Multimedia Reporting (Bradford-Noland)

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs has awarded the University of Kansas’ Beach Center on Disability, a sub component of the department of Special Education, and the Illinois Positive Behavior Intervention and Support Network a four-year, $1.6 million grant. The grant will assist in establishing ways of preparing educational staff within inner-city schools in the aspects of social and behavioral involvement.

The grant will set up the Kansas-Illinois, K-I, Center to investigate a Response to Intervention, RtI, model. The model acts as a guideline for the available resources within the schools.

“We have [resources like] special education, school psychology, mental health, gifted and talented, and English as a second language. RtI pulls all of these systems together and looks at intervention on three different levels,” said Wayne Sailor, professor of Special Education and associate director of the Beach Center on Disability.

Under the RtI model, all students including those with disabilities are included in the general education classroom. Inner-city school research indicates a tendency of general educators to delegate the information and training issues around children with extensive special needs and that general educators tend to drive the schools, Sailor said.

“I would like to see more schools equipped to support all kids, regardless of needs or reason for needs. I would like us getting to kids that need us sooner, and kids not standing out and being stigmatized for their individual needs,” said Jamie Bezdek, research assistant and doctoral student.

The K-I Center introduces three levels of intervention or assistance into the schools, closely monitoring its progress. The first level of intervention affects all of the children in the classroom at a primary level, testing speech and language issues.

“The data collected allows us to see if individual kids are keeping up with their grade level through a reasonable level of expectation or if they’re beginning to fall off the chart,” Sailor said.

Educators will direct students consistently showing low levels of achievement to the secondary level of assistance, small group arrangements. The secondary level teaches students strategies to enhance their content ability and as a result, be re-engaged with the rest of their class.

Between eight and 10 percent of students begin to fall off the chart within the secondary level of intervention, Sailor said. As a result, educators engage a third level of assistance. The third level includes highly individualized support from all available resources at a school. Educators write a specific plan for the individual.

A team of 12 to 15 KU individuals, including three doctoral students, will monitor students’ academic, social and behavioral progress quarterly, through a series of standardized testing of social emotional behavioral skills.

“The schools will be monitored depending on what schools in the district want to do and whatever pattern is already established; we may layer in additional measures,” said Amy McCart, associate research professor for the Beach Center and co-principal investigator at the K-I Center.

McCart will also engage in staff training development and consistency. Training will begin in January along with monthly contact with Illinois. The preparation for staff training is currently vague and in its brainstorming stage. More effectively including students in general with special educators and general educators addressing the needs of students with disabilities are among staff preparation plans, McCart said.

Schools in Kansas involved with the RtI model in the grant’s first year include two schools in the Kansas City, Kan. district, USD 500, and two schools in the Topeka district, USD 501. A total of eight schools in Kansas will be included by the end of the four years. The RtI model tests classrooms from pre-kindergarten through high school.

Participating schools already implement intervention techniques, which is the cause of their selection, Sailor said.

The issue of intervention relates to the extent to which children’s social and behavioral issues interfere with their learning. While this is an issue with children with disabilities, especially behavioral disabilities, it can also apply to children in general.

“The deeper you penetrate into cities and their schools, the greater the probability that kids will have social and behavioral issues that interfere with their learning,” Sailor said.

A research grant to conduct a trial for the effectiveness of the RtI model on a larger scale, including more schools, will be developed after the grant’s four years. The ultimate goal is to replace categorical logic with data-based decision logic in accordance with a response to intervention approach, Sailor said.

“Kids have a really wide range of needs and Rtl helps school personnel get specific about who needs what,” said Nikki Wolf, research assistance and doctoral student. “We need to find out how this can be used to best meet the needs of students.”

The K-I Center hopes to expand RtI model practices throughout school districts to improve social and educational outcomes for children. The grant begins January 1. The K-I Center is one of three sites in the nation testing the RtI model.

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Headache, fever, cough, sore throat and muscle aches are common symptoms between the months of October and April. This is especially true for students living in community housing. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention Web site, between five to 20 percent of the population in the United States is infected by the flu, also know as influenza, during these months each year.

Johnson County Clin-Trials, JCCT, is a clinical research facility in Lenexa. The company’s latest medical research study includes evaluating an investigational influenza vaccine. Although the vaccine, marketed in Canada since 1993, is approved by the Food and Drug Administration, it is still required by the FDA to run a two-year study in the United States.

“The study is required not to show that the vaccine works but showing that its side effect profile is no different from other drugs,” said Dr. Casey Johnson, co-founder and president of Johnson County Clin-Trials.

The phase or stage three study, now in its second year, includes more than 3,000 study participants nationwide; JCCT is granted ten percent of that population. While phase one and phase two studies test at single medical sites, phase three studies require volumes of participants spread throughout the country to show that there is nothing wrong with the drug, Johnson said.

The influenza vaccine study at JCCT includes 350 qualified study participants between the ages of 18 and 50 years old who are reimbursed for time and travel. Responses to advertisements help choose study participants.

“Honestly, the money aspect interested me in the study,” Kailey Mesler, Lawrence junior and influenza vaccine study participant, said. “It’s easy to do and you make between $350 to $400.”

Including Johnson, seven full-time staff members and 15 part-time individuals work on the study at JCCT. During the study, participants receive either the actual influenza vaccine or a saline solution called a placebo. The vaccines and placebos are equally and randomly divided among the participants according to protocol, the predetermined rules governing a study; 50 percent of the participants receive the influenza vaccine and 50 percent receive the placebo. What injection is given remains unknown to the participants and the staff, a requirement by the FDA.

“If no one knows whether or not they received the drug, they can not be influenced by the drug for negative reasons,” Johnson said. “It’s a way to keep all statistics unbiased.”

After receiving either the vaccine or the placebo, JCCT continues to keep track of the participants for the first three days by a diary phone system. On day 21, the participants come back for a repeat blood draw and replicate the same process at the six-month mark.

“Follow-up blood draws are required to see if the patients have built up the anti-body desired,” Johnson said.

Mindy Marker, Lenexa junior and influenza study participant, mentioned JCCT’s work ethic.

“I did not find any flaws in the study but I was more worried about making sure the study was safe,” Marker said. “Once I saw that the FDA had already approved the vaccine I no longer had any worries.”

In the past, Johnson participated in several influenza studies. This influenza study is different because this particular drug has already received FDA approval since there is so much background information on this drug from its market in Canada, Johnson said.

“Typically most drugs will see FDA approval in three to four years,” Johnson said.

What Johnson and other study investigators hope to see through this study is adequate anti-body build up, not wanting to see abnormal or adverse side effects including pain or redness in the arm or arm pain or numbness lasting longer than a day after the injection.

“You basically want to see nothing at all except a normal lifestyle,” Johnson said.

Although no confirmed cases of the flu have occurred this year at the University of Kansas, workers at Watkins Memorial Health Center expect most of their cases to be seen between now and February.

“There were 24 confirmed cases last year, keeping in mind not everyone that came in was tested,” said Kathy Thrasher, head pharmacist at Watkins.

Watkins advises students to take measures to avoid the spread of influenza and other viruses.

“Students should practice good hygiene by covering their cough, not sharing drinks and washing hands with soap,” Thrasher said.

If the influenza drug proves to be effective after the study’s completion in April, manufacturers could see the drug on the market next fall in doctors’ offices and other available locations.

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The knock at Christy Merrick’s door at 5:30 a.m. on Dec. 8th, 1988 awoke her by surprise. A major in the Army and 39 years old, Merrick was held at gun point by her visitor. Refusing to give out confidential information, Merrick was shot in the head. After lying alone bleeding for nine hours, Merrick was discovered and rushed to the hospital; the bullet severed her optical nerves, resulting in blindness.

Merrick, now 55 years old, relies on the University of Kansas Audio-Reader Network, a reading and information service for blind, visually impaired, and print disabled individuals in Kansas and western Missouri. Audio-Reader offers opportunities for print-disabled individuals like Merrick by providing access to the printed word and visual information through media and other technologies.

The University’s Audio-Reader recently celebrated its 35th year of service to the community on Oct. 10. Throughout its service range, Audio-Reader has significantly increased its broadcast range through four broadcast sub carriers in Kansas and two in Missouri.
Janet Campbell, Audio-Reader director and Kansas Public Radio general manager’s 25 years of dedicated service with Audio-Reader can be attributed to Audio-Reader’s extensive growth and current success.

Besides being responsible for the $800,000 annual budget; approximately $500,000 from the University to pay for the salaries of eight people and the remaining from private funds to purchase the radios for listeners, pay for 800 lines, purchase all of the equipment, books, and newspaper subscriptions, Campbell hires and supervises the staff while staying in compliance with FCC regulations, Campbell said.

With approximately 800 Audio-Reader users across Kansas, hundreds of volunteers contribute to Audio-Reader’s services. Without the assistance of these volunteers, Campbell’s constant perseverance towards bettering Audio-Reader’s services would be a constant struggle.

“My favorite part of my job is working with volunteers,” Campbell said. “I think that’s what’s kept me here for all these years; there’s a wide variety of people I would not meet on a normal basis.”

Campbell’s work ethic proves she is a “hands off” administrator. Letting her department heads run their own departments allows her to pursue other interests outside of Kansas Public Radio like the Kansas Public Broadcasting Council or the Kansas Library Association, Steve Kincaid, Audio-Reader and Kansas Public Radio’s director of engineering, said.

Beginning her career with Audio-Reader in a volunteer position as secretary for the International Association of Audio Information Services in 1979, Campbell’s resourcefulness, fairness, compassion, and understanding attitude helped her gain the director position in 1988.

“Janet’s personality and work ethic is a testament to her management style that so many of the Audio-Reader staff has been around for so long,” Lori Kesinger, Audio-Reader programming manager, said.

Campbell’s personal experiences with Audio-Reader from her own mother who utilized Audio-Reader in the last years of her life to her familiarity with volunteers who have later become Audio-Reader listeners give Campbell an insight on the real cycle of Audio-Reader’s use among people. Volunteers continue to inspire Campbell throughout her career.

“I’m just always amazed by their devotion,” Campbell said. “We had one volunteer who had a serious heart attack- he called from the emergency room to say he couldn’t do his shift. They are a truly devoted bunch.”

With the help of Campbell, Audio-Reader’s technological advances and expansion within the community have given visually impaired individuals like Merrick the ability to live relatively normal lifestyles with Audio-Reader’s services.

“You don’t realize what services are available until something happens to yourself,” Merrick said. “I’ve been using Audio-Reader since 1991 and the technology now available is always useful.”

Celebrating her 50th birthday on Oct. 27th, Campbell intends to remain a part of Audio-Reader due to her love for her job and its constant rewards.

From radio reading services, the Lions Telephone Reader and dedicated volunteers and employess like Campbell, Audio-Reader continues to offer free of charge services to visually impaired individuals in the listening area who are unable to read printed material.

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Students living off campus and Lawrence residents using “short cut” routes through local neighborhoods such as West Hills might discover trouble transporting to and from campus in the near future.

At their Oct. 3rd meeting, The Lawrence Traffic Safety Commission recommended that a NO LEFT TURN be implemented during specific times on Iowa Street at Orchard Lane, University Drive, Stratford Road and Oxford Road.

“The recommendation requested a NO LEFT TURN be implemented Monday through Friday from 7 to 9 a.m. and from 4 to 6 p.m.,” David Woosley, Transportation/Traffic Engineer for the city of Lawrence, said.

The specific times, which are the same time periods implemented on 23rd Street, were chosen because they are considered peak traffic times along Iowa Street, Woosley said.

The NO LEFT TURN recommendation came after a Traffic Safety Commission member requested the issue’s placement on the meeting agenda. The October meeting was the first time the issue was discussed.

Based on crash history at the intersections along the corridor, the Traffic Safety Commission recommended a 90-day trial.

“The 90 days will not begin until the issue is approved by the City Commission and signs are installed,” Woosley said. “The recommendation is expected to reach the City Commission’s agenda in the next two weeks.”

While the recommendation expects to better traffic flow along Iowa Street, it could also increase delays for left-turners at 15th Street and at Harvard Road.

“Not allowing a left turn from 4 to 6 p.m. is understandable because of the evening traffic,” Stacey Wales, Lawrence junior said. “However, not being able to use those roads to get to campus each morning will open up even more traffic conditions along the main intersections near campus.”

Although no West Hills residents have placed concerns to the Traffic Safety Commission regarding traffic problems in the neighborhood, residents have noticed a significant increase in traffic during campus hours.

“I see a lot more traffic through the neighborhood during the school year,” Lenoir Ekdahl, West Hills resident since 1968, said. “I don’t see any problems, but I’ve noticed quite a few accidents traveling south on Iowa.”

Ekdahl uses 15th Street or Harvard Road to avoid traffic on Iowa Street. If the NO LEFT TURN is implemented, she said it will not affect her usual route, despite possible traffic conditions at those intersections.

If the request is approved by the City Commission, signs will be posted in the near future at each intersection, similar to the signs on 23rd Street between Louisiana Street and Learnard Avenue.

Penalties for drivers who fail to the NO LEFT TURN signs will be answered by the Lawrence Legal Department.

Students such as Ashley Helbert, Leawood junior, opt for long term revisions to accommodate both Lawrence drivers and off campus student residents.

“Putting NO LEFT TURN signs up would truly have no effect unless there was an officer or somebody else watching at those times,” Helbert said. “If I was running late I would probably turn left to avoid being tardy for a class, fined for being late to a meeting or even taking the chance of missing a test or quiz!”

The Traffic Safety Commission’s future plans include widening streets to provide a separate left-turn lane out of through traffic in order to settle traffic concerns as an alternative to implementing the NO LEFT TURN, Woosley said.

With rush hour traffic concerns growing for Lawrence and off campus residents, the City Commission’s approval may encourage drivers to choose alternative routes in the near future as an attempt to decrease Iowa Street traffic dilemmas.

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Warm topical beaches, foreign settings; travel companies continue to draw customers towards vacation “hot spots” of the year.

February through June and October and November represent several of the busiest months for travel in Lawrence. Most often, customers take advantage of travel in the holiday seasons, spring break and summer months.

With increasing travel prices, travel companies expect to see slower business; however, this is not always the case. Increasingly more customers began taking advantage of travel options despite the slight rise in travel price.

After taking a tumble after the 9/11 incident, the travel industry continues to see higher passenger counts, therefore higher prices each year.

“It used to be that planes would be half full, but planes to anywhere everyday are now booked up,” Stephanie Coleman, STA Travel branch manager, said.

Beverly Falley, owner of the Lawrence Travel Center, said that airlines do not pay travel agencies commissions on tickets, so a ticketing fee must be charged. Airfares fluctuate constantly with a recently slight increase in moderate priced hotels across the country. Therefore, there is a minor difference in previous years’ prices.

“There are many factors that we can manipulate to decrease price, but we can work with any budget and find a truly memorable trip,” Falley said.

Vacationing “hot spots” are determined by traveler’s interest and price. This year, “hot spots” include Europe, Cancun and Acapulco; Cancun’s popularity has risen from last year due to its recent lack of damaging tropical weather.

“Sometimes in our office, we try to create a buzz for a particular destination just to get people to some different places but ultimately, travelers know where they want to go before they come in,” Coleman said.

Airfares vary, depending on the season. Airfares to Europe average between $1,100 and $1,600 depending on flight destination. While hostels and budget hotels can run from $30 to $60 per night, travelers are also recommended to purchase rail tickets and additional expenses.

Coleman said European tours are an affordable and adventurous option. Tours include accommodations, transportation, and some meals.

For spring break plans, all-inclusive packages to Cancun or Acapulco run between $1,200 and $1,600, including flights from Kansas City, a seven night accommodation, meals and drinks, as well as transfers from the airport to the hotel and vice versa.

Falley said prices mainly depend on the destination and length of the trip; prices may adjust depending on the type of property.

While the Lawrence Travel Center works with many families and students as well as honeymooners, other travel agencies, such as STA Travel on the University’s campus and All Star Travel Crew, a Chicago based student travel company, were designed strictly for student travel.

“Our office has been here in the union for about three years and since we’re still a developing branch, each year our passenger counts are higher than the pervious year. By the end of this year we will probably have booked 250 to 300 trips,” Coleman said.

Specific spring break companies such as All Star Travel Crew also offer affordable trips for students. Travel destinations are based off of trends from previous years.

Ali Ruszczyk, Shawnee Mission sophomore and campus representative for All Star Travel Crew said spring break companies differ from travel agencies because they solely book with the most all-inclusive hotels and the air fare is charted to avoid flying commercial. However, spring break companies also witness travel price increases.

“It seems about every two or three years there is about a $50 to $90 price increase because travel destinations know people plan to travel to their destination,” Ruszczyk said.

The increase in travel expenses does not affect customer’s desire to travel; rather, it has created a larger buzz.

“The travel industry is just like any other form of retail. When demand goes up, the price goes up. If they really want to travel, they’ll still buy,” Coleman said.

For students, like Lawrence junior Kailey Mesler, affording travel expenses comes with a price.

“Paying for school expenses as well as travel expenses creates a burden in college life,” Mesler said. “I know traveling with my friends is something I have always desired, so taking advantage of travel deals is one of my top priorities.”

Recommendations from people who have previously traveled to a desired destination create a greater interest.

Ruszczyk’s four years of experience as a campus representative has allowed her to gain knowledge in numerous travel destinations.

Ruszczyk said students who experience vacation “hot spots” usually return for the following year, increasing business with their positive recommendations. First hand experiences usually add to a customer’s interest.
Booking strictly through travel agencies or spring break companies does not guarantee the cheapest bargain of the two.

“It is not necessarily better to buy ‘Spring Break’ trips trough a ‘Spring Break’ company. Often we can get better prices using other agency sources,” Falley said.

All forms of travel experiences price fluctuation; there is not one better way for a customer to plan a vacation.

Most importantly, with the rise in price and customer interest, interested customers are advised to create travel arrangements as early as possible.

“After 9/11 people got used to there being so many different ‘last minute deals’ with airlines and packages, but cheap last minute deals really do not exist anymore,” Coleman said.

With planes selling out and tickets based on availability, the earlier one books, the greater the chance of the cheapest ticket being available.

Shopping around for differing travel deals is strongly recommended by all travel agencies.

Mesler said after visiting with several companies, she plans to place her deposit in mid-October to ensure her travel spot.

Numerous travel companies offer special deals and packages for customers and students, but all forms of travel witness price fluctuations year to year. Planning trips early guarantees the best deal and most reliable travel to vacation “hot spots.”

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