April is Autism Awareness Month

Looking for information for Autism Awareness Month? Check out the other blog that CeDIR shares with the Indiana Resource Center for Autism. Navigation at the top makes easy work of finding books, videos, websites, and events. Browse on over to the other blog at: http://iidcautismresources.blogspot.com/

Teaching in Tandem

Looking for some answers on how to effectively implement co-teaching? Teaching in Tandem may be  what you need. From the basics of just what co-teaching is to the nitty-gritty of solving everyday challenges, this book can help you creative effective teams of teachers. It's written for teachers, administrators and parents alike.

Interested in checking out this title? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

The Handbook of High-Risk Challenging Behaviors

Looking for answers with risky behaviors? The Handbook of High-Risk Challenging Behaviors in People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities might be what you need. Learn what is behind these behaviors and how professionals can help manage them. Evidence-based, empirically supported practices are contributed by more than 30 prominent clinicians and researchers, offering readers the latest in research, assessment and intervention.

Interested? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu to check out this title, or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

The Complete Guide to RTI

The Complete Guide to RTI offers a complete overview of everything you need to make the strategy successful. Parents, teachers, and administrators will find value in this book as it is written not only for individual but also institutional success. Incorporating technology into analyzing the academic and behavioral data of the RTI process is just one of the many different techniques that can be found in the book.

Interested? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu to check out this title, or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

Mobile App Monday - Chore Pad

Looking for a fun way to get chores done? Working with someone with an intellectual disability? Try Chore Pad. This app allows you to create any number of users and even upload each user's photo to ensure everyone know what chores s/he is supposed to do. Create chore charts and rewards for each person to help motivate them to get their chores done.

Want to see more about this app? Visit: http://itunes.apple.com/app/chore-pad/id389995975?ign-mpt=uo%3D6&mt=8

Systematic Screenings of Behavior to Support Instruction

Book Description for Systematic Screenings of Behavior to Support Instruction:

"Straightforward, practical, and user friendly, this unique guide addresses an essential component of decision making in schools. The authors show how systematic screenings of behavior—used in conjunction with academic data—can enhance teachers' ability to teach and support all students within a response-to-intervention framework. Chapters review reliable, valid screening measures for all grade levels, discuss their strengths and weaknesses, and explain how to administer, score, and interpret them. Practitioners get helpful guidance for evaluating their school's needs and resources and making sound choices about which tools to adopt."

Interested? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu to check out this title or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

Challenging Ableism

Looking for a sourcebook that moves disability from a medical or economic concern to a social justice concern? Challenging ableism, understanding disability, including adults with disabilities in workplaces and learning spaces might be just the ticket. The authors present the perspectives of individuals with disabilities, service providers, parents, and teachers and offer analyses that range from the personal to the broadly political.

Want to know more? Send us an email at cedir@indiana.edu to check out this title or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

Seventh Grader Wins Essay Contest

The City of Bloomington Human Rights Commission recently sponsored a local essay contest on the theme “What I’ve Learned from People Different from Me.” Seventh grader Mari Walter-Bailey, daughter of Institute employee Wendy Walter-Bailey, won the contest. Congratulations Mari! Below is her essay in its entirety.

What I’ve Learned from People Different Than Me

By: Mari Walter-Bailey

            The U.S.A.  is often known for its diversity. Some people accept it, some people enjoy it, and some people deny it no matter how obvious it is. Personally, it teaches me that I have to accept, and respect others’ beliefs, dress, and ways of being.

            Everyone is different. I am my own, unique individual, and nobody in the whole world has done the exact same things that I have. No one knows my whole life, and I don’t know anyone else’s life. I do know though that some people are trapped in one small town for their whole life, and some people move around so much they don’t have their own bedroom. Others don’t have anything or any place to call their own. I have learned in my 12 years of life that I live a charmed life compared to some people, but to others I may appear to have nothing. Everyone should be thankful since there is always someone who has less.

            I’ve discovered that people are extremely judgmental. In this day and age, you’re judged based on your appearance, skin tone, height, weight, wealth, housing, quality of clothes, hair, religion, disabilities and more. Lots of people my age are very, very rude to people with mental, physical, and/or emotional disabilities.   I can tell, when I look in those kids’ eyes. I see pain. Even if they don’t know what people are saying, they tell me how lucky I am. I have a friend in a wheelchair. I am utterly astonished by the poor way people treat her, as if she is a very inconvenient table in the hallway. People act as if she can’t hear, as if her small problem defines her. I have an Indian friend too. I think teachers are often very ignorant themselves, like they don’t hear the racist Indian jokes.  In fact, most people that are hurting people are usually teacher’s favorites: popular people who think they rule the world.

               I also hear people call some people “Jelly Belly”. What they don’t know is that he/she may have a serious disease, causing her/him to be overweight. Most judge completely on dress. Not many can afford pricy brand names, though. I know for a fact that no matter who you are, or where you live, you ALWAYS want more than what you have. There is always one person you look at with envy. If you have short hair, you want long hair. If you have blue/green eyes, you want brown eyes and vice versa.

               The one thing I always think is, “Why should I dress like someone else?” I should create my own style. People can inspire me, but they can’t change me. I’ve realized that I would hate it if everyone had the exact same shirt. If everyone was a painting, being different is the one thing everyone would truly appreciate.  I learned that life is different, based on your perspective, and everyone should respect that.   

Reprinted with permission from the author

World Down Syndrome Day

World Down Syndrome Day

21 March 2012 marks the 7th anniversary of World Down Syndrome Day and, for the first time in 2012, this day will be officially observed by the United Nations. Each year the voice of people with Down syndrome, and those who live and work with them, grows louder.

For more information, visit: http://www.worlddownsyndromeday.org/

Simplifying RTI

What are the four essential guiding principles of RTI, you ask? In Simplifying RTI: Four essential guiding principles, you will find effective answers to implementation questions.The four essential principles of pyramid response to intervention explored in the book are:
  1. Collective responsibility - A shared belief that the primary responsibility of each member of the organization is to ensure high levels of learning for every child
  2. Concentrated instruction - A collaborative process that focuses teacher teams on the skills and knowledge most important to the student and his or her future
  3. Convergent assessment - An ongoing process of collecting targeted information to add depth and breadth to the understanding of each student s individual needs, obstacles, and points of learning leverage
  4. Certain access - A systematic process that guarantees every student will receive the time and support needed to learn at high levels

Want to know more? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu to check out this title or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

The Special Educator's Toolkit

Are you an overwhelmed special educator? Reduce your stress and support student success with this practical toolkit for whole-classroom organization. The Special Educator's Toolkit: Everything You Need to Organize, Manage, & Monitor Your Classroom is great for special educators in any K-12 setting. This book-and-CD set will help teachers expertly manage everything, from schedules and paperwork to student supports and behavior plans. Every special educator, from the first-year teacher setting up a new classroom to the seasoned veteran who wants a down-to-earth guide to current best practices, will come away empowered and motivated to get and stay organized and they'll see the positive results year after year in their classrooms.

Want to check it out? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

Mobile App Monday - soundAMP R

Looking for an alternative to hearing aids? Try soundAMP R. Sounds are sent to your earbuds in real time. Hear what you’d like to hear. Record what you’d like to record! Works in many situations, around the table at home, watching TV, in lecture halls, at parties, wherever you’d like to hear, or overhear, the people around you!

Interested? Visit: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/soundamp-r/id318126109?mt=8

Data Dynamics

Data dynamics: Aligning teacher team, school, & district efforts is a book about the deliberate and continuous tasks of accessing and using information in the context of district and school improvement processes and teachers instructional planning. Common misuses of data are illustrated and as well as strategies for how to use data better to help identify areas for improvement and more effectively help all students succeed. This book is designed to help administrators and leaders use the appropriate data to guide their school improvement efforts.

Interested? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu to check out this title.

Technology-related Internships for Students with Disabilities

Are you a high school or college student with a disability?

Would you like to gain valuable experience through paid internships and other work-related opportunities?

Are you interested in computing careers?

The Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Washington and DO-IT (Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology) sponsor the AccessComputing project for the purpose of increasing the participation of people with disabilities in computing careers. It is funded by the National Science Foundation (award #CNS-0540615, CNS-0837508, and CNS-1042260). AccessComputing provides a nationwide resource to help students with disabilities pursue computing fields and computing educators and employers, professional organizations, and other stakeholders develop more inclusive programs and share effective practices.

Want to learn more about it? Visit: http://www.washington.edu/accesscomputing/team_app.html

Ellettsville Seeking Input from Public

According to an article in the Bloomington Herald-Times, the town of Ellettsville, Indiana, is seeking input from the public on serving residents with disabilities and will hold a public hearing tonight on its ADA Transition Plan. The town's Director of Planning, Connie Griffin, says that planners want public input on this Transition Plan which will outline plans for improving Ellettsville's ADA accessibility. The plan is due for completion by December 2012.

The public hearing will be held at 7:00 p.m. tonight in the Ellettsville Fire Department's conference room. The fire department is located at 5080 W. Ind. Hwy. 46.

Mobile App Monday - Expressionist

Expressionist is designed to help users express and model expressions. Expressionist uses high quality pictures and avoids using secondary references (such as using "snail" or "turtle" to represent "slow"). The face and gestures of the cartoon character is carefully designed such that any visual learner would have no issue understanding or modeling it. In fact, none of the pictures requires learning any symbol or encoding system.

To learn more about this app, visit: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/expressionist/id318022654?mt=8

Help with Tuition for Adults with Blindness

Looking for a little help with college tuition for someone who is blind?

"To recognize achievement by blind scholars, the National Federation of the Blind annually offers blind college students in the United States and Puerto Rico the opportunity to win one of thirty national scholarships worth from $3,000 to $12,000.

"Applicant requirements:

1. must be legally blind in both eyes, and
2. must be residing in the United States, the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico, and
3. must be pursuing or planning to pursue a full-time, postsecondary course of study in a degree program at a United States institution in the 2012 scholastic year, except that one scholarship may be given to a person employed full-time while attending school part-time, and
4. must participate in the entire NFB national convention and in all of its scheduled scholarship program activities.

"In addition to a scholarship, each winner will receive assistance to attend the 2012 National Federation of the Blind Annual Convention in July, providing an excellent opportunity for high-level networking with active blind persons in many different professions and occupations."

For more information, visit the National Federation of the Blind's Scholarship Program page at: http://nfb.org/scholarship-program

Made for Good Purpose

It's hard enough being a teenager thinking of leaving home and facing the unknown but, for those on the autism spectrum or with learning disabilities, it can be even harder. Made for good purpose: What every parent needs to know to help their adolescent with asperger's, high functioning autism or a learning difference become an independent adult can help. Giving these kids the extra support and advice they need  makes all the difference. This book is filled with personal anecdotes from the author's experiences with asperger's and those of his students. Social skills, finances, healthy lifestyles, higher education, and employment are all covered.


Want to check it out? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu or use worldcat.org to find it in a  library near you.

Pronouns! from teach2talk

Volume 1 of teach2talk’s™ Pronouns! series of videos helps teach children to understand and use a variety of basic pronouns, focusing on the first pronouns which children typically acquire, such I, you, he, she, it, etc. It covers all of the common personal pronouns (including their objective, subjective and possessive forms). Pronouns are extremely important in children’s language development. This DVD is appropriate for any child who has not yet mastered the understanding and use of personal pronouns or who confuses them, as well as children who are just starting to learn and use pronouns. Children typically begin to develop their use of personal pronouns between two and three years of age.

Want to check it out? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu or use worldcat.org to find one in a library near you.

TalkAbout for Teenagers

A week ago we looked at Talkabout for Children. Today we'll take a peek at Talkabout for Teenagers. This program is designed specifically for teenagers with all the tools you'll need to run social and relationship skills group sessions. The book:

• Is divided into five, hierarchical modules – self awareness and self esteem; body language; conversational skills; friendship skills; assertiveness skills– each module includes a teaching plan with worksheets and photocopiable resources.
• Includes a short assessment to highlight the module that is most appropriate to teach and the skills within that module that are relevant
• Provides a short guide to running successful social skills groups, for example, the numbers for each group, group rules, developing group cohesion, how to set up a role play.

Want to check it out? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu.

Meet Thotso, Your Thought Maker

Looking for a book to help children build their positive thinking skills? Meet Thotso, Your Thought Maker is a 30 page board book with interaction on almost every page. The book introduces Thotso the Brain and Thotso's thinking patterns: Smiling Thots, feel good thoughts; BooBoo Thots, hurtful thoughts; and Bandage Thots, kind words that can process BooBoo Thots into Smiling Thots!

Want to check it out? Email us at cedir@indiana.edu or use worldcat.org to find it in a library near you.

What's New?

Did you flip over your monthly calendar's page today? I did! And that tells me that it's time for a new What's New page at CeDIR. Looks like we got a lot of new items on literacy and teaching, plus a few others on learning disabilities, AD/HD, and assessing students in the classroom. One special mention is a book of poetry written by people with physical disabilities, from cerebral palsy to deafness and multiple sclerosis to aphasia. An interesting read!

For a complete list of the new items acquired in the library last month, visit: http://www.iidc.indiana.edu/index.php?pageId=2317