Special Education Law and Resource Expo

South Carolina Autism Society presents:
Special Education Law and Resource Expo

Mitchell L. Yell, Ph. D.
Saturday, January 29, 2008
9am-4pm

St. Andrew Catholic Church
503 37th Avenue North
Myrtle Beach, SC

Teachers and parents alike will benefit from Dr. Yell's insight and knowledge. His engaging style, coupled with his extensive knowledge and classroom practice make this presentation indispensable for professionals and parents alike.

*Registration begins at 8:30am
*Lunch is included with registration fees!
*Space is limited. REGISTER EARLY!

South Carolina Autism Society is pleased to offer scholarships for parents. Deadline to apply is January 20, 2008. Please visit our website at www.scautism.org to submit your application or call SCAS to request forms.

For more information, please call 803-750-6988 or 803-438-4790. You can also email SCAS at scas@scautism.org.

To view register or learn more, please click the title above.

National Job Site to Connect Employers with Disabled Workers

"Large gap between disabled unemployment rate of 44.2% compared to national unemployment rate of 4.7%"

"TRENTON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today marks the launch of a new national job board dedicated to including disabled employees in today's workforce. AccessibleEmployment.org is designed to provide employers with one central place to post employment positions and
search resumes of qualified disabled candidates. In addition, AccessibleEmployment.org also allows potential job candidates to post their resumes for review by prospective employers who have made a commitment to include people with disabilities in their workforce."

To view this entire article, please click the title above.

A Midlands Christmas Miracle

13-year old Vincent has a rare kidney disease and needs a new kidney to stay alive. On December 5th, his mother, Lisa, a Richland County Sheriff's Deputy, will donate one of her kidneys to him. Lisa's "Gift of Life" to her son Vincent is a true Christmas Miracle!

You can help Vincent & Lisa by eating at any of the 5 Midlands Carolina Wings on Saturday, December 8th.

On that Saturday, Carolina Wings will donate 10% of their total sales to Lisa and Vincent.

So come and enjoy some delicious food at Carolina Wings while helping Lisa and Vincent celebrate a Christmas they will never forget!

Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy Conference

February 27, 2008
Sponsored by ProParents
Presented by Peter Wright, Esq.

Location:
SC State Museum
301 Gervais Street
Columbia, SC 292201
(803) 898-4921

Speaker
Peter Wright is a graduate of Randolph-Macon College and received his law degree from the University of Richmond. Mr. Wright has practiced special education law since the 1970's. In 1993, he represented Shannon Carter before the U. S. Supreme Court in Florence County v. Shannon Carter (510 U.S. 7). He is the co-author of several books, including Wrightslaw: Special Education Law, Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy, Wrightslaw: No Child Left Behind, and Wrightslaw: IDEA 2004.

http://www.wrightslaw.com

FREE registration includes a copy of:
Wrightslaw: Special Education Law, 2nd Edition and Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy, 2nd Edition (retail value $50.00)

6.0 hours of CLE credit pending
6.0 CEU’s available from University of South Carolina for an additional $8.00.

Note: If you are a person with a disability and require accommodations, please discuss your needs with Heather Watson-Kelley at (800)-759-4776.

To view agenda, register, or learn more, please click the title above.

Autistic Children May Have Abnormal Functioning Of Mirror Neuron System

ScienceDaily (Nov. 29, 2007) — Using a novel imaging technique to study autistic children, researchers have found increased gray matter in the brain areas that govern social processing and learning by observation.

"Our findings suggest that the inability of autistic children to relate to people and life situations in an ordinary way may be the result of an abnormally functioning mirror neuron system," said lead author Manzar Ashtari, Ph.D., from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania.

Mirror neurons are brain cells that are active both when an individual is performing an action and experiencing an emotion or sensation, and when that individual witnesses the same actions, emotions and sensations in others. First observed in the macaque monkey, researchers have found evidence of a similar system in humans that facilitates such functions as learning by seeing as well as doing, along with empathizing and understanding the intentions of others. Dr. Ashtari's study found the autistic children had increased gray matter in brain regions of the parietal lobes implicated in the mirror neuron system.

To view this entire article, please click the title above.

Intelligent Software Helps Build Perfect Robotic Hand

ScienceDaily (Dec. 2, 2007) — "Scientists in Portsmouth and Shanghai are working on intelligent software that will take them a step closer to building the perfect robotic hand.

Using artificial intelligence, they are creating software which will learn and copy human hand movements.

They hope to replicate this in a robotic device which will be able to perform the dexterous actions only capable today by the human hand."

To view this entire article, please click the title above.

Epilepsy Genes May Cancel Each Other

ScienceDaily (Nov. 5, 2007)— "Inheriting two genetic mutations that can individually cause epilepsy might actually be 'seizure-protective,' said Baylor College of Medicine researchers in a report that appears in the journal Nature Neuroscience.

'In the genetics of the brain, two wrongs can make a right,' said Dr. Jeffrey L. Noebels, professor of neurology, neuroscience and molecular and human genetics at BCM. 'We believe these findings have great significance to clinicians as we move toward relying upon genes to predict neurological disease.'

In addition, the finding might point the way to new ways of treating epilepsy using gene-directed therapy."

To view this entire article, please click the title above.

U.S. appoints autism advocates to new federal panel

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Advocates who believe vaccines may cause autism will join mental health professionals and neurologists on a new federal panel to coordinate autism research and education, the U.S. Health and Human Services Department said on Tuesday.

Parents of children with autism and a writer who has an autism spectrum disorder will also be on the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee, HHS said.

"The committee's first priority will be to develop a strategic plan for autism research that can guide public and private investments to make the greatest difference for families struggling with autism," said Dr. Thomas Insel, director of the National Institute for Mental Health and the chairman of the new committee.

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Fever can unlock autism's grip: study

CHICAGO (Reuters) - "Fever can temporarily unlock autism's grip on children, a finding that could shed light on the roots of the condition and perhaps provide clues for treatment, researchers reported on Monday.

It appears that fever restores nerve cell communications in regions of the autistic brain, restoring a child's ability to interact and socialize during the fever, the study said.

'The results of this study are important because they show us that the autistic brain is plastic, or capable of altering current connections and forming new ones in response to different experiences or conditions,' said Dr. Andrew Zimmerman, a pediatric neurologist at Baltimore's Kennedy Krieger Institute, who was one of the study authors."

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2008 Family Connection 'Of Hopes and Dreams' Conference

The 2008 Family Connection 'Of Hopes and Dreams' Conference, expanded to two days of workshops, will be held on February 22 and 23 at the Brookland Banquet and Conference Center in West Columbia, South Carolina. The theme of this year's conference is "Pulling Together... It Works Wonders!"

The 'Of Hopes and Dreams' Conference brings parents and professionals together to learn about issues and topics concerning those who raise children with special needs.

This year's conference will also feature a family night social on Friday night at EdVenture Children's Museum. The family night social is a great opportunity for families to meet, greet, and enjoy fun, food, and EdVenture Children's Museum. You do not need to be registered for the conference in order to attend the family night social.

Friday's conference offers three workshop options, and Saturday's conference offers 19 workshops.

This year's keynote speaker is Dr. Mark Posey, associate professor of clinical pediatrics in the department of developmental pediatrics in the University of South Carolina School of Medicine. A licensed and certified school psychologist, Mark has 12 years of experience in the public school system working with all areas of special needs, including parents of children with special needs.

To register for this year's conference, please call (800) 578-8750 or complete the registration form at http://familyconnectionsc.org/programs/annual_conference/ and mail to Family Connection, 2712 Middleburg Drive, Suite 103B, Columbia, SC 29204.

First Steps Towards Spinal Cord Reconstruction Following Injury Using Stem Cells

"ScienceDaily (Nov. 13, 2007) — A new study has identified what may be a pivotal first step towards the regeneration of nerve cells following spinal cord injury, using the body's own stem cells. This seminal study, published in this week's Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, identifies key elements in the body's reaction to spinal injury, critical information that could lead to novel therapies for repairing previously irreversible nerve damage in the injured spinal cord."

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Stem Cells Can Improve Memory After Brain Injury

"ScienceDaily (Nov. 2, 2007) — New UC Irvine research is among the first to demonstrate that neural stem cells may help to restore memory after brain damage. In the study, mice with brain injuries experienced enhanced memory -- similar to the level found in healthy mice -- up to three months after receiving a stem cell treatment. "

To view this entire article, please click the title above.

Genes Influence Age-related Hearing Loss

"ScienceDaily (Nov. 16, 2007) — A new Brandeis University study of twins shows that genes play a significant role in the level of hearing loss that often appears in late middle age. The research, in the Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences, examined genetic and environmental factors affecting hearing loss in the frequency range of speech recognition."

To view this entire article, please click the title above.