http://www.ldonline.org/ en-us LD OnLine Administrator hourly 1 http://backend.userland.com/rss http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/Some_Factors_Limit_ADHD_Medication Tue, 20 May 2008 14:04:12 GMT Jason Cunningham and his wife, Tracy initially resisted the thought of medicating Jason's two sons, Christopher and Patrick, for their attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Once they tried it and saw the difference it made, they were sold. But occasionally, it was like the medication was taking a day off. Patrick had been sick with a cold, and to help relieve his symptoms he had been given a cold medication that contained pseudoephedrine. As it turns out, pseudoephedrine is a medication that cancels out the effects of the ADHD medication that Christopher and Patrick take. http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/Some_Factors_Limit_ADHD_Medication http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/Disability_Diagnosis_Helps_Colorado_Grad_Finish_Strong Tue, 20 May 2008 14:03:29 GMT Karoline Fry, Delta High class of 2008, always tried harder because she thought she wasn't all that smart. Because she worked really hard, Karoline always had a B average, she said, so she wasn't tested for learning disabilities. But school just kept getting harder, so after a heart-to-heart talk with her mom, at the beginning of her senior year, Karoline asked to be tested for learning disabilities. The results of several weeks of testing showed Karoline was both dyslexic and had an auditory learning disability. http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/Disability_Diagnosis_Helps_Colorado_Grad_Finish_Strong http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/Special_Ed_Students_Exempted_in_Bill Mon, 19 May 2008 14:49:52 GMT California state legislators advanced a bill Thursday aimed at exempting special education students from having to pass the high school exit exam to receive high school diplomas. It would provide a two-year exemption for disabled students who complete all of the requirements for graduation but do not pass one or both sections of the California High School Exit Exam. http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/Special_Ed_Students_Exempted_in_Bill http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/Degregorio%3A_Communication_with_Parents%2C_Teachers_Important_in_Special_Ed Mon, 19 May 2008 14:48:39 GMT As part of the process of hiring a new special education director for Harvard Public Schools, the top four candidates participated in a public forum. Candidate Pamela DeGregorio said a major tool in special education is learning what the disabilities are and educating the teachers as well as the parents. http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/Degregorio%3A_Communication_with_Parents%2C_Teachers_Important_in_Special_Ed http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/They_Had_a_Ball%2C_Learning_to_Lead_ Mon, 19 May 2008 14:48:00 GMT Communication, cooperation, trust, and fun are the keys to leadership. Teacher Jock Willers uses a ball as a metaphor to help children practice these skills. He recently used his techniques — a combination of Exceptional Student Education and gifted education teaching strategies — at Vanguard School, which specializes in teaching students who learn differently. http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/They_Had_a_Ball%2C_Learning_to_Lead_ http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/%27Destination_Anywhere%27_Exhibit_Showcases_Young_Artists_with_Disabilities Mon, 19 May 2008 14:47:19 GMT The traveling exhibit "Destination Anywhere" opens at Pensacola Junior College. The exhibit, presented by VSA arts and Volkswagen of America Inc., showcases the works of 15 artists with disabilities, ages 16 to 25, living in the United States. http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/%27Destination_Anywhere%27_Exhibit_Showcases_Young_Artists_with_Disabilities http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/%28Opinion%29_You_Can_Help_Your_Child_Succeed_in_School Mon, 19 May 2008 14:38:07 GMT A school counselor answers a question from parents about how to best help their daughter achieve school success in the special education system. She notes that developing a good relationship with teachers and specialists is key. http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/%28Opinion%29_You_Can_Help_Your_Child_Succeed_in_School http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/D.C._Schools_Trying_New_Approach_to_Spec._Ed._Cases Fri, 16 May 2008 14:15:16 GMT After tangling in litigation for close to a decade, the District of Columbia school system agreed in 2006 to work quickly to pare down a backlog of cases related to special education services it had failed to provide to students with disabilities. Two years after the decision in the class action, the backlog of cases is still large, and growing. But school officials and lawyers representing the plaintiffs are renewing efforts to work together to fix the mess. http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/D.C._Schools_Trying_New_Approach_to_Spec._Ed._Cases http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/Left_Behind%3F_ Fri, 16 May 2008 14:14:34 GMT A newspaper investigation of standardized test scores found that none of the schools in Alexandria met the federal standard for special-education students last year. Yet because a class size of 50 students is required to calculate adequate yearly progress, none of these schools were punished for failing to achieve the annual measurable objective of a 73 percent pass rate for students with disabilities. http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/Left_Behind%3F_ http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/Parents_Need_to_Prep_for_Annual_IEP_Reviews Fri, 16 May 2008 14:14:03 GMT Parents have an absolute right to participate in the IEP process from start to finish. With annual reviews taking place this time of year, Medill Reports — a news outlet of Northwestern University's graduate school of journalism — spoke with Mary Mulae, special education litigation attorney and parent of a child with learning disabilities. http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/Parents_Need_to_Prep_for_Annual_IEP_Reviews http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/Soul_Fan%27s_Obsession_Proves_a_Real_Hit_Mix Fri, 16 May 2008 14:12:44 GMT Reg Stickings book about soul music in the North of England in the 60's sold out its first print run before publishers had even advertised it. The 54-year-old says he has always had trouble with literacy, but was determined to finish the book. "Apparently people who can't read and write well have really good memories to compensate, which I think is why I have been able to recall everything for the book. And because I had to dictate it, it's written how I speak." http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/Soul_Fan%27s_Obsession_Proves_a_Real_Hit_Mix http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/Riordan_Reaching_Out_to_His_Readers Thu, 15 May 2008 14:17:49 GMT The Battle of the Labyrinth, the fourth novel in his best-selling series Percy Jackson and the Olympians. In all, the first three titles have sold 1.6 million copies in 15 countries. Riordan's ability to appeal to pre–teen boys — a demographic frequently identified as "reluctant readers" — is especially unusual. While his main character Percy may be a son of the Greek god Poseidon, he also has dyslexia and attention–deficit hyperactivity disorder. So does one of Riordan's two sons. ]]> Author Rick Riordan is on the road to promote his popular children’s book The Battle of the Labyrinth, the fourth novel in his best-selling series Percy Jackson and the Olympians. In all, the first three titles have sold 1.6 million copies in 15 countries. Riordan's ability to appeal to pre–teen boys — a demographic frequently identified as "reluctant readers" — is especially unusual. While his main character Percy may be a son of the Greek god Poseidon, he also has dyslexia and attention–deficit hyperactivity disorder. So does one of Riordan's two sons. http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/Riordan_Reaching_Out_to_His_Readers http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/MO_School_District_Plans_to_Expand_Educational_Program Thu, 15 May 2008 14:17:07 GMT Next year, more Cape Girardeau, Missouri students with disabilities will be placed in traditional classrooms, under the expansion of a pilot program aimed at "mainstreaming." Students who previously were educated in a "self-contained" classroom have been attending class with traditional students this year in certain classes at Central Junior High and Central High School. The model, known as CWC, for class within a class, has been in place for years at several surrounding districts, including Jackson. http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/MO_School_District_Plans_to_Expand_Educational_Program http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/Special_Ed_Costs_Drive_Schools_Deficit_in_CT_School_District_ Thu, 15 May 2008 14:16:19 GMT If New Haven, Connecticut residents don't appropriate $250,000 to cover a pending deficit in the special education budget, there will be immediate layoffs and program eliminations in the schools, Superintendent Sara–Jane R. Querfeld says. Querfeld said the money, which would be tapped from the unappropriated fund balance, will cover educational costs for nine special education students who have been placed by the state Department of Children and Families, the court system or a hospital. http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/Special_Ed_Costs_Drive_Schools_Deficit_in_CT_School_District_ http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/California_Man_Takes_Guesswork_Out_of_His_Life_by_Learning_How_to_Read Thu, 15 May 2008 14:15:47 GMT Walter Woodley worked for the city of Modesto, California for 33 years, rising to become the chief groundskeeper at John Thurman Field. The secret to his success, however, couldn't possibly match the secret he kept from most of his co–workers and even his children for decades: He could not read. Now, after masking his deficiency for so many years, Woodley, 59, is willing to tell his story, to write it and read it, too. http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/California_Man_Takes_Guesswork_Out_of_His_Life_by_Learning_How_to_Read http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/200_City_Students_Take_Alternative_to_SOL_Test_ Wed, 14 May 2008 13:50:30 GMT This year, more than 200 Harrisonburg students are taking the Virginia Grade Level Alternative, an alternative form of the Standards of Learning test. It's a better assessment for some students who are unable to participate in the traditional SOL testing because of a disability or limited English proficiency. But it also costs more and creates more work for teachers. http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/200_City_Students_Take_Alternative_to_SOL_Test_ http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/District_Activities_Mark_Special_EducationWeek Wed, 14 May 2008 13:49:58 GMT The Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District will provide plenty of activities for students to appreciate one another during this year's Special EducationWeek. "Really, this event is to raise awareness and promote the benefits of special education for kids with learning disabilities to make them a part of the community both inside of school and out," said Laura Porter, a member of the board of directors for Parents of Special People. http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/District_Activities_Mark_Special_EducationWeek http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/Overcoming_Learning_Disabilities_will_be_Focus_of_Program_at_Cibola Wed, 14 May 2008 13:49:20 GMT The stories of eight high school students who overcame learning disabilities will be featured Thursday in a program that is open to the public. "Transition to Post Secondary Learning," the fifth in a series of special education training programs, will be held at the Cibola High School library. http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/Overcoming_Learning_Disabilities_will_be_Focus_of_Program_at_Cibola http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/Ministry_Looks_to_Expand_Facilities_for_Gifted%2C_Special_Needs_Students Wed, 14 May 2008 13:48:40 GMT Educational authorities are moving ahead with plans to improve and expand facilities for both gifted and special needs students in the Kingdom in order to ensure their needs are fully met. http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/Ministry_Looks_to_Expand_Facilities_for_Gifted%2C_Special_Needs_Students http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/Together_at_Last%3A_Special_Ed_and_Student_Information_Systems Tue, 13 May 2008 14:10:38 GMT No one can say with real certainty why it happened, but when K–12 school districts began implementing the first student information systems during the 1990s, special education was largely left out of the process. The two systems evolved as separate entities, technologically speaking, and in the handling of individualized education programs, paper remained the dominant storage medium long after other student records had made the digital transition. School districts now need to integrate their general education and special education systems, because, among other reasons, they're both part of a larger process. http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/Together_at_Last%3A_Special_Ed_and_Student_Information_Systems