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Albany, NY – **LISTENERS PLEASE NOTE. THIS IS OUR ANNUAL YEAR END WRAP UP SHOW FOR 2010 WHERE WE FEATURE SOME OF THE MOST INTERESTING PEOPLE AND STORIES FROM THE PAST 12 MONTHS. THIS YEAR'S THEME? DISABILITIES IN EDUCATION**
"THE SHORT BUS: A JOURNEY BEYOND NORMAL" -
Last month, the U.S. celebrated the 35th anniversary of the law now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA.
When President Gerald Ford signed the original act at the end of 1975, nearly 1.8 million youth with disabilities were excluded from most public schools. Today, the landmark civil rights measure provides America's 6.6 million children with disabilities the right to public education.
Now, nearly 60% of students with disabilities spend 80% of their school day in general education classrooms alongside their nondisabled peers. But it wasn't always that way.
Our first guest, Jonathan Mooney, dropped out of school for awhile after being labeled severely dyslexic and ADHD in grade school. Yet, he went on to graduate from Brown University with honors, in English no less.
His book, "The Short Bus: A Journey Beyond Normal", provides a voice for all students with disabilities.
Glenn Busby reports. (7:26)
**(If listeners would like to find out more about this story, visit: www.jonathanmooney.com .)**
GUEST COMMENTARY:
"WHAT LEAVING NO CHILD BEHIND REALLY MEANS" -
Our next guest is Lynda J. Katz, President of Landmark College. Landmark serves students with learning disabilities and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, students just like Jonathan Mooney in our first story.
In her commentary, she says educators need to emphasize the importance of preparing teachers to support each child's individual learning style and provide teachers the knowledge to educate students with learning disabilities.
President Katz comments. (4:21)
**(For additional information about Landmark College and the programs they offer, go to: www.landmark.edu.)**
ACCESS TO ADVANCEMENT
PROFILE: DR. ANGELA LEE FOREMAN -
As part of our celebration of Women's History Month last March, we featured Dr. Angela Foreman, Assistant Professor of Biology at the Rochester Institute of Technology, National Institute for the Deaf.
Dr. Foreman, who says she was once turned away from a job at a lab because she's deaf, has reached her career goals, in part, by advocating for herself.
Allison Dunne reports. (5:46)
Access to Advancement is supported by the National Science Foundation Research in Disabilities Education Program.
**(If you'd like to hear this story again, or other similar stories in this exclusive radio series, visit our special website www.womeninscience.org and click on Access to Advancement. You may also request a FREE CD of this series.)**
THE ACADEMIC MINUTE
"EXERCISE AND OSTEOPOROSIS" -
Osteoporosis too can lead to disabling bone fractures.
This week's new episode features Dr. Elizabeth O'Neill, Assistant Professor of Exercise Science and Sports Studies at Springfield College.
The Academic Minute is hosted by Dr. Lynn Pasquerella, a celebrated philosopher and medical ethicist, and President of Mount Holyoke College. (2:30)