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Vaccines and Autism
What is Autism Autism is a disease “characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior.” This disease affects how information is processed in the brain. Usually during the first few years of life, a child can be diagnosed. Do Vaccines Cause Autism? We have all heard about the studies that “proved” that vaccines were causing autism. It was believed that the agent causing the reaction was a chemical found in many vaccines called thimerosal. Thinerosal is a preservative that contains mercury. Children all over the country stopped receiving vaccines because of this claim. After this research was publicized Canada, Denmark, and the US removed the thimerosal from vaccines that were given to children. Common sense would dictate that the number of cases of autism would drop after this. This … Read entire article »
Filed under: Uncategorized
Toddler Modeling
Have you ever been told your baby is so cute, he or she looks like he belongs in a magazine? Or that he or she is so cute they could beat even Mia Talerico from Disney Channel’s Good Luck Charlie? Then chances are they could have a shot at modeling! But before you set off to try to find the right agency for you, read on to make sure your child can actually cope with it. Can your Child Model? The first thing to consider is if your child likes to be around strangers, have a bunch of lights flashing on them, and having random people putting make-up on them. If your child fusses over being picked up by a stranger then odds are you are probably out of the job. Keep in … Read entire article »
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California Education Service Workers Will Take ‘Midnight Ride’ To Sacramento
Barbara Torres says she was a “troubled child” growing up in the Los Angeles public school system. But, at age 14, an administrator gave her a chance, setting her up with work as a student aide. Torres has remained an employee of the Los Angeles Unified School District for the past 16 years. She works as a special education assistant, helping children with autism adapt to mainstream classrooms. With the financial stresses on education, though, she worries that the next troubled child to come through LAUSD’s public schools may not be quite so lucky. “Kids have issues but we can work through them, they can graduate. You just have to have that push,” Torres told The Huffington Post. “We’re overworked, morale is low, there are … Read entire article »
Filed under: Special Education
ASL and Special Education
When people asked me why I took ASL in college, I always said it was to satisfy my needed foreign language credit. The truth was that I wanted to help people. The Deaf community dislikes being referred to as disabled in any way, and in general resents that mentality that they need to be helped or assisted through life. But when I was a kid, I had an experience that made me wish I knew sign language. I was in church, and we had a physically and mentally handicapped boy visiting our class. He was very disruptive, and I’m sure my teacher was extremely frustrated as he kept disrupting the class by making loud noises or getting out of his chair. He kept trying to sign something, over and over again, … Read entire article »
Filed under: Special Education
Special Education Appreciation
How many things do we take for granted in our society today. Snow plows, garbage workers, teachers en masse. I think that one of the things that we should appreciate the most yet take for granted nevertheless would have to be special educators. Special education is likely one of the most challenging professions in the entire world. The paperwork they have to do is close to twice the amount a regular teach has to take care of. That alone would almost be enough to dissuade me from entering this line of work. But despite that and countless other challenges these amazing people dive in anyway. How can we possibly not appreciate such selfless people? Special educators are some of the hardest workers I’ve ever heard of. I actually have a … Read entire article »
Filed under: Uncategorized
Educational Expenses
In California, expenses on mental health in schools that use to be paid for by the counties, have now being taken care of by the school districts. Board of Education Confronts New Mental Health Costs Published: March 23, 2011 By Knowles Adkisson/The Malibu Times Mental health services previously paid by the county have been shifted to the district. The board also explores ways to cut nursing costs. The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District will be on the hook for approximately $1 million in special education expenses previously paid for by the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health for a period of approximately five months. The school district’s Board of Education discussed the sobering news about the special education funding at its regular meeting last Thursday. Also, the board has come up with a new … Read entire article »
Filed under: Administration
Different forms of Special Education
Every school offers some sort of special education program for kids who have learning disabilities. These schools use different approaches to providing services to identified students. These can be broken up into 4 different but broad categories, based on whether or how much contact the specials need student has with non-disabled students. Inclusion: This is when a student with special education needs; spend most if not all their time with students without the need of special education. This is usually suggested for select students with mild to moderate special needs. Students may occasionally leave the regular classroom to attend smaller and more intensive classrooms or to receive another related service such as therapy. Mainstreaming: This refers to when a student is set in a regular classroom with non-disabled students only for a … Read entire article »
Filed under: Diagnosis
Special Education in Different Countries
Several countries in the world have systems for children and adults with special needs. Each is different though many are comparable to the United States’ system. South Africa provides modified accommodations for each child, depending on that child’s personal needs. Japan places their children with special needs in one of four schools, including resource rooms and special schools. In which school a child is placed depends on his or her disabilities. The grading system is different in each school though the goal for educational advancement is the same. Australia has an association that requires children with special needs to be treated equally to other children in regards to education. Certain documentation is needed to opt out of standardized testing, though not all circumstances apply. The Czech Republic has its own system … Read entire article »
Filed under: Administration
Misdiagnosing ADD
Watch the latest video at video.foxnews.com … Read entire article »
Filed under: Diagnosis