PLUK News feed

Online video: Reading and the Brain

Link: Reading and the Brain

This 30-minute video, hosted by Henry Winkler, who has his own struggles with reading, explores how brain scientists are working to solve the puzzle of why some children struggle to read and others don't. Startling new research shows the answer may lie in how a child's brain is wired from birth.

This program is the newest episode on Launching Young Readers, WETA's award-winning series of innovative half-hour programs about how children learn to read, why so many struggle, and what we can do to help.

Free webcast: Classroom Accommodations for Dyslexic Students

Link: Dyslexic Students

Susan Barton shares 23 practical, no-cost accommodations that regular education teachers should offer to help dyslexic students succeed in the mainstream classroom despite their difficulty with reading, spelling, handwriting, test anxiety, homework, and their unreliable memory. She explains why they are fair, and how to provide them without making the dyslexic student feel different

Free webcast- Dyslexia: Testing & Teaching

Link: Dyslexia - testing and teaching

In this one-hour video, Susan Barton explains:
   * Which tests reveal dyslexia -- and what testers are looking for
   * Who should do the testing -- and who should not
   * Which reading programs to use -- and which to avoid

Parents’ podcast on holidays with an autistic boy

Link: Holidays

The holidays are here, and we have a lot of celebrating. But where does Alex fit in to parties and get-togethers? He doesn’t like most of the food. He doesn’t like being home and not being allowed to watch TV. Should we have a babysitter try to entertain him? We discuss different things we’ve tried.

Parents' podcast: presents for an autistic boy

Link: Presents

Alex loves to get presents. But what do you get for someone who doesn’t watch commercials and then beg you for the Sponge Bob rollerblades or a Spiderman action figure? How many is too many? Should we give Alex stuff that will “help” him? Or just please him? And what’s wrong with just pleasing him, anyway?

Autism 101: A Free Online Course

Link: Online Courses

The online course will take approximately 30 minutes to complete. The course covers the following areas:

• Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Treatment Options
• Treatment Assistance
• Transition to Adulthood
• More Information and Resources

Advocacy Institute begins online training

The Advocacy Institute proudly announces the grand opening of Advocate Academy, a new Webinar service designed to meet the training needs of special education advocates nationwide. http://www.advocacyinstitute.org/academy/

Kids, Medicaid and Quality of Care - Healthcast

Link: Kids, Medicaid and Quality of Care - Healthcast archive.

This is an archive of a briefing by the Alliance for Health Reform and Commonwealth Fund, Washington, D.C.
This event focuses on children and Medicaid. Discussion topics include recent recommendations made by the National Governors Association to give states more flexibility in administering Medicaid benefits and the Medicaid Commission's task of developing policy options to achieve program savings. What benefits does Medicaid currently provide for children? How does the Medicaid benefits package for children compare to the benefits offered by commercial insurers? Should states be given more flexibility in what benefits to offer children? These questions and others will be addressed at the briefing.