This Week's Special-Needs News and Views

From Disability Scoop: Actor Noah Wyle and "more than 70 disability advocates arrested last month during a Medicaid protest at the U.S. Capitol are being forced to return to Washington to appear in court." (5/17/12)

A post from Emory University looks at the dangers of not being fully prepared for an allergic reaction. (5/18/12)

From About.com Celiac Disease: "The company says it has developed a gluten-free validation process to test ingredients and finished products to ensure they contain less than the generally accepted 'gluten-free' standard of 20 parts per million of gluten." (5/18/12)

Can't get your school district to keep your child's program going over the summer months? Try your own DIY version.

Speech-Language-Development.com walks us through the difference between mild, moderate, severe, and profound hearing loss. (5/21/12) ... More hearing-related news

From Support for Special Needs: We try to protect our kids from so much, but sometimes the biggest danger is our own complacency. (5/21/12)

Care2 reports that a mother trying to memorialize her newborn with anencephaly had her photos removed, as did the mother of a child with Down syndrome recently, and wonders why Facebook finds disability offensive. (5/21/12)

Advice from The Inclusive Church blog. (5/21/12) ... More church inclusion tips

From NPR: "Katie Beckett died Friday morning in the same hospital where she'd once made history. Beckett was 3 years old when her case changed health care law. She was 34 when she died." (5/20/12)

From Disability Scoop, good news for our future job-seekers. (5/22/12)

From Wrightslaw, a quick primer on AT terminology. (5/22/12)

According to a CNN report, the percentage of teens with diabetes or pre-diabetes rose from 9 percent to 23 percent between 1999 and 2008, while the rate of obesity remained the same at about a third of all teens. (5/22/12)

CNN illustrates the problem with the story of a boy whose seizures -- and the testing and treatments that go with them -- have put a financial and emotional strain on his family. (5/22/12)

From CNN, a look at the issues surrounding cancer survivorship, particularly of interest for those who beat cancer young and have many years ahead of dealing with the aftereffects. (5/22/12)

The Friendship Circle blog introduces you to some rare disorders, and tells you where to get more info. (5/22/12)

A post on This Ain't Livin' points out that access needs to be an expected part of any event, not a favor granted. (5/23/12)

From Raising Rebel Souls, thoughts on finding the right school placement for two kids at a time, and breaking up with your occupational therapists. (5/23/12) ... Do you need a therapy check-up?

Tips for a safe Memorial Day and some nut-free recipes from the Nut-Free Mom Blog. (5/23/12) ... More summer survival tips

Read my Harried Parent's Book Club review of a mother's memoir of raising sons with autism. (5/23/12) ... More book reviews

The Special Education Law Blog looks at the laws involving inclusion for preschoolers. (5/23/12)

Education Week reports on the challenge of creating appropriate standardized testing for special-education students. (5/24/12)

Readers share their stories of IEP shenanigans. (5/24/12)

According to a Disability Scoop report, Michigan, California, New Hampshire and Vermont round out the top five, while Illinois, Arkansas, Texas, and Mississippi score the worst. (5/24/12)

According to a post on About.com Food Allergies, the airline will now refrain from serving peanuts on the flight if you notify that you're allergic, instead of just creating a buffer zone. (5/24/12)

Disability News shares a story about a teacher diagnosed with Asperger syndrome as an adult. (5/24/12)

A post on Love That Max looks at the problems that can occur when ERs aren't sufficiently prepared for young patients with complex needs. (5/24/12) ... More on finding an ER