http://www.ldonline.org/ en-us LD OnLine Administrator hourly 1 http://backend.userland.com/rss http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/Dyslexic_Focus_in_School_Review Wed, 07 May 2008 14:20:53 GMT An inquiry into what is taught in England's primary schools is to be widened to look at how children with dyslexia should be supported. http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/Dyslexic_Focus_in_School_Review http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/Adopted_Teens_Face_Higher_Risk_For_ADHD Tue, 06 May 2008 13:57:59 GMT People have wondered for a long time whether children who were adopted in infancy are at increased risk for psychological problems. Now, the first study of its kind has found that most are psychologically healthy, though they're at "slightly increased risk" for behavioral problems such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or oppositional defiant disorder. http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/Adopted_Teens_Face_Higher_Risk_For_ADHD http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/From_The_Fonz_to_Hank%92s_Creator Tue, 06 May 2008 13:56:45 GMT Readers first met character Hank Zipzer in the summer of 2003 when his good intentions and mishaps were chronicled in "Niagara Falls, Or Does It?" Hank's creators, Henry (The Fonz) Winkler and Lin Oliver just published Book No. 14 in the series, "The Life of Me: Enter At Your Own Risk." The Florida Times-Union spoke with Winkler about how both he and his character overcome the challenges brought by dyslexia. http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/From_The_Fonz_to_Hank%92s_Creator http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/Tutor_is_Driven_by_Past_Struggle Tue, 06 May 2008 13:56:17 GMT In elementary school, Griffin Smith watched his classmates read while he struggled to sound out the words. Diagnosed with severe dyslexia, he was held back a grade and worked weekly with a reading specialist. "I shook off the worst of my dyslexia by the beginning of third grade and began reading with a passion," Smith said. To show his gratitude for overcoming his dyslexia, he approached the principal of Gold Camp Elementary when he was in ninth grade to ask if he could mentor kids struggling with reading and writing. http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/Tutor_is_Driven_by_Past_Struggle http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/Editorial%3A_The_Politics_of_Special_Ed_Vouchers Tue, 06 May 2008 13:55:35 GMT In this third and final piece in a Washington Times series of editorials, Special Education policy suggestions are made to presidential candidate Sen. John McCain. McCain is asked to consider embracing an approach to school choice that would allow parents of disabled students to use federal special-education dollars in any public or private school they see fit. http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/Editorial%3A_The_Politics_of_Special_Ed_Vouchers http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/UK%3A_Government_Orders_Inquiry_Into_Teaching_of_Children_with_Dyslexia Tue, 06 May 2008 13:54:31 GMT Ministers will today announce a major review of the way an estimated 300,000 dyslexic children are taught in state schools. Announcing the review to The Independent, Ed Balls, the Schools Secretary, said he believed the review would provide "firm evidence of the way forward, convince the skeptics that dyslexia exists and tell us how best to get these children the help they deserve". http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/UK%3A_Government_Orders_Inquiry_Into_Teaching_of_Children_with_Dyslexia http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/Some_Area_Schools_Experienced_Problems_with_Testing_Forms Mon, 05 May 2008 14:44:24 GMT Statewide testing mandates involve the printing and distribution of millions of test and answer forms for each subject area being assessed. Sometimes, glitches occur, as happened in some areas with the spring administration of Ohio Achievement Tests; not enough of certain test forms for students needing special accommodations were received by schools. http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/Some_Area_Schools_Experienced_Problems_with_Testing_Forms http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/%27Kid_Connection%27_Nearing_Reality Mon, 05 May 2008 14:43:48 GMT This summer, children with mental impairments and physical disabilities should have a new playground area at Kennedy Park where they can safely play with children of all abilities. http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/%27Kid_Connection%27_Nearing_Reality http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/With_The_Right_Help%2C_Life%27s_More_Of_A_Party Mon, 05 May 2008 14:43:03 GMT There's a simple, powerful example Traci Fidler uses to show how her four-year-old son's social and learning problems have eased — Brodie gets more invitations to birthday parties. The occupational and speech therapy Brodie receives every week as well as working on his motor skills is helping him a lot. http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/With_The_Right_Help%2C_Life%27s_More_Of_A_Party http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/Vouchers_For_Special-Ed_Students Mon, 05 May 2008 14:31:19 GMT In the second part of their editorial, two Manhattan Institute fellows look at the benefits of special-ed vouchers, finding that the current special-education system is an arrangement that only lawyers could love. Adding vouchers to the mix changes the dynamics for the better by giving families an alternative mechanism for getting what they need. http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/Vouchers_For_Special-Ed_Students http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/Dyslexic_Student_Books_a_Visit_With_Pokemon_Author_ Fri, 02 May 2008 15:15:37 GMT Ryan Moore had trouble reading as a child. But now the sixth-grader is turning a potential disability — dyslexia — around and is helping other children the way he was helped: through the gift of reading. Ryan will hold a book fair at all local Barnes & Noble bookstores, collecting new books and books on CD for children at the Children's Specialized Hospital. http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/Dyslexic_Student_Books_a_Visit_With_Pokemon_Author_ http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/Teacher%27s_Style_Stressed_Problem-Solving Fri, 02 May 2008 15:15:08 GMT On the eve of her retirement, the newspaper looks at the career of teacher Joan Thompson. Thompson said that she was uncomfortable seeing students with disabilities sitting on the sidelines because they could not participate in a traditional way in her physical education classes, so in 1993 she organized the first adapted athletic program in the state of Wisconsin. http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/Teacher%27s_Style_Stressed_Problem-Solving http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/A_Growing_School Fri, 02 May 2008 15:13:28 GMT Seven-year-old Kendra Fowler said she's feeling better about her abilities. "I'm this big now," she said. "I feel I'm getting bigger and bigger by the minute." Her transformation coincides with the time she spent at the Southern Idaho Learning Center, where about 500 youth between the ages of 7 and 21 attended one-hour classes, two times per week. The center has applied to become a charter school to serve 180 middle school children with learning disabilities for the whole school day. http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/A_Growing_School http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/Reaching_Out_To_Special_Students Fri, 02 May 2008 15:11:57 GMT At a recent Inclusive and Special Education conference held in Bahrain, the minister of social development announced that children with special needs will gradually be integrated into mainstream schools. Those with hearing impairment may attend mainstream schools as early as next year and children with other special needs will follow in coming years. http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/Reaching_Out_To_Special_Students http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/University_of_Iowa_Professor_Urges_Caution_on_ADHD-Heart_Test Thu, 01 May 2008 14:50:46 GMT The American Heart Association recently suggested children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder receive heart tests before they are given stimulant drugs. Between 1999 and 2004, the Food and Drug Administration received reports that 26 children on stimulant medications suffered strokes, cardiac arrests, or heart palpitations. The anecdotal evidence, while serious, does not imply that the medications caused complications, according University of Iowa Professor Dianne Atkins, a reviewer of the heart association's report. http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/University_of_Iowa_Professor_Urges_Caution_on_ADHD-Heart_Test http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/Parents_Critical_of_Plan_to_Relocate_Two_Special_Education_Classes_in_Massachusetts Thu, 01 May 2008 14:50:11 GMT Dartmouth, Massachusetts parents criticized a plan to relocate two special-education classes from the DeMello School to the Quinn School at a public hearing on the Dartmouth School Department's proposed $33 million budget Monday night. The moving of the special-education students is part of an effort to reduce overcrowding by voluntarily transferring about 100 students from one elementary school to the other. http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/Parents_Critical_of_Plan_to_Relocate_Two_Special_Education_Classes_in_Massachusetts http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/Giving_up_Not_an_Option_For_Colorado_Teen Thu, 01 May 2008 14:49:24 GMT Melissa James was about 14 when she heard the results of a battery of medical tests: she had dyslexia, generalized anxiety disorder, and Asperger's syndrome, what some call high-functioning autism. "I told them I was broken and began to cry," James said. She learned she'd have to work harder at things that might be easy for other people. Along the way, she discovered an inner strength. http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/Giving_up_Not_an_Option_For_Colorado_Teen http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/54_Utah_Students_Receive_Great_Kids_Awards Thu, 01 May 2008 14:48:48 GMT Proud parents of 54 Utah County elementary students crowded the Provo City Library Ballroom to cheer them on at the 14th annual Great Kids Awards Wednesday evening. The one-hour event spotlighted two students from each elementary school in the Orem and Provo areas. Teachers and principals nominated the students for overcoming struggles and defeating challenges in their lives. http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/54_Utah_Students_Receive_Great_Kids_Awards http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/Special_Education_Reforms_Would_Likely_Include_Classes_Taught_in_Pairs Wed, 30 Apr 2008 14:28:14 GMT As a task force begins this spring to revamp Seattle Public Schools' approach to special education, it's likely many classrooms around the district will include more students in general-education classes and educate more special-education students at their neighborhood schools. The details haven't been worked out, but in general, the district will try to deliver services to the students instead of bringing the students to the services. http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/Special_Education_Reforms_Would_Likely_Include_Classes_Taught_in_Pairs http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/Serving_the_Needs_of_Special_Little_Ones Wed, 30 Apr 2008 14:27:34 GMT Schonowe Preschool has been serving special-needs preschoolers for more than 20 years. Its special education program teaches toddlers and preschoolers through a variety of play and movement activities, based on a sensory integration dysfunction treatment model. http://www.ldonline.org/ldnews/Serving_the_Needs_of_Special_Little_Ones