The New Look and Feel of the National Center on Severe & Sensory Disabilities (NCSSD).

NCSSD recognizes t= hat over 1 million children in the United States have severe and/or sensory disabilities. For over 6 years, NCSSD has embraced the mission of improving= the nation’s capacity to teach children with severe and sensory disabilit= ies so that these children can realize productive and fulfilling adult lives.&n= bsp; The distinction of NCSSD is that we embrace the practice of facilitating and promoting collaboration between the severe and sensory disability fields, h= ence our motto:
"Together we can do more!" To build on our motto, the Nati= onal Center’s logo is composed of two opposing sets of waves, representing sound and light waves, and signifying synergy and collaboration.

NCSSD implements the following strategies to accomplish our mission:

· POLICY ANALYSIS – Create state = and national regulatory and legislative awareness supporting the education of students with severe and sensory disabilities.

· INFORMATION EXCHANGE – Provide information for families, teachers, school administrators, and other service providers regarding promising practices for students with severe and sensory disabilities.

· LOCAL SUPPORT – Increase specialized services to children with severe and sensory disabilities and t= heir families and to the professionals who serve them in public schools.

· PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT – Incr= ease the national pool of teachers specialized in teaching students with severe = and sensory disabilities and provide ongoing training.

· RESEARCH TO PRACTICE – Contribu= te new knowledge about effective educational practices for children with severe and sensory disabilities.

Why the Name Change?

The term low-incid= ence disabilities is found within federal law and refers to children with: (a) visual impairments, (b) hearing impairments, (c) concomitant visual and hea= ring impairments or deaf-blindness, (d) significant cognitive impairments, or (e) any impairment for which few personnel have highly specialized skills and knowledge to provide children with the impairment early intervention or a f= ree appropriate public education (Title I (D)(662)(c)(3]). The term lo= w-incidence emphasizes the small number of children who are blind or visually impaired, deaf or hard of hearing, or deaf-blind, or who have severe or multiple disabilities. Critical to NCSSD is the emphasis on the needs of children with severe and/or sensory disabilities and the strategies to addr= ess those needs; to reflect this value; we removed the term low-incidence from our name.

Visit our Newly Designed Web-Site!

A second goal of N= CSSD is to maintain a website that is accessible and user-friendly, modeling our beliefs and values of utilizing current technological innovations. Please v= isit NCSSD’s new website at http://w= ww.unco.edu/ncssd. Check back often, as we are adding new content daily.

NCSSD Highlights

Research at NCSSD

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB, 2002) defines scientifically based research as “the application of rigorous, systematic, and objective procedures to obtain reliable and valid knowledge” [(Title I (B) (1208)]. Spooner a= nd Browder (2003) have argued that the NCLB definition fails to acknowledge the challenges of conducting research in the area of low-incidence disabilities= . NCSSD recognizes the challenges for conducting research on children with low-incidence disabilities, including deficits in scientifically based research and isolation of researchers. One of the goal= s of NCSSD is to address these challenges by contributing to the research base, facilitating research-to-practice, and promoting collaborative research bet= ween the fields of visual impairment, deaf and hard of hearing, and severe disabilities. Please visit http://www.unco.= edu/ncssd/research/research.shtml to learn more!

Mark Your Calendars!

The 2008 Research in the Rockies Summit is scheduled for September in Denver, Colorado. Included in this year's Summit will be training in the use of the SEELS and NLTS2 data bases.

Professional Development

NCSSD offers both preservice and inservice training in multiple formats, including university coursework, online tutorials, and conference presentations. In additi= on, NCSSD has a history of working collaboratively with schools and agencies to develop tutorials, trainings, and university coursework. We are also able to offer specially designed and contracted courses through UNC's extended stud= ies programs at a low cost for students.

Scheduled Online University Courses for 200= 8

Summer Semes= ter 2008, The University of Northern Colorado will host the following g= raduate level courses:

·         Mathematics for Teachers of Students w= ith Sensory Disabilities - This course will provide teachers of students with sensory disabilities an opportunity to improve upon their knowledge and skills for selecting, adapting, and implementing math content standards by gaining a more detailed understanding of the Principles and Standards for School Mathematics as defined by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. If interested in enrolling, call Extended Studies at the University of Northern Colorado at 1-800-232-1749 or contact sha= wn.barnard@unco.edu.

·         Phaedrus - One of the recurring challenges facing teachers today is making the transition from classroom to online. In Phaedrus, we help teachers successfully learn how to use the new= est tools and techniques to create effective, engaging, and accessible educatio= nal experiences. If interested in enrolling, call Extended Studies at the University of Northern Colorado at 1-800-232-1749 or contact nat= han.lowell@unco.edu.

New Tutorial

·         The Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Tutorial examines the concept of Universal Design (UD), as well as,= its history and fundamental principles and provides examples of UD and UDL in practice within education and other aspects of life. Visit: http://www.unco.edu/CETL/UDL.

Don’t Forget the Classics= !

You can still find some of your favorite information and products on the NCSSD website! Just a= few are highlighted here:

“Pop-up IEPs&#= 8221; (interactive fact sheets) that parents can use to counter stumbling blocks = when discussing an Individualized Education Program with public school officials= .

·         Students who are blind or visually impair= ed – http://www.unco.edu/ncssd= /bvi.

·         Students who are deaf or hard of hearing<= /b> – http://www.unco.edu/ncssd/dhh= .

·         Students with significant support needs – http://www.unco.edu/ncssd/ssn= .

<= /p>
NCSSD Issues Pa= pers deal with the education of students who have severe and sensory disabilitie= s.

·         Students with Significant Support Needs <= /b>– http://www= .unco.edu/ncssd/resources/issues_bvi.shtml.

·         Students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing<= /b> – ht= tp://www.unco.edu/ncssd/resources/issues_dhh.shtml.

·         Students who are Blind or Visually Impair= ed – http://www.unco.edu/ncssd/resources/iss= ues_ssn.shtml.