LD Links (LD News: April 2006)

Online Discussion:  AT Issues During Times of Transition 
The Family Center on Technology & Disability recently concluded an information-rich online discussion about assistive technology issues that become critical during periods of transition in a student's life.  The discussions were led by Dr. Mary Morningstar and Dr. Sean Brown, of the University of Kansas, and can be accessed for the month of April.

For more information, go to: www.fctd.info

2006 Summer Institute on Progress Monitoring
Whether you are a teacher looking to implement student progress monitoring in your classroom or an administrator seeking more knowledge about how to support the implementation of student progress monitoring, the 2006 Summer Institute has something for you.  The Summer Institute is intended for anyone interested in implementing student progress monitoring to improve achievement for students with disabilities and at-risk students.  It will be held on July 13-14 in Kansas City, MO. 

To register online, go to:
http://www.meetinglink.org/summerinstitute/regform_affiliation.asp

For more information, go to: http://www.studentprogress.org/summer_institute/default.asp

NICHCY's New Research Center
NICHCY recently announced the launch of their new Research Center, designed to connect visitors with the research evidence on a wide range of education practices. Visitors can also try out the brand-new Research-to-Practice database, where studies are placed in context and practical examples of the research in action are given. The collection of summaries and analyses is constantly growing.

To visit the research center, go to: http://research.nichcy.org

Colorín Colorado Launches Monthly Spanish Newsletter
Last month ColorinColorado.org published the first issue of a new Spanish e-newsletter for parents on how to help children learn to read. They provide wonderful resources, literacy activities and tips for Spanish speaking parents.

For more information, go to: http://www.colorincolorado.org/boletin/

Preparing Youth with Disabilities for Employment
Youth with disabilities who participate in quality work-based learning activities have more successful post-school outcomes, including employment and further education. Real-life work experiences help a young person develop job skills for future employment, practice "soft skills" such as teamwork and time management, and help youth assess the impact of their disability in an employment setting and better understand what job accommodations they need in the workplace. "Preparing for Employment: On the Home Front" is the most recent in a series of articles written by PACER Center for the National Center on Secondary Education and Transition. It describes ways in which youth and their families can effectively explore work-based learning outside of school settings.

For more information, go to:  http://www.ncset.org/publications/viewdesc.asp?id=2844

RTI Training Resources
Here are some resources that you can download from Intervention Central that can assist you to train staff in the key concepts of RTI and to determine your school's readiness to implement the RTI model.

For more information, go to: http://www.jimwrightonline.com/php/rti/rti_wire.php

High School Drop Outs - The Why's and Wherefores
In this interview, Russell Rumberger, from the Gevirtiz Graduate School of Education at the University of California Santa Barbara, discusses over 25 years of research on high school dropouts. The research examines four major issues: the incidence of dropping out; the economic and social consequences or dropping out; the causes of dropping out; and the solutions to the problem.

To read this interview, click here.
 
To read a related article about the economic losses for those who fail to graduate from high school, click here.

Parent's Guide to Helping Teens with LD or AD/HD Transition to Adulthood
If your child has LD and/or AD/HD, it may be overwhelming for you (and him) to consider life beyond middle school or high school. But, as this guide from Schwab Learning explains, planning for the future in a realistic and thoughtful way can help your child transition to adulthood with greater confidence and success.

For more information, go to: http://www.schwablearning.org/articles.asp?r=1097

Summer Pre-College Programs for Students with Disabilities 2006 (2006)
The HEATH Resource Center at The George Washington University has compiled this list of pre-college summer programs for students with disabilities to help them prepare for college and enhance college performance. Campus disability support providers report that students who receive some preview of the college experience tend to manage the first year with fewer adjustment problems. Pre-college programs are typically held on campus in residence halls or as day training, leisure, and recreational activities, and usually include some computer training.

Click here for list in PDF format (13 pages).