 13th annual conference, which features sessions on everything from time management and spousal support to meditation.
Penn State Helps Bridge Gap for Students with Learning Disabilities
Penn State Live (PA)
In Pennsylvania, more than 260,000 students with learning and other disabilities are in public schools, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE). This presents challenges to the teachers responsible for their education, but who often lack adequate specialized preparation. In response to new teacher certification requirements, Penn State has created a teacher training program called Evidence-Based Practices for Inclusive Classrooms and Differentiating Instruction (EPIC) for current and future teachers.
Triad Academy Campaigns to Expand its Services
The Dispatch (NC)
Triad Academy of Winston-Salem, North Carolina was created in the late '90s by a group of parents to address the unmet academic needs of students who learn differently after seeing them fail in the mainstream of a traditional school. The school that serves students with dyslexia or a specific learning disability is looking to expand its services by launching a capital fund campaign that could possibly help the school expand or even relocate to serve more children.
Ontario Reading Program May Close Books
Bayshore Broadcasting (Canada)
A former local principal may have to close the book on her free reading program in the Owen Sound area if funding doesn't come through soon. Linda Soehner has about 40 students registered with Reading Rescue Ontario — children and adults suffering from dyslexia who are learning to read.
ADHD Might Raise Kids' Obesity Risk
The Washington Post
Children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at a 50 percent higher risk for being overweight if they are not taking medication for the condition, a new study finds.
Summer Camp Director Sees Something Special in Kids
Enterprise Ledger (AL)
Attention Deficit Disorder, emotionally conflicted, developmentally disabled. Whatever the label, they are all James Warren's kids. For 34 summers, Warren has run a six-week day camp for special needs children in Enterprise, Alabama. Inspired by his daughter Aresha, Warren became interested in special education and worked as a behavior specialist at New Brockton High School.
PA School Facing Special Education Legal Challenges
The Intelligencer (PA)
Two legal challenges have prompted Bucks County Technical High School administrators this summer to review their procedures for handling special education students, an official said. The challenges, which will be handled by a hearing officer, are common in every school district, said Kevin Gentilcore, the school's supervisor of pupil services. However, they are the first to be filed against the tech school in its 50-year history, he said.
UK: Children Should Learn to Speak Before They Learn to Read Says Review
The Times (UK)
The heavy emphasis on teaching children to read and write in nursery and reception classes is preventing teachers from focusing on more important aspects of early childhood development, such as speaking and listening skills, the author of a major government report has warned. John Bercow, a Conservative MP and author of a report on speech, language and communication (SLC) needs, was speaking as the government announced a £40 million program, called Every Child a Talker, which will provide training to help nursery staff identify and support children with speaking and language problems at an early age.
Grants to Help Students with Reading Disabilities
The Herald News (IL)
Eight local schools will receive equipment and services from the state's Reading For the Blind and Dyslexic program to help students with print-related disabilities. Through the grant, students will have access to the same books as their classmates, just in a different format — either electronic or CD versions.
The Chatham Daily News (Canada)
The Learning Disabilities Association of Chatham-Kent launched summer tutoring programs this week. "Offering a summer program is critical for students who are struggling or who have made academic gains throughout the school year," said Dawn Babkirk, the association's executive director.
Program Helps Students Adjust to Different Surroundings
Evansville Courier and Press (IL)
In high school, students often have lots of assistance, but once in college they are on their own to a much larger degree. The Summer College Program, now in its 39th year, is a six-week orientation for students with a variety of physical and learning disabilities that helps them make the transition to college.
Stone Circle Draws Poets, Storytellers and Singers to Spin Tales from the Heart
Detroit Free Press (MI)
Terry Wooten started a tradition 25 years ago: families gathered around a campfire Saturday nights to hear poets and storytellers. There are just two rules — no reading and no hard-core stuff. The no-reading rule is linked to Wooten's dyslexia. Growing up he realized he could deliver a speech or oral report better if he memorized it.
(Opinion) Don't Disregard Dyslexia — It's All Around You
The Monitor (TX)
A local teacher looks at the myths and realities of dyslexia. Recognizing the signs of dyslexia is the critical first step. The second is diagnostic testing, she says.
Mom Helps Others with Learning Disabilities
Belleville Intelligencer (Canada)
Kay MacDonald's efforts to help her own son turned into a lifelong passion for helping other children. She's retiring after 25 years with the Learning Disabilities Association of Niagara Region. For 17 of those years, she served as executive director.
State Weighs Limits on School 'Timeouts,' Restraints
Des Moines Register (IA)
Iowa has joined a nationwide push to curb the use of physical force and "timeout" rooms in schools to discipline the most unruly students. "I don't believe that teachers or building administrators set out to be unkind or cruel or harmful to children. In the rare occasion that that happens, it happens really because of ignorance as to what to do. This should help alleviate any instance of that." said Susan Myers, a mother who heads the Access for Special Kids Family Resource Center, a nonprofit advocacy group.
Let Special Needs Students Transfer if Needed, Group Says
The Tribune (CA)
A Southern California advocacy group has filed a complaint with the state on behalf of local special-needs students, alleging that families are not easily able to transfer their children into districts where needed services are available.
(Opinion) Help My Kid: Audiobooks Fine 'Reading' Tools
The Desert Sun (CA)
In this advice column, a psychologist explains that although audiobooks can never take the place of reading aloud, they can help eliminate the frustration struggling readers experience with decoding.
House Votes to Expand Civil Rights for Disabled
New York Times
The House passed a major civil rights bill last Wednesday that would expand protections for people with disabilities and overturn several Supreme Court decisions issued in the last decade. The bill, approved 402 to 17, would make it easier for workers to prove discrimination. It would explicitly relax some stringent standards set by the court and says that disability is to be "construed broadly," to cover more physical and mental impairments.
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