Blog Post Reflection 5

According to the organizational website, www.cec.sped.org, the U.S. Department of Education will award $19.9 million in grants to higher education institutions to help prepare special education professionals to improve services for children with disabilities. $13.5 million will be aimed at improving the quality and number of people who are fully credentialed to serve children with disabilities. It will assist current and future special education professionals to complete degrees, certifications, and professional licenses in early intervention or a related services field. The funds will also help with special education paraprofessionals, assistants in related services, or educational interpreters. More than $6 million will be dedicated to grants that support doctoral, post-doctoral and special education administration degrees. These grants are funded by IDEA – Part D Support Programs that facilitate in the delivery of special education services. After discovering this website, I have been able to learn a lot about what is happening in my field. I plan to visit this website regularly and investigate any new information.

Blog Post Reflection 4

At the organizational website, www.cec.sped.org, I found a blog about Rosa’s Law (S.2781). On September 22, the House of Representatives passed Rosa’s Law (S.2781) which removes the term “mental retardation” from Federal law and replaces it with “intellectuals with disabilities” and on October 5, 2010, President Obama signed the law. Therefore, the American Psychiatric Association, the Federal Department of Health and Human Services, the Office of the President of the United States, and the health division of the United Nations now use the term “intellectual disability”. This will align the Federal law with the field and eliminate a term that has become demeaning to individuals. According to CEC’s Executive Director, Bruce A. Ramirez, Congress has passed a law that will generate significant change for individuals with disabilities, promote healthy school environments, and give respect and dignity to ALL people. After reading this blog, I realized that I should keep abreast on any new bills or laws being passed because they can affect me as a teacher and my students.