Study Examines Prevalence Of Hearing Loss In The US

ScienceDaily (July 29, 2008) —

Hearing loss may be more prevalent in American adults than previously reported, according to a study in the July 28 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Hearing loss can be a disabling condition affecting verbal language processing and limiting communication and social connectivity, according to background information in the article. "Such communication difficulties negatively affect work productivity, health-related quality of life and cognitive and emotional status. These disabilities impede health care access and use, with possible adverse consequences to health and survival."

NOTE: To read the entire article click on the title above.

The University of South Carolina School of Medicine Library Director shares her account of a recent visit to Innisfree Village

Mailbox

Ruth Riley, Director of the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Library 2008:

In June 2008, I had the privilege of experiencing Innisfree Village, a wonderful residential community with adults with mental disabilities, nestled in 550 acres in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, near Charlottesville, Virginia. http://www.innisfreevillage.org/

Cabana

I had this good fortune because the executive director of Innisfree Village, Carolyn Ohle, is a friend of my partner. While visiting Carolyn, she invited us to tour Innisfree and help them celebrate the grand opening of their new cabana by the pool. The first impression I had of Innisfree Village was the overwhelming beauty of the land as we drove onto the property. Regardless of where we stopped on the tour, the view of the gentle, rolling mountains surrounded us at every angle. This excerpt from the Innisfree website provides the basic history and framework for the organization.

Bakery

"Innisfree was founded in 1971 when a group of parents decided they wanted a bright future for their sons and daughters with mental disabilities. More than 30 years later, Innisfree is a stable, therapeutic alternative to institutional or group home living. We are a charitable organization with a 501(c)(3) status. Initially housed in a 200-year-old farmhouse, we now live in eight modern, family-style homes around a one-mile loop in the center of 550 acres with stunning views of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. We are home to 39 coworkers (or adults with mental disabilities), 12 full-time residential volunteers, and 12 support staff."

Garden

The volunteers and coworkers work together in the woodshop, weavery, organic gardens, community kitchen, and bakery. The weavery was particularly impressive with an assortment of many looms, bright colored spools of thread, and many placemats, bookmarks, and scarves in the making. These products, along with cutting boards, ceramics, and granola, are sold at the Innisfree World Artisan craft store in Charlottesville. The gardens and flowers were magnificent. They grow enough food to support a CSA (community supported agriculture) program. Their bakery produces fresh bread, cookies, rolls, and very yummy granola that we brought home to South Carolina.

Village

The volunteers come from all over the United States and the world and are asked to commit to one year. Many apparently stay longer. I can see why. It is obviously a very unique place where special bonds are formed between the coworkers, volunteers, and staff. If you are in the Charlottesville area, I encourage you to arrange a visit.

Ruth Riley, School of Medicine Library Director, ruth@gw.med.sc.edu

NOTE: Click on the title above to go to the Innisfree Village Web site.

Telescope Embedded In Glasses Lens Promises To Make Driving Easier For Visually Impaired

ScienceDaily (July 24, 2008) —

"Glasses embedded with a telescope promise to make it easier for people with impaired vision to drive and do other activities requiring sharper distance vision. Schepens Eye Research Institute scientists describe the advantages of these innovative glasses over earlier devices in an article published in the May/June issue of Journal of Biomedical Optics.

"This new design has several advantages," says the inventor of the glasses, Dr. Eli Peli, who is a senior scientist at Schepens Eye Research Institute, a professor at Harvard Medical School, a low vision expert, and the senior author of the paper. "One major advantage is the appearance of the glasses. Because they look almost like normal everyday spectacles, it is more likely that visually impaired people will use them," says Peli, who adds that the glasses are easier to use than existing telescope models because of a wider magnified view and easier access to that view. Most importantly, shifting the magnified view up leaves the unmagnified view of the road unobstructed, which is important for safety and facilitates navigation."

NOTE: To read the entire article click on the title above.

Focusing on Dyslexic Needs

By Heather Johnson

They’re as intelligent as their classmates but when confronted with a book and asked to read, they shrink back because the words don’t seem to make sense. They’re confused about directions, about left and right and front and behind. They interchange their b’s and d’s and have trouble with spellings. Though they’re disorganized, they have a sharp brain, one that sponges up knowledge if taught the right way. Dyslexic children are disadvantaged only when they do not have good teachers who care for their special needs.

It’s the responsibility of the parents and teachers to diagnose the disability when the child starts school and is unable to read as well as his/her classmates. Some teachers are blind to the fact that the children are born that way and can’t help themselves, and resort to punishment and insults when they’re not able to produce perfect letters and words like the other kids. Parents must play an active role in getting special help for their child if they find that he/she shows signs of intelligence in every other way but reading and writing when starting first grade. The sooner the diagnosis, the more improvement the child achieves.

Teachers who work with dyslexic children know that they learn well through audio, visual and kinesthetic methods. Some of them are able to listen and learn while others need visual clues and guides. Yet others are able to learn with a sense of touch. Each child is different, and a good teacher knows and adapts accordingly. Visual aids include pictures and maps, audio aids comprise tapes and oral lessons while kinesthetic learning methods use letters made of wood and writing down letters in the sand or in the air.

Dyslexic children take a longer than normal time to do homework and must be set work accordingly. Remember to leave instructions written longer on the board. Allow them longer times to complete tests if they’re in a classroom with normal children, and do not deduct marks for spelling mistakes.

Parents can do their bit towards helping their children learn by using a small card held in front of the text to be read so that they are able to follow the lines from left to right and don’t get confused. They can also use bracelets, bangles or watches on their hands to allow them to tell left from right. Taping instructions and homework assignments allows less room for error.

The key to helping children with special needs is to diagnose the problem as early as possible and seek the best help there is. Praise works wonders with such kids who often try harder than their normal counterparts to achieve success. Dyslexic children have been known to achieve great heights and lead successful lives in spite of their reading and writing disabilities.

This post was contributed by Heather Johnson, who writes on the subject of California teaching certificates. She invites your feedback at heatherjohnson2323 at gmail dot com.

Understanding Hearing, Molecule By Molecule

Hearing hinges on this nano-sized structure.
(Credit: Berkeley Lab.)

ScienceDaily (July 13, 2008) —

"Berkeley Lab scientists have for the first time pieced together the three-dimensional structure of one of nature’s most exquisite pieces of machinery, a gossamer-like filament of proteins in the inner ear that enables the sense of hearing and balance.

Their work opens the door for a more fundamental understanding of how hearing works. It may also lead to improved ways to treat some forms of hearing loss, which affects about ten percent of people.

The filaments help transform the mechanical vibrations of sound into electrical signals that can be interpreted by the brain. They are only four nanometers wide and 160 nanometers long (one nanometer is one-billionth of a meter), but if enough of them break, the world becomes silent. They’re part of a sensory system that operates over a range of stimuli spanning six orders of magnitude. With it, people can hear a pin drop and a jet throttle to full power. No other sensory system in biology and the electrical engineering world is capable of this feat."

NOTE: To read the entire article, click on the title above.

Spinal Cord Stem Cells Could Be Basis Of Nonsurgical Treatment For Spinal-cord Injuries

Coronal sections of injured adult spinal cord, anterior to posterior.
(Credit: Image / Konstantinos Meletis)

ScienceDaily (July 21, 2008) —

"A researcher at MIT's Picower Institute for Learning and Memory has pinpointed stem cells within the spinal cord that, if persuaded to differentiate into more healing cells and fewer scarring cells following an injury, may lead to a new, non-surgical treatment for debilitating spinal-cord injuries.

The work is by Konstantinos Meletis, a postdoctoral fellow at the Picower Institute, and colleagues at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden. Their results could lead to drugs that might restore some degree of mobility to the 30,000 people worldwide afflicted each year with spinal-cord injuries.

In a developing embryo, stem cells differentiate into all the specialized tissues of the body. In adults, stem cells act as a repair system, replenishing specialized cells, but also maintaining the normal turnover of regenerative organs such as blood, skin or intestinal tissues."

NOTE: To read the entire article click on the title above.

South Carolina Autism Society's Books are Fun Event

Join us at SCAS HQ on August 1 and 2 for a huge warehouse book sale for Books Are Fun, a Readers Digest Co. All books are 40% to 70% OFF! BAF, Ltd. is donating a portion of each book’s proceed to the SC Autism Society. You’ll find incredibly low prices, an exciting selection of books for all interests and ages, and fine gift items.
August 1: 12:00 noon-7:00 p.m.
August 2: 9:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m.
MC, Visa, American Express, & Discover cards will be accepted. Checks may be postdated up to August 23rd!! You’ll find what you want in our large selection of:

• General Interest for everyone
• Children’s Story Books
• Cookbooks
• Educational
• Inspirational and Religious Titles
• Sports
• Photo Albums
• Stationary
• Music
• Executive Gifts
• and more!

NEW! Find out at the book fair how you can get special access to Books Are Fun’s unbeatable discounts online! The special customer code provided by your representative will provide you with savings of up to 70% off at our online store on a great selection of quality books and gifts.

NOTE: Click on the title above to go to the SCAS Web site.

Checkout this College Bound Article from the Pro-Parents Quarterly Newsletter

“Reach Out”:The Quarterly Newsletter of Parents Reaching Out To Parents of South Carolina, Inc.

College Bound

By Meghan Trowbridge
Director of Training and Community Development
Center for Disability Resources

For many people, the last year of high school is a year of great excitement-final exams, proms, “big man on campus” syndrome, and choosing college. Finally, students with intellectual disabilities will have this same stressful, overwhelming, and truly awesome experience! I spoke with a friend of mine who has Down Syndrome the other day and listened to her tell me that she is going to attend college and obtain her nursing degree, her teacher’s certification, and her social work degree. Talk about motivated! In previous years, I may have listened to her and thought that it is a shame that she has such amazing dreams that will never come true, but this time, I heard something different-something possible. While my friend may not actually get a nursing degree or a social work license, she may have the opportunity to go to the University of South Carolina or another college/university and take courses with students who don’t have labels; she may experience football games, parties, pep rallies, and lunch in the student union. For, as we all know, college is not just about academics!

For most families, planning for college is done in kindergarten. I remember a trip with my parents and I saw the University of Notre Dame’s Golden Dome from the interstate. In response to the question of a six year old of what’s the ‘big tin thing,” my father responded that the tin thing was where I would be going to college. Parents of children with disabilities are used to negotiating services and supports; used to advocating for their child; and used to attending IEP meetings, but they mat not be used to planning for their academic future of their child. It has been my experience, however, that parents of young children with disabilities have much higher expectations for their children and that this particular rite of passage is one that they want their kids to experience. I’m sure all of us can remember a time when the term “athlete” didn’t apply to people with disabilities, when “independence” was not a common term, or when “community” meant something different. This is evidence that change is constant. The time has come for young men and women with intellectual disabilities to pursue the college experience!

The National Down Syndrome Society and the College Transition Connection has developed a partnership to create a high-quality, inclusive model postsecondary program at a two or four year college or university in South Carolina. The goal of this partnership is to support the development of a program that will offer excellent postsecondary educational opportunities for students with intellectual disabilities in South Carolina. At present, a planning grant has been awarded to the University of South Carolina. The desired outcomes of the transition and postsecondary program are academic enrichment, socialization, independent living skills and competitive or supported employment. Since the core values of this postsecondary education grant are inclusion, self-determination and person-centeredness, collaborative agreement with the Center for Disability Resources, South Carolina’s University Center for Excellence, began in September 2007. The goal of these partnerships is to pave the way for people with intellectual disabilities to forge ahead into the world of higher education and to begin to eradicate the some of the stereotypes of people with disabilities.

There are currently 120 post secondary education programs in the United States, offering a range of separate, mixed and inclusive opportunities for young people with intellectual disabilities. Over the past ten years, there has been an increase the number of post secondary education opportunities for people with disabilities and these numbers are continuing to grow.

If you would like more information on this South Carolina initiative or other programs please visit the Think College website at www.thinkcollege.net or the College Transition Connection website at http://collegetransitionconnection.org.

Pro-Parents 2008 CALENDAR OF WORKSHOPS

2008 CALENDAR OF WORKSHOPS

THESE WORKSHOPS ARE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC,
LET US KNOW IF YOU NEED ACCOMMODATIONS WHEN REGISTERING.
TO SCHEDULE A WORKSHOP IN YOUR AREA
PLEASE CALL: 1-800-759-4776

7/19/2008
9:00 am - 3:00 pm*

Communication, Individualized Education Program (IEP), and Section 504 Overview Workshop
Marion County DSS
137 Airport Road
Marion, SC

Melinda Hawk, PRO-Parents of SC
South Carolina Special Kids
Project Coordinator
1-866-863-1512

7/19/2008
10:00 am - 1:00 pm

Individualized Education Program (IEP) Workshop
Easley Medically Fragile Children’s Programs
1807 A East Main Street
Ealsey, SC

Susan Bruce, PRO-Parents of SC
Region 3, Education Coordinator
To register call: 1-800-759-4776 or (803) 772-5688

7/23/2008
10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Individualized Education Program (IEP) Workshop
Colleton County Board of Disabilities
728 Hiers Corner Road
Walterboro, SC 29488

Gayle Munn, PRO-Parents of SC
Region 1, Education Coordinator
To register call: 1-800-759-4776 or (803) 772-5688

7/24/2008
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
*

Communication Workshop
3 South Church Street
Clarendon County DSS
Manning, SC

Melinda Hawk, PRO-Parents of SC
South Carolina Special Kids
Project Coordinator
1-866-863-1512

7/28/2008
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
*

Individualized Education Program (IEP) Workshop
WBTW TV-13
101 McDonald Court
Myrtle Beach, SC

Melinda Hawk, PRO-Parents of SC
South Carolina Special Kids
Project Coordinator
1-866-863-1512

7/28/2008
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
*

Transitioning Out Workshop
WBTW TV-13
101 McDonald Court
Myrtle Beach, SC

Melinda Hawk, PRO-Parents of SC
South Carolina Special Kids
Project Coordinator
1-866-863-1512

8/05/2008
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
*

Positive Behavior Intervention (PBI) Workshop
DSS Office
110 Dekalb Street
Camden, SC

Melinda Hawk, PRO-Parents of SC
South Carolina Special Kids
Project Coordinator
1-866-863-1512

8/12/2008
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
*

Individualized Education Program (IEP) Workshop
Hope Center
901 North Main Street
Sumter, SC

Melinda Hawk, PRO-Parents of SC
South Carolina Special Kids
Project Coordinator
1-866-863-1512

8/12/2008
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
*

Communication Workshop
DSS Office
1951 Industrial Park Road
Conway, SC

Melinda Hawk, PRO-Parents of SC
South Carolina Special Kids
Project Coordinator
1-866-863-1512

8/18/2008
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
*

Individualized Education Program (IEP) Workshop
DSS Office
93 Human Services Road
Laurens, SC

Melinda Hawk, PRO-Parents of SC
South Carolina Special Kids
Project Coordinator
1-866-863-1512

8/20/2008
11:00 am - 1:00 pm

Individualized Education Program (IEP) Workshop
McCormick County Library
201 Railroad Avenue
McCormick, SC 29835

Susan Bruce, PRO-Parents of SC
Region 3, Education Coordinator
To register call: 1-800-759-4776 or (803) 772-5688

8/21/2008
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
*

Positive Behavior Intervention (PBI) Workshop
DSS Office
201 South Page Street
Chesterfield, SC

Melinda Hawk, PRO-Parents of SC
South Carolina Special Kids
Project Coordinator
1-866-863-1512

8/22/2008
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
*

Section 504 and Other Laws Workshop
WBTW TV-13
101 McDonald Court
Myrtle Beach, SC

Melinda Hawk, PRO-Parents of SC
South Carolina Special Kids
Project Coordinator
1-866-863-1512

8/22/2008
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
*

ADD / ADHD Workshop
WBTW TV-13
101 McDonald Court
Myrtle Beach, SC

Melinda Hawk, PRO-Parents of SC
South Carolina Special Kids
Project Coordinator
1-866-863-1512

8/26/2008
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
*

Individualized Education Program (IEP) Workshop
DSS Office
2107 Wilson Road
Newberry, SC

Melinda Hawk, PRO-Parents of SC
South Carolina Special Kids
Project Coordinator
1-866-863-1512

8/28/2008
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
*

Individualized Education Program (IEP) Workshop
DSS Office
1401 Eastland Avenue
Kingstree, SC

Melinda Hawk, PRO-Parents of SC
South Carolina Special Kids
Project Coordinator
1-866-863-1512

9/03/2008
9:30 am

PRO-Parents Overview Workshop
CDS
29 North Academy Street
Greenville, SC 29601

Susan Bruce, PRO-Parents of SC
Region 3, Education Coordinator
To register call: 1-800-759-4776 or (803) 772-5688

9/08/2008
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
*

Communication Workshop
First Baptist Church
307 North Main
Abbeville, SC

Melinda Hawk, PRO-Parents of SC
South Carolina Special Kids
Project Coordinator
1-866-863-1512

9/10/2008
10:00 am - 11:30 am
*

Communication Workshop
Growing Homes
Bank of America Building
440 Knox Abbott Drive
Casey, SC

Melinda Hawk, PRO-Parents of SC
South Carolina Special Kids
Project Coordinator
1-866-863-1512

9/11/2008
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
*

Communication Workshop
Chester Library
Main Street
Chester, SC

Melinda Hawk, PRO-Parents of SC
South Carolina Special Kids
Project Coordinator
1-866-863-1512

9/11/2008
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Communication Workshop
Trinity United Methodist Church
Whiskey Road
Aiken, SC

Gayle Munn, PRO-Parents of SC
Region 1, Education Coordinator
To register call: 1-800-759-4776 or (803) 772-5688

9/26/2008
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
*

Inclusion Workshop
WBTW TV-13
101 McDonald Court
Myrtle Beach, SC

Melinda Hawk, PRO-Parents of SC
South Carolina Special Kids
Project Coordinator
1-866-863-1512

9/26/2008
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
*

Positive Behavior Intervention (PBI) Workshop
WBTW TV-13
101 McDonald Court
Myrtle Beach, SC

Melinda Hawk, PRO-Parents of SC
South Carolina Special Kids
Project Coordinator
1-866-863-1512

Funzone Family Night, TONIGHT!

Family Connection is hosting a Funzone Family Night, TONIGHT, Thursday, July
17, 2008, from 5 to 8pm....$5.50 a kid (walking and up)...105 Ministry Drive
in Irmo / Ballentine! Please come out!!!

Please have children wear socks...Drinks and snack available for purchase or
bring your own! Bring your friends!!! USC volunteers will be there to
help!

Stephanie Griggs Bridgers
Family Partner / PEAP / FREE Coordinator
Family CONNECTion of SC
_www.familyconnectionsc.org_ (http://www.familyconnectionsc.org/)
2712 Middleburg Drive 103-B
Columbia, SC 29204
803-252-0914
803-799-8017

NOTE: Click on the title above to go to the Web site.

New Hearing Aid Technology Passes The Restaurant Noise Test

ScienceDaily (July 14, 2008) —

"The sound of a noisy Chicago restaurant during the breakfast rush -- the clang of plates and silverware and the clamor of many voices -- was the crucial test of new hearing aid technology in a study conducted by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

The study showed that the hearing aids worked well in a noisy environment -- the most challenging test for a hearing aid. But the patients wearing the devices didn't need to fly from St. Louis to Chicago to participate in the test. Instead, the restaurant came to the clinic of Michael Valente, Ph.D., director of the Division of Adult Audiology in the Department of Otolaryngology at the School of Medicine. Or at least its sounds did."

NOTE: To read the entire article click on the title above.

Attention: Spinal Cord Injury Study in Charleston

This information came from Catherine Graham, who writes: If you live further than 50 miles then you could come down and do the first study visit, stay overnight (they pay) and then do the second visit on day 2. Please call Richard Aust (number below) for more information.
-----------------------------

Now Recruiting..
Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury for a study to explore the effect that living with a spinal cord injury has on your health.
If you:
(a) are more than 18 years old,
(b) have chronic paralysis due to spinal cord injury,
(c) have been injured at least 2 years,
(d) are wheelchair dependent for mobility,

and are interested in more information about our research study,
please contact Richard Aust @ (843) 792-2605.

Compensation is available.
This study is being conducted at the General Clinical Research Center at MUSC and will involve approximately 30 volunteers.

July 23 Microsoft Accessibility workshop - Columbia

According to the 2000 Census, nearly 1 in 5 Americans (19.3 percent of the population) had some type of disability. In South Carolina the percentage was even higher; 22.2 percent of the population has at least one type of disability.

Mary Alice Bechtler, with the South Carolina Assistive Technology Program, and Mark Daniels, Assistive Technology Regional Specialist with the South Carolina Department of Education, will be conducting a Microsoft Accessibility Workshop at Fast Forward Technology Center in Columbia on July 23rd from 9-10:30. This free workshop will go over the accessibility features in Microsoft XP and VISTA and explain their uses. There is no charge for the workshop, but you must email or call to reserve a seat. This workshop is perfect for teachers, nonprofit directors and staff, and employers. Our first workshop filled within three days. Parking is always at a premium, so think about carpooling if possible. Fast Forward is located at 3223 Devine Street, Suite 3, in Columbia, directly across the street from EarthFare. For a map, go to http://www.fastforwardctc.com/contact/contact.htm To register, email Dee Albritton at dee@fastforwardctc.com

New Helmet May Significantly Reduce Forces To Neck During Head-first Impact

ScienceDaily (July 9, 2008) —

"University of British Columbia researchers have invented a sports helmet that reduces direct impact to the neck by up to 56 per cent, according to preliminary tests.

Dubbed Pro-Neck-TorTM, the patent-pending technology features a movable inner shell that guides the head to tilt slightly forward or backward in a head-on impact, thus allowing dissipation of direct loads to the cervical spine. The inner shell mechanism is deployed only when the wearer lands head-first with a certain speed and angle at impact. It works otherwise like existing sports helmets.

“Existing helmets are not designed to protect the neck and the cervical region of the spine, which happens to be the weakest,” says co-inventor Peter Cripton, a Mechanical Engineering assistant professor in the Faculty of Applied Science."

NOTE: To read the entire article, click on the title above.

Documentary on Public Education in South Carolina

The Disability Action Center (DAC), in connection with local talent
and film professionals, is putting together a statewide documentary
which will reflect the pro's and con's of public education in South
Carolina. The mission of this project is to educate all South
Carolina citizens of the exceptional work that districts such as
Richland I are doing related to Transitioning students into the
workforce and the advocacy efforts within South Carolina districts
including the York County districts working toward a state recognized
Occupational Diploma for students with disabilities. This
documentary will also strive to publicly recognize those teachers
that have the ability to understand that not all children learn the
same whether in a general or special education setting. The DAC
would also like to recognize the bullying curriculum that Dr. Sue Rex
has been promoting. With that being said, the injustices related to
our current educational system also need to be addressed, such as the
intimidation some parents who have children in special education face
behind closed doors, the children who districts give up on as early
as elementary school solely due to their disability and the
devastating dropout rates, which affect our economy as a whole.

To be involved in this documentary please meet at the State Capital
on the Gervais Street side on July 17, 2008 at 7:00 PM. At this time
you will be scheduled for a personal interview, though the interview
is not mandatory to be a part of the documentary. Upon your
signature on our release form you will be filmed/photographed for
shots within the documentary. We cannot guarantee that your pictures
will be used within the documentary. This will be up to the
discretion of the nationally recognized film director.

It is extremely important that you attend this meeting if you want to
be a part of the documentary; since this is the date we are filming
the group shot and scheduling interviews. This is the only
opportunity during filming for the film director, song writers,
families, educators and photographers to all be in one
place. Again, I encourage both the young and old to be
present. We want anyone who has an interest in the direction our
state's educational system is heading.

For more information, please contact:
Amy Mayne
Director of Program Services
Disability Action Center, Inc.
(800) 681-6805 Inc.


NOTE: Click on the title above to go to the Disability Action Council's Web page.

MASTER*S DEGREE PROGRAM IN EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA AT COLUMBIA

We are recruiting applicants for full-time master's degree in early
childhood special education at U.S.C. Applicants must have an
undergraduate degree and be certified in early childhood, special
education, or elementary education and interested in working with young
children from age three to six years of age. In addition, they must be
able to commit to a 20-hour per week practicum in local preschool
programs during the fall and spring semesters while taking full-time
classes.

SUCCESSFUL APPLICANT WILL BE AWARDED THE FOLLOWING BENEFITS

1. Graduate Degree Tuition for a 39 hour Master*s Degree from U.S.C.,
and
2. $2,000 Student Stipend in the fall and spring semesters

APPLICATION PROCESS
Interested applicants should contact William H. Brown, PhD (803)
777-6582 or Herman Knopf at (803) 777-0934. For application information
from the U.S.C. Graduate School see the U.S.C. website at
http://www.gradschool.sc.edu/.
Applicants must meet the following entrance requirements and apply for
application through the U.S.C. Graduate School for a Master*s Degree
in Special Education with an Emphasis in Early Childhood Special
Education:
1. Have an earned bachelor*s degree in early childhood, elementary
education, or special education from an accredited College or
University.
2. Be certified as a teacher in at least one state, preferably South
Carolina.
3. Have an undergraduate Grade Point Ratio of at least 2.50 on a 4.00
scale.
4. Provide two current letters of recommendations from former
instructors and present employers.
5. Submit Millers Analogies Test (MAT) scores of at least 35 or better
or Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores of at least 800 or better (at least
400 on both verbal and quantitative subscales). Information on MAT
examinations may be obtained from the University Testing Office in the
Russell House, Room 310 (777-2782).
6. Write a letter of intent explaining why the applicant wants to earn
a Master*s Degree in Early Childhood Special education and their
long-term professional goals.

Applicants who meet all the initial entrance requirements will be asked
to write an essay based on a contemporary professional article and
interviewed for about 30 minutes about their professional interests and
goals.

NOTE: Click on the title above to access application information from the graduate school.

PRO-Parents "Breakthrough Conference" with Rick Lavoie

The Breakthrough Conference:
The link between learning disabilities and social competence

Presented by:
Rick Lavoie

September 10, 2008
9:00am-3:00pm
Glenforest School
1041 Harbor Drive
West Columbia, SC
29169

Sponsored by:
PRO-Parents of South Carolina
&
State Department of Education
Office of Exceptional
Children

652 Bush River Road, Suite 203
Columbia, South Carolina 29210
(800)759-4776 (toll-free)

Tongue Drive System Lets Persons With Disabilities Operate Powered Wheelchairs, Computers

ScienceDaily (June 30, 2008) —

"A new assistive technology developed by engineers at the Georgia Institute of Technology could help individuals with severe disabilities lead more independent lives.

The novel system allows individuals with disabilities to operate a computer, control a powered wheelchair and interact with their environments simply by moving their tongues.

"'This device could revolutionize the field of assistive technologies by helping individuals with severe disabilities, such as those with high-level spinal cord injuries, return to rich, active, independent and productive lives,' said Maysam Ghovanloo, an assistant professor in the Georgia Tech School of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Ghovanloo developed the system with graduate student Xueliang Huo."

NOTE: To read the entire article, click on the title above.