Most Clicked CEC SmartBrief Stories


1. Is the U.S. prepared for an increase in adults with autism?

CEC SmartBrief | Jun 29, 2009

As teens with autism become adults, they face a system largely unequipped to help them, parents and disability advocates say. "We don't have the programs. We don't have the research," said Dr. Robert Hendren, director of the M.I.N.D. Institute at the University of California, Davis. "We have this very large adult population of autistics coming along, and we don't know how to deal with them." Sacramento Bee (Calif.), The (free registration) (06/28)


2. Stimulus breathes new life into early-childhood special services

CEC SmartBrief | Jun 30, 2009

Many programs for infants and toddlers with special needs probably wouldn't have survived the 2009-10 school year without the education-stimulus funds, said Susan Maude, president of CEC's Division for Early Childhood. While research has found that such early intervention helps children, states have been narrowing their definition of children who qualify, the CEC has found. Education Week (premium article access compliments of EdWeek.org) (06/29)


3. Graduate helped transform district's approach to autism education

CEC SmartBrief | Jun 29, 2009

Dan Mulvaney, 21, who has severe autism and is mostly nonverbal, defied the odds and graduated from high school Sunday. Mulvaney's parents fought years ago against a push for institutionalization and then worked, along with their district's special-education director, to develop an inclusive program that became a model for other districts. New York Times, The (06/28)


4. New Jersey to retain 18 special schools

CEC SmartBrief | Jul 02, 2009

New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine has abandoned his plan to close 18 schools for students with special needs. Many parents feared the closures would prevent their children from getting the best education possible. Star-Ledger (Newark, N.J.), The (07/01)


5. Car crash kills popular Maryland boy with dwarfism

CEC SmartBrief | Jun 29, 2009

Sun (Baltimore), The (06/27)


6. Special school prepares children with autism for public education

CEC SmartBrief | Jun 30, 2009

Two special educators have founded a new Florida private school for children with autism. The school focuses on teaching communication skills through individualized learning, preparing students to return to public schools. Northwest Florida Daily News (Fort Walton Beach) (06/28)


7. U.S. Supreme Court denies Ohio parents' appeal for private special education

CEC SmartBrief | Jun 30, 2009

SeattlePI.com (06/29)


8. Charlotte district settles special-education lawsuit for $125,000

CEC SmartBrief | Jun 29, 2009

Brandon Hawkins, 11, and his 8-year-old brother have a genetic disorder that is sapping their memory and sight and will likely cause early death. Since Brandon was in kindergarten, his parents have been battling with their first school district over his special education. The district settled for $125,000 and spent $64,000 for its legal costs. In the meantime, the family moved to a nearby school district, where the boys' mother said they are thriving. Charlotte Observer (N.C.), The (06/29)


9. Intolerance of wheat gluten is 4 times more common than in 1950s

CEC SmartBrief | Jul 02, 2009

People may be four times more likely to have problems with wheat-gluten digestion than they did in the 1950s, according to a new study. "Fifty years is way too fast for human genetics to have changed," said a Mayo Clinic doctor who led the study. "Which tells us it has to be a pervasive environmental influence." Star Tribune (Minneapolis-St. Paul) (07/01)


10. Report: More British students have special needs

CEC SmartBrief | Jul 01, 2009

Nearly 18% of students in England have special needs, according to government statistics that found the number has grown steadily over the past four years. Despite the increase, nearly 2,000 fewer public students received formal special-education services in January compared with the previous year. Guardian (London), The (06/30)




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