Industry News
Nike Embracing Universal Design
September 3, 2019
By: Shaun Heasley
Source: Disability Scoop With a new shoe built from the ground up to be accessible for people with disabilities, Nike is working with a major professional athlete to prove that inclusive styles are meant for everyone. The athletic-wear giant said it’s rolling out the latest incarnation in its FlyEase lineup — which […]
What Schools Need to Know About Threat Assessment Techniques
September 3, 2019
By: Stephen Sawchuk
Source: Education Week Armed teachers and bulletproof backpacks may have captured the headlines, but quietly, another school safety strategy has been rapidly expanding: behavioral threat assessment. In the 2019-20 school year, schools in Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, and Texas must begin using threat assessment in their schools. Washington state schools will join them […]
Helping Students With Disabilities Understand Accommodations in College
August 30, 2019
By: Lori Smith
Source: Edutopia The transition to college is a challenging time for all students, and especially for students with disabilities who need to navigate the accommodations system at their new institution. A federal law, the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act, guarantees a free and appropriate education to students in high school, but there […]
Preparing Skilled Special Education Teachers
August 28, 2019
By: Joanne Van Boxtel and Heather Taylor Wizikowski
Source: SmartBrief We all know the numbers are sobering. A 2018 brief from the Council for Exceptional Childrenshowed critical shortages of special education teachers in 48 states and the District of Columbia. Fifty-one percent of all school districts and 90% of high-poverty school districts report difficulty recruiting highly […]
In Flint, Schools Overwhelmed by Special Ed. Needs in Aftermath of Lead Crisis
August 28, 2019
By: Corey Mitchell
Source: EdWeek Years after reports surfaced of alarmingly high lead levels in the water system, the toll of the crisis is becoming clear: At least 1 in 5 students in Flint’s public schools are eligible for special education—and the school system is buckling under the weight of federal requirements and costs for […]
‘She Was a Pure Angel!’ Disney World’s Snow White Soothes an Autistic Boy
August 27, 2019
By: Devoun Cetoute
Source: Miami Herald While waiting in line to see Snow White at Epcot, a New Jersey mother’s son was not having a fun time. He was overwhelmed and having a meltdown. A Disney cast member playing Snow White knew just what to do. Lauren Bergner took to Facebook to tell all of […]
Target Offering Costumes For Kids With Special Needs
August 27, 2019
By: Shaun Heasley
Source: Disability Scoop The Halloween costume search just got a little easier for kids with disabilities. Target is offering a selection of costumes designed specifically for children with various special needs. The adaptive collection — which features everything from princess to pirate outfits — includes sensory-friendly looks with flat seams and no […]
A Simple Practice Yields Big Results in Middle School For Less Than $2
August 26, 2019
By: Laura Lee
Source: Edutopia A low-cost intervention can make a big difference for students in their formative years, according to a new study by University of Wisconsin researcher and professor Geoffrey Borman. In an interview with Borman in Time, writer Belinda Luscombe explores how a simple writing exercise improved the experiences of more than 1,000 new middle schoolers. While […]
How DC Public Schools Uses Student Data to Support Mental Health
August 26, 2019
By: Wendy McMahon
Source: EdSurge Douglas Gotel understands trauma and its crushing consequences; when he was 21, his 11-year-old cousin was murdered. He recalls feeling helpless watching his cousin’s mother suffer, in anguish without access to a grief therapist in the small town where they lived. Today, Gotel approaches trauma from a clinical perspective as […]
Indiana School Counselors Warn of Growing Burden to Best Serve Students
August 25, 2019
By: Carley Lanich
Source: NWI Times The evolving role of school guidance counselors took center stage this week in the State Legislature’s first interim study committee on education. Educators and parents testified to state legislators Thursday afternoon on the growing demand placed on school counselors as students’ social-emotional well-being and the state’s changing diploma requirements, […]