June 8, 2018
By: Allison Klein
Source: The Washington Post There are thousands of lobbyists in Washington, legions of well-connected pros who are hired by special interest groups to vigorously advocate for issues. Perhaps nobody in those ranks is more committed to their cause than Kayla McKeon, the first registered Capitol Hill lobbyist with Down syndrome. “I make personal […]
June 8, 2018
By: Greg Nichols
Source: ZD Net Augmented reality could help the legally blind see. That’s the promise of Canadian company eSight, which showcased its latest technology at the recent Augmented World Expo in Santa Clara, the industry’s main trade show. Vision-impaired users wear eSight like a pair of glasses. It gets bonus points for bearing a passing […]
June 6, 2018
By: Melissa Repko
Source: Dallas News Dallas-based Darwin Ecosystem has long been in the business of pattern detection. The company uses machine-learning to predict trends in the financial markets, analyze essays for police academies to determine if trainees would be a good fit and work with human resources departments to identify traits of top performers. But the artificial intelligence company is […]
June 6, 2018
By: Shari Feeney
Source: Edutopia When you walk down a hall in my school, you may encounter our therapy dog, Boomer. There were originally reservations in our district about having a therapy dog, but now Boomer is one of the most sought after staff members for his ability to enhance many components of social and emotional […]
June 6, 2018
By: Liz Sawyer, Star Tribune/TNS
Source: Disability Scoop MINNEAPOLIS — Faced with a challenge, three young engineers dreamed up a $12 solution. A simple wooden box affixed to 8-year-old Alex Benitez-Alvarez’s walker gave the boy more storage space to carry school supplies — and the independence to perform tasks by himself. “Now if he wants to […]
June 6, 2018
By: Matt Barnum
Source: Chalkbeat Efforts to racially integrate schools in big city districts often face a basic dilemma: There simply aren’t many white students in the system, as families have opted for private school or left for the suburbs. But a recent study suggests a concrete way that schools can attract and keep white families, while also […]
June 6, 2018
By: Daarel Burnette II
Source: Education Week No matter how much they need, schools can only spend what they have—and that finite pot of money depends on broader economic and political factors largely beyond their control. So when it comes to spreading nearly $648.6 billion in state, local, and federal education aid across the national landscape, […]
June 5, 2018
By: Katherine Schulten
Source: The New York Times It was 8:30 a.m. on a beautiful Saturday near the end of the school year, but the 127 teachers in Newark that day came ready to work: Not only were they attending a conference, they were also coming up with the conference topics from scratch, on the spot. […]
June 5, 2018
By: Julie Wurth
Source: The News Gazette URBANA — Microsoft and other tech firms have always hired software engineers or data scientists who may have autism, whether they’re diagnosed or not, executives say. The Seattle-based software firm has made a more concerted effort over the past three years, hoping to tap into the technical skills and […]
June 4, 2018
By: Sarah D. Sparks
Source: Education Week Educators might think of “kindergarten as the new 1st grade,” but parents often still think of early grades as less academic than higher grades—and thus, less important for their children to attend every day. Challenging that misconception and helping parents understand the value of the early grades can significantly boost […]