New York City is failing its special ed students, a new eye-tracking device can help identify autism, social media content creators with disabilities are having a moment and more news for the week ending Sept. 9, 2023.

Spotlight

NYC Comptroller Report Finds DOE Fails to Deliver Mandated Special Ed Services Even As Claims Spending Surged Tenfold During the 2021-22 school year, nearly 14,000 recommendations for support services for K-12 students were not fulfilled, and nearly 10,000 preschool students with disabilities missed out on their required services entirely. (comptroller.nyc.gov)

The States

NYC school buses delayed on 1st day of school amid threat of driver strike A strike could affect many students with disabilities as they typically have to travel further to go to school. (Gothamist)

Missouri advocates upset about proposed change to self-directed supports programs It would freeze already low payment rates for caretakers. (Missouri Independent)

California disability services for families vary by race, ethnicity  I posted a story on this last week, but this points out that Latino clients make up the largest share of the state’s 21 regional centers overseeing support for children and adults with I/DD, yet receive significantly less funding. (Sacramento Bee)

Across the pond

England’s special educational needs crisis ‘out of control’ amid record complaints The state of education isn’t any better in Great Britain. (The Guardian)

Autism

Autism may be identified early with eye-tracking device, studies show A tablet-based device can identify the disorder in children ages 16-30 months “as accurately as a specialist would.” (nbcnews.com)

Beyond Faces: Broader Memory Challenges for Some Autistic Children Memory challenges impact not only a child’s recall of faces but also affect their ability to remember various types of information, suggests this Stanford study. (scitechdaily.com)

Australia is working on a national autism strategy It’s aimed at improving community attitudes, health, education and employment. (SBS News)

With U.S. legislators gearing up to vote on the budget appropriations bills, the Autism Society’s Capital Connections asks that people continue to educate Members of Congress about the importance of adequately funding programs that support individuals with autism.

U.S. Govt.

Biden Administration Proposes Rule To Curb Disability Discrimination In Health Care (Disability Scoop)

Dept. of Labor announces agreement to continue support for disabled youth employment initiatives

Studies

Intellectual disability found to be more common in families with substance use disorder (medicalxpress.com)

Social media

Social media content creators with disabilities are having a moment As the number of disability-inclusive TV and movie titles continues to decline, brands have turned to disabled content creators to fill the void — and it seems to be working. (Yahoo Finance)

Good stuff

Mom pens heartfelt letter on disability awareness to parents as her blind son starts middle school I love this note a mom wrote to educate parents about how to help their kids accept and include differently-abled peers. (scoop.upworthy.com)