Film chronicles the history of disability rights

A new documentary detailing the history of the disability-rights movement is set to debut on PBS Television. The film, "Lives Worth Living," features the viewpoints of many important figures in the movement and is set to air Oct. 27.

Students take a trip to experience Occupy L.A. protest

Private-school students in fifth through eighth grades in Pasadena, Calif., took a field trip Tuesday to the Occupy Los Angeles event to discuss democracy with protesters and attend a local government meeting; an upcoming event included listening to a speech by a tea party member. "My goal as a teacher, regardless of my own personal beliefs, is to expose the students to as many viewpoints as possible," teacher Susanna Barkataki said. "We're here to get first-hand experience." Los Angeles Times/L.A. Now blog

Fieldtrip at the MLK Memorial

Last August 27, 2011, as part of their Geography lesson, our students went to a fieldtrip to the beautiful and historic Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial (cheers to our SS teachers, Ms. Westbrook & Ms. Tatum!!). They learned to follow a map walking from our school to the new MLK memorial at 1964 Independence Ave, SW, Washington, DC 20024. The street number is a reference to the Civil Right’s Act of 1964, a milestone which Dr. King played an integral role in achieving.

The site creates a visual "line of leadership" from the Lincoln Memorial, which honors the President who protected the United States from internal strife, and where Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous "I Have a Dream" speech; to the Jefferson Memorial, which honors the President who helped create the United States as the author of the Declaration of Independence.

Dr. King's Memorial is situated on a four-acre plot on the northwest corner of the Tidal Basin adjacent to the Roosevelt Memorial. The Tidal Basin is a man made body of water to the south of the National Mall which acts as an overflow catch basin when the Potomac River swells, helping to prevent extensive flooding of the Mall.

The site is situated within the precinct of Washington, DC’s famous cherry blossom trees, a gift from Japan as a sign of peace. Before the King Memorial was built, millions of visitors would come to Washington, DC each spring to witness the beauty of the two week blooming period. During this short timeframe, the Tidal Basin is surrounded by delicate pink and white blossoms on hundreds of trees, a vision that enhances the experience of the Nation’s Capital, and announces the arrival of spring each year to its residents.

Today, October 16, tens of thousands of visitors from around the world will once again come to the District to participate in the dedication ceremony of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial.

Information from: MLKmemorial.org
Reposted from our team blog: digitalanthology.blogspot.com

New iPhone 4S may hold promise for those who cannot see

Colorado Center for the Blind instructor Chip Johnson, right, and Wes Majerus, a technology specialist and instructor at the center, check Facebook using VoiceOver, a standard feature on iPhones since 2009. ( Hyoung Chang, The Denver Post )

Apple's new iPhone 4S, released Oct. 14, includes new features that make it automatically accessible to users who cannot see. The new phones are equipped with an advanced voice-command feature, known as Siri, as well as the ability to assign a spoken label to many of the phone's buttons and commands. The Denver Post

How to win over parents in the learning process

Third-grade teacher Gaetan Pappalardo offers tips for new teachers on how to engage parents in their children's education. He writes that parents are not concerned about qualifications and degrees, but rather are focused on whether their children are "loved and valued in school." Pappalardo recommends opening communication with parents, beginning with back-to-school night and continuing through social media or other avenues. Edutopia.org/Gaetan Pappalardo's blog

Maryland schools embrace co-teaching through pilot program

A push to implement co-teaching in Maryland is highlighted through a pilot program at 25 schools. The initiative includes a framework for special-education and core-subject teachers with guidance for educators, administrators and officials at all levels of the process. In classrooms, educators are being encouraged to use various co-teaching models that ensure equal participation among co-teachers. "The goal is to get both people teaching -- that's how you increase the intensity," said author and CEC President Marilyn Friend, who developed some of the models. Education Week (premium article access compliments of EdWeek.org)

Education positions represent most job losses in local government

Job losses among teachers and other public employees have driven employment in local government to a nearly six-year low -- 14 million jobs, according to data from the Labor Department. In September, local governments eliminated 35,000 jobs -- 24,400 of which were in education. The country now employs 7.8 million education professionals, which is the fewest in more than six years years. Bloomberg 

Detroit plans teacher layoffs during state tests: Detroit officials have issued layoff notices, effective after Friday's classes, to 87 teachers, even as state testing occurs. Officials say the layoffs will not affect the tests, but the teachers union disagrees. "The timing could not be worse," said Detroit Federation of Teachers President Keith Johnson. "You would have them changing teachers right in the middle of the MEAP test. Students would start off with one teacher and then have other another." The Detroit News

Autism insurance bill becomes law in California

California Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law on Oct. 9 a bill requiring insurers to provide coverage for children with autism and other developmental disabilities. The new mandate will take effect in July 2012 and will replace previous regulations that allowed insurers to deny coverage of autism treatment on the basis that it was an educational -- not a medical -- service. San Francisco Chronicle/The Associated Press

Education officials issue advice on PE for students with disabilities

The Department of Education is offering new guidelines for schools on providing physical education to students with disabilities. The recommendations include the use of technology and video games to simulate activities for those who are unable to participate, and the use of other specialized and more accessible equipment and spaces. The guidelines are in response to a 2010 Government Accountability Office report that found a number of barriers to inclusive PE, including under-developed federal policy on the issue. Education Week/On Special Education blog

Students with special needs team up for business at football games

Alexis Perez fills bags of popcorn during halftime of a Cibola football game. Perez is special education student at Cibola High School and is a part of the Career Exploration Club which gives students with special needs hands-on experiences working in the real world.

Students with special needs at an Arizona high school are gaining skills for work and social settings by selling popcorn and other items at football games through the school's Career Exploration Club. "Because of this event, our special needs students are included in our school more than ever, to the point that once they exit high school, they are returning to the football game for socialization," said special-education teacher Tammy James, the club's adviser. The Yuma Daily Sun (Ariz.)

The legacy of Steve Jobs for those with disabilities

Journalist Tim Carmody reflects on the motivations and legacy of late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. Jobs was responsible for products that have helped augment communication for Carmody's son, who has autism and language difficulties, along with many others with disabilities. "These frail and fragile bodies don't always work the way we want them to. Steve Jobs understood that," he writes. Wired.com/Epicenter blog     

Steve Jobs: A creative force in education technology: Apple's Steve Jobs, who died Wednesday, was seen as an influential and creative force in education technology. As the leader of Apple, which he co-founded in 1976, Jobs' creativity is credited for the development of products, from the Apple I and II computers to modern mobile devices such as the iPad and iPhone, many of which have changed education and held relevance for students with disabilities and those who work with them. Education Week/Digital Education blog

Chicago school aims to train minority teachers for urban classrooms

Andrew A. Nelles for Chicago News Cooperative-

Andrew Cengel working with Kalena Sharp, left, 17, and Marydale Long, 15, last month at Wells Community Academy High School.

Wells Community Academy High School in Chicago is aiming to prepare more black and Hispanic students for the teaching profession through a teacher-training program in which students work in the classroom throughout their four years of high school. The school's Chicago Urban Teacher Academy is a partnership with National Louis University and features a curriculum focused on best practices in teaching. The New York Times (tiered subscription model)/Chicago News Cooperative

Should special-education training be required in inclusion schools?

Josette Gerry, who taught fourth grade at Hawthorne Elementary School in Clairemont last year, said she learned on the job how best to teach the children with disabilities who were moved into her general education classroom.

A move toward inclusion in San Diego schools has resulted in many general-education teachers working with students who have special needs, without any requirements that they undergo specialized training. Few teachers reportedly are taking advantage of optional training sessions offered by the district, and some say they are underprepared in the classroom. Others say they are training on the job and learning from colleagues with special-education credentials. Voice of San Diego

Happy Teacher's Day to all my colleagues!! We are in the noblest of all professions because we touch the future...CHEERS!!