MUSIC AS THERAPY. An article at the Dana Foundation website offers a look at the current state of music therapy as a rehabilitative tool in cases of brain injury, with applications in motor, speech and language, and cognitive rehabilitation. In looking ahead, the article states, "Scientists need to better understand what dosages work best, to pay more attention to research that will benefit children, and to focus on disorders in which neurologic music therapy lacks rigorous study so far, such as autism, spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, and multiple sclerosis." Read the article.
RECENT COURT RULING ON LDs AND FAPE. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, a federal court decision on March 22nd is "one of the first in the nation on a parent's ability to enforce a federal law that requires schools to identify all children with disabilities and provide them with an appropriate education." According to the ruling, parents may demand a hearing or file suit if a school ignores a student's disabilities. When we find out how this case may relate to twice-exceptional students (as in the case of the Hovem family of Texas, reported in 2e Newsletter last year), we'll let you know. Read the Chronicle article.
TELETHERAPY. A recent study found that therapy via video teleconference was as effective as face-to-face therapy -- and possibly even preferred by patients. The particular study focused on PTSD, but apparently previous studies have also validated the effectiveness of teletherapy. Whether it comes to the point where it can be done via webcam and your PC rather than a formal teleconference setting remains to be seen. Read about the study.
ASPIE COMPUTER GENIUS SENTENCED. Crime paid -- for awhile, anyway, for a Florida computer hacker who was able to break into computer systems of major retailers. He "earned" $2.8 million illegally, but will spend up to 20 years in prison for his efforts. From The New York Times article about the case: "A defense psychiatrist’s report described Mr. Gonzalez as a socially awkward Internet addict with an 'idiot savantlike genius for computers and information technology.'” Read more.
AEGUS has revamped its website, and you might want to check it out, including the section on articles, books, and links for parents and educators interested in gifted underachievers. Find it.
THE ASPIE PARENT is the name of a new blog by "lizpf." In her initial post she points out that the dual meanings of the blog title are intentional and tells why; in her second post she lays the groundwork for future posts by defining terms, including "twice-exceptional." Find the blog.
ABOUT NORMAL. On a listserv we read, a mom wrote of her gifted daughter, "My heart broke for her last night when she said, 'I just want to be normal.'" Another listserv member offered a consoling quote: "Normal is a setting on the dryer." We like that. Until the next post here, let's all go about our business being our own unique, un-normal selves.
"BEST BLOGS." We're pleased to be included in the Doctors Eide's picks for "Top 10 Dyslexia Blogs" at www.blogs.com. Go there to see the rest of the list. Also at blogs.com right now, a list of "10 Best Brain Blogs." Find it. By the way, if you haven't visited the Eides' "Dyslexic Advantage" blog lately, it's been much expanded since it opened a short while ago; go there.
A MOM RECOUNTS: TWO 2e DAUGHTERS. In the online Daily Kos (the source of the name is a long story, Google it), a mother blogs about her two 2e daughters and their experiences as they grew up in different school districts in Texas. Some familiar situations for 2e parents, but also some surprises. Read it.
ON THE CASE. The U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision on Monday, June 22nd, involving tuition reimbursement for a child who a district never found eligible for special ed services and never provided any; the parents unilaterally withdrew their child, placed the child in a private school, and requested reimbursement from the public school district. Shortly after the decision, Pete and Pam Wright of Wrightslaw issued a review of the decision along with supporting documents. Got issues with whether your school district is providing a FAPE for your twice-exceptional child? Go to Wrightslaw. [UPDATE 1: The New York Times and Education Week also reported on the decision.] [UPDATE 2: CEC, the Council for Exceptional Children, later in the week issued a statement expressing concern with the Supreme Court's decision. From the statement: "Unilateral placement lawsuits are expensive and divert much needed resources from classrooms to private schools. Moreover, this ruling may encourage parents to bypass the IEP process entirely." Read it.]
ADVOCATING FOR PRIVATE PLACEMENT. Coincident with the Supreme Court decision, this week's issue of Special Ed Advocate from Wrightslaw carries a story of a mother's experience in documenting her case, using advocacy skills, and winning a private placement for her autistic son. Also in the newsletter -- how to create a paper trail. Find Special Ed Advocate.
FAPE-RELATED LEGALITIES IN MILWAUKEE. The Milwaukee Public School System has been ordered to search for students from 2000 to 2005 who should have received special ed services but didn't, according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. The object: providing compensatory services to the students if necessary. Find the article.
ATTENTION RESEARCH UPDATE for June has been posted by David Rabiner on his website. In this issue, Rabiner reports on a study indicating that fluid IQ -- our ability to adapt our thinking to new situations -- is improved by working memory training. Find the review.
ADVICE FOR THE GIFTED. In her most recent posting on "Unwrapping the Gifted," gifted educator Tamara Fisher offers high-ability kids some of the same advice she gives her own students -- "Ask for help," for example, "Love hard work," and more. Find the blog.
SILLY BUT CERTAINLY QUALIFYING AS DISPLAYS OF GIFTEDNESS... as well as displays of several varieties of "intelligence." The manufacturer of Duck brand duct tape sponsored a contest called "Stuck at Prom" for 2009 high school prom attendees who wear "complete attire or accessories made from duct tape." Judging is on the basis of workmanship, originality, color, accessories, and, to stimulate the economy, "quantity of duct tape used." The prizes: scholarships. The company has posted pictures of the finalists and urges site visitors to vote for their favorites. If nothing else, these kids are creative (not to mention industrious; according to the pictures, one couple spent 700 hours on the project, using 40+ rolls of tape). Enjoy the finalists.
MORE NEWS AND RESOURCES as we find them.
GIFTEDNESS, SCHOOL, AND PERSONALITY TYPES. Deborah Ruf, whose Minnesota company Educational Options evaluates and assesses gifted children, has posted three of her articles on personality type and the school environment, according to her e-newsletter. The articles are:
- "Gifted Child Personality Types and Effective School Lesson Plans," 2008
- "Parent and Gifted Child Personality Types and School Adjustment, 2008
- "Tips for Parents: How Level of Giftedness, Gender, and Personality Affect School Behavior and Learning," 2007
FIGHTING FOR FAPE, REDUX. In the May/June issue of 2e Newsletter we published an article about a family fighting their school district for reimbursement for private education, contending that the school failed to properly educate their son. The New York Times now informs us that a similar case has reached the U.S. Supreme Court. In it, the family contends that the school denied special education services even though the child was never evaluated for AD/HD. The school says, cleverly, that because the child did not receive those services they are not required to reimburse the family for private education. Read more.
READING ABOUT EXCEPTIONALITIES. CEC SmartBrief pointed out to us that Publisher's Weekly just posted an article titled "Special Books for Special Needs." Along with two books addressing giftedness, the list includes books dealing with autism and Asperger's, OCD, AD/HD, and sensory integration issues. Find the article.
DISCLOSING DISABILITY. What to say, when to say it, who to say it to, and what not to say -- every parent of exceptional or twice-exceptional kids faces disclosure issues. On a site called Disability Scoop, a parent and therapist offers tips. Find it.
NEURAL GAMMA OSCILLATIONS. If you liked our item called "On the Matter of Attention" on the role of gamma waves in attention from the week of May 10th, check out a new article in Science Daily on the same topic -- gamma oscillation, attention, and intra-brain communication. Read it.
WORKING MEMORY PRIMER, STUDY. If working memory is an issue with that gifted child you know, check out an article on the topic at SharpBrains.com. According to the article, one in 10 students may have difficulties with working memory. The article covers the study findings and how working memory affects academic performance. Read it.
EDUWONK. There's a website by that name, and we like the connotation. If you're the type who might fit the label, check out "The Condition of Education 2009," just published by the U.S. Department of Education and brought to our attention by Education Sector, the owner of Eduwonk.com. The report summarizes developments and trends based on 46 indicators, the indicators being "a consensus of professional judgment on the most significant national measures of the condition and progress of education for which accurate data are available," according to the website. Go there and dig deep!
MORE NEWS as we find it...