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Humans are pattern-seeking primates whose brains evolved to look for and find meaningful patterns in the noise and chaos of nature. When we connect A to B, this process is called learning. Sometimes A really is connected to B, and sometimes it is not. The only reliable way to know for sure is via the scientific method. The problem is that our brains were designed millions of years ago, but science is only a few hundred years old. One of the most nefarious anecdotal patterns in recent years has been a seeming connection between autism and vaccines. Parents whose children are diagnosed with autism (A) search for a probable cause; they remember that they had their children vaccinated (B) and forgivably assume that the correlation is causal. These parents worry for their children, enough sometimes to sue the companies that manufacture the vaccines. But collectively they could contribute to a public-health disaster if enough parents were to stop vaccinating their children and communities began to suffer a return of communicable diseases once thought to be routed.

Kevin Michael Connolly spent the majority of his life "walking around" at three feet tall, growing up in small town

He was going on six-mile hikes through snow just as deep as he was tall with his uncle from a young age -- a challenge presented to him by his father. He went through more pairs of gloves and wore out the seats of his pants beyond mending. The Helena native was more than just the average rowdy kid from the country.

What: This webinar series provides an interactive and engaging look at today's most pressing issues in inclusive education, including: supports and opportunities that enhance self-advocacy, differentiated instruction and universal design for learning, youth engagement, relationship building and many more. The presenters in this series are some of the foremost experts on developing inclusive school environments. When: March 2, 9, 23, 30 and April 6, 13  1-2:30 p.m. Mountain Click here for More Details Click here to Download Registration Form Click here to Register Online

What: This six session series on Discovery will equip educators, adult service personnel and family members with the critical information necessary to facilitate discovery for persons with significant disabilities. This alternative to comparative assessment addresses the essential question so often overlooked by evaluations and tests, "Who is this person?" The sessions offer a comprehensive overview to discovery, the relationship to employment and transition from school to adult work, relevance to curricular outcomes and development of visual and written profile documents that capture the information learned during discovery.  When: April 4, 11, 18, 25 and May 2, 9  1-2:30 p.m. Mountain More Details Download Registration Form Register Online

To learn more and to access the online survey, go to http://ehhs.kent.edu/link/ What: Steve Bagnato, John Neisworth, and Kristie Pretti-Frontczak are inviting those who work with young children from birth to age eight to participate in a consumer rating of early childhood assessment measures. Results will expand upon LINKing Authentic Assessment & Early Childhood Interventio, by Stephen Bagnato, John T. Neisworth, & Kristie Pretti-Frontczak, 2010. The survey takes about 10 minutes per assessment. The website will be open until March 18th.  Input is being sought from teachers, family members, paraprofessionals, administrators, related service providers, therapists, consultants, social workers, school psychologists, child care providers, nurses, or others who have familiarity with early childhood assessment measures to participate. For questions or concerns: Contact Dr. Kristie Pretti-Frontczak at 330-672-0597 or kprettif@kent.edu. Information about Kent State University's rules for research can be obtained from Dr. John West, Vice President and Dean, Division of Research and Graduate Studies 330-672-2851.

Click here for full conference information and registration What: Want an intriguing conference that will channel you and your students to an invigorating new level, change the current path of your classroom, and set the course for change in your school? Then don't miss the 2011 August Institute. There is something for everyone regardless of how you perceive your classroom technology integration skills and teaching. You’ll leave with new ideas, knowledge of at least one free online application and many techniques to set your students on an exciting path of innovation and self motivation. When: August 8-10, 2011 Where: Phyllis J. Washington Education Building - University of Montana Missoula, MT Conference Highlights: Keynote address and presentations by Kevin Honeycutt (Teaching Wired Learners) Half-day sessions (novice & intermediate) with Tony Vincent (Project-based Learning) Wes Fryer ( iPhoneography 101; Talk with Media: Simple Ideas for Powerful Sharing and SmartNetworks) Concert with Chance McKinney Technology workshops for both novice and Intermediate users Technology coaches to support participants during workshops for novice users Presentations by our regional technologists, Diane Woodard and Dean Phillips Monday Evening Poster sessions highlighting Best Practices in Technology by teachers participating in the SLATE grants Tuesday Evening – Tech in the Wild session – using technology outside the school walls Ability to earn 2 semester credits or 22 OPI renewal credits Plus...many of our other sessions on school culture, RTI, special education, Indian Education, gifted ed, reading and math interventions … and much, much more

The National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorder (NPDC on ASD) has identified 24 evidence-based practices for working effectively with individuals with autism spectrum disorder and is in the process of developing free online modules for each of these practices. Evidence-based practice (EBP) briefs for these 24 practices have also been developed. These include an overview of the practice, directions for implementation, an implementation checklist, the evidence base for the practice, and supplemental materials. Autism Internet Modules (AIM) - http://www.autisminternetmodules.org/ Evidence-based Practice Briefs - http://autismpdc.fpg.unc.edu/content/briefs Additionally, the IDEA Partnership has added new resources to its Collection on Autism Spectrum Disorder, including: an updated Glossary, Resource Guide, new Dialogue Guides, and a new PowerPoint with Presenter Guide on Functional Behavioral Assessment. To learn more, go to http://ideapartnership.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1493