Parent-child play is good for development. Read all about it in the CPD's April NewsFlash.

Check out April’s NewsFlash, featuring the CPD’s multifaceted approach to autism and a fundraising campaign for the CPD’s new developmental playground, which will help provide support to the families of children with disabilities. We thank all conors and volunteers who have already contributed to this project and invite others to join in the effort.

Happy reading, and happy spring.

Lori Roggman is the Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services' undergraduate research mentor of the year.

Congratulations to CPD faculty members and students who shared their work during Utah State University’s Research Week 2010.

Special recognition goes to Dr. Lori Roggman, the undergraduate research mentor of the year for the Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services.

Roggman leads the Natural Parenting team of graduate and undergraduate researchers. The team has incorporated the PICCOLO measurement of parenting into its research. PICCOLO is used for observing, tracking, and supporting parenting interactions that lead to positive child outcomes from infancy through preschool. It’s a project of the CPD’s Early Intervention Research Institute.

Students involved in CPD research or employed in CPD projects also presented their work during the Graduate Student Symposium and the Student Showcase.

Graduate presenters included:

Heather Mariger with additional authors Jon Whiting and Kim Rigley, Is Your Web Presence Accessible for Everyone? The Development and Evaluation of a Set of Institutional Indicators of Institution-Wide Web Accessibility, mentored by Dr. Cyndi Rowland;

Kristen Kelley with additional author Joy S. Pollard, Comparison of Interactive Video Instruction and In Vivo Teacher Instruction on Acquisition and Generalization of Expressive Object Labeling in Children with Autism, mentored by Dr. Thomas Higbee;

Joy Pollard with additional author Alison M. Betz, A Script-fading Procedure to Promote Unscripted Bids for Joint Attention in Children with Autism, mentored by Dr. Thomas Higbee;

Tyra Sellers and Katie Snyder, Using Progressive-Ratio Schedules to Validate Results of Preference Assessments, mentored by Dr. Thomas Higbee;

Tyra Sellers (main author; Dr. Andrew Samaha was an additional author), Using Progressive-Ratio Schedules to Validate Results of Preference Assessments, mentored by Dr. Sarah Bloom;

Katie Snyder, Evaluation of a Video-based Preference Assessment for Children with Autism, mentored by Dr. Thomas Higbee.

Undergraduate presenters included:

Daniel Roberts presents during Research Week at Utah State University.

Tina Peck and Daniel Roberts, Promoting Employment Opportunities for Young Adults with Developmental Disabilities in Cache County, mentored by Dr. Judith Holt;

Allisa Blackburn and Jessica Shaw,The Relationship among Income, Education, Maternal Language  Input, and Maternal Book-Sharing Practices in Wordless and Printed Book Contexts, mentored by Sandra Gillam and Dr. Lisa Boyce;

Kara Stone and Mary Yates, Up to 3 Program, mentored by Judith Holt.

I sat in for an hour or two at the Up to 3 classroom in the CPD, and though the activities were for little tykes, I learned some new things. For example, they have this great, no-mess method for applying glitter.

Find out how they do it as they make a rainbow fish.

Step 1: Color your fish.

Step 2: Paint with glue.

Step 3: Put your fish in an oatmeal can that has been cleaned out and partially filled with glitter. Seal and shake...

until there you go! Your fish is finished. You'll want to let it dry before you touch it, though.

Dr. Innocenti

Dr. Mark Innocenti was elected to the Council for Exceptional Children Board of Directors as a Member-at-Large this fall.

Dr. Innocenti is the Associate Director of the Early Intervention Research Institute at the Center for Persons with Disabilities at Utah State University. He is a researcher with over 25 years of experience working with children who are at risk and their families.

He is a past president of the CEC’s Division for Early Childhood Board, and he served on the DEC Board for eight years.

“I think having an early childhood perspective on the CEC Board is important,” he said. “I think we need strong organizations to lead the field and CEC is a strong organization.” His appointment is voluntary, and as he serves he plans to continue emphasizing evidence-based practices in early intervention and special education.

His term begins January 1.

As a board member he will be involved in policy making and administration of the CEC. The council is the largest international professional organization dedicated to improving the educational success of individuals with disabilities, gifts and talents.

The CEC works to enhance professional development among its members, who include teachers, administrators, students, parents, paraprofessionals and support service providers. It also publishes cutting-edge information and research.