Early in the year of 2003, the various services and benefit functions that were part of the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service, or the INS, were placed under the direction of the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS). It was then renamed the US Citizenship and Immigration Services, which is also now referred to as USCIS.The USCIS is now responsible for administering all of the functions of immigration and naturalization adjudication. As well, it is responsible for establishing the policies and priorities related to immigration services.One of the many various functions of the newly formed US Citizenship and Immigration Services, includes providing information to those who are interested in immigrating to the United States and becoming US citizens, as well as providing resources to immigrants.The USCIS oversees and manages all of the many functions that are related to immigration, including: processing of visa petitions by immigrants; making rulings on naturalization petitions; adjudicating applications for asylum and for refugees; arbitrating procedures and rulings that are performed at the various service centers; handling all other adjudication requirements as required by the circumstances.The department of US Citizenship and Immigration Services is comprised of approximately fifteen thousand employees. Some are employees of the United States federal government and some are independent contractors.Roughly speaking, this large staff works out of 250 field offices and headquarters located around the globe. They serve the needs of people from all parts of the world who are interested in emigrating from their native countries to the United States.Part of the responsibilities of the USCIS include providing resources for potential immigrants and for the various organizations that support and serve them. In the instance of immigrants, the USCIS primarily focuses their efforts on two key periods of time in an immigrant’s journey.The time when an immigrant first becomes a permanent resident and the point at which he or she is ready to formally begin the naturalization process, which will lead them toward integration into the US culture and society.For the newly arrived immigrant, there is a vast amount of information and resources available at the official website of the department of US Citizenship and Immigration Services, which can be located at USCIS. On this site, there is a comprehensive guide that can be downloaded. It provides practical immigration information designed to help new immigrants easily transition into the everyday lifestyle of the US.This helpful guide is entitled “Welcome to the United States: A Guide for New Immigrants,” and it is available in eleven different languages. The guide also covers some basic US civics information which introduces the new immigrants to the United States system of government. This is information that they will need to learn to function well in their new country.For those already in the process of naturalization, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services website also offers an array of educational materials in a section titled “Civics and Citizenship Study Materials.” These learning resources have been provided to assist immigrants in preparing for the US citizenship test, while also encouraging additional civic education.
What You Should Know About Teaching Special Education
Special Education for me is a challenging vocation for it caters to individuals with disabilities. Through this type of education, students with disabilities are educated effectively.
I read a line from an article years ago that states: “It is said that a society can be judged by the way it treats those who are different.”
In a democratic society it is believed that every individual is valuable in his own right and should be afforded equal opportunities to develop his potentials. The provision of special education will empower families to build future for their children, normal and special alike.
It was said that “teaching” is what special education is most about.
The role of the Special Education (SPED) teacher is very crucial. The SPED teacher has the responsibility not only to teach the regular classroom stuff like reading, writing, math etc, but also Activities of Daily Living and peer socialization.
An important part of a special education teacher’s job is the early identification of a child with special needs, intervention is vital in educating children with special needs because as time goes on children who are not coping or who struggle in the general curriculum can be negatively affected.
A SPED educator’s job is also challenging. Special education teachers work with children and youths who have a variety of disabilities. I also find this vocation fulfilling, for, it provides the opportunity to establish meaningful relationships with special kids.
Although helping these students can be highly rewarding, the work also can be emotionally and physically draining. SPED teachers work under the threat of litigation against the school or district by parents if correct procedures are not followed or if they feel that their child is not receiving an adequate education.
A SPED educator should be well-guarded by the laws. Understanding and practicing the laws will ensure a safe and legal environment for both the special child and SPED teacher.
A special educator’s battlecry should be “commitment”. Commitment spells equitable and excellent classroom. Without commitment to the chosen vocation, one won’t be able to do his/ her job well.
But, teachers cannot do it alone. Teaching is a collaborative effort between the educator, student, parents/ family and the community. SPED educators, should express desire to be the parents’ partner in the development of the special child.
As teachers, trying to reach out beyond the school to promote trust and understanding, and build partnerships with all segments of the school community is significant. Being active in associations/ causes supporting the special child/ special education can be a good start.
I would like to quote Robert Pasternack, Ph.D., Assistant Secretary Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services,U.S. Department of Education. He said:
“Some of the kids that are in special education are not, in fact, kids with disabilities. They are, in fact, instructional casualties. They are, in fact, kids who haven’t been taught successfully using scientifically validated instructional approaches and research validated curricula in the general education system and general education settings.”
With that, I have the following implications to education of children with special needs:
States will put a premium on Reading — to deliver scientifically validated and scientifically based reading research, validated curricula and instructional strategies in classrooms.
Continuous and more additional trainings for teachers. If professional development will be given to teachers, if it’s sustained, if it’s systematic, if it’s embedded in what teachers do, then, in fact, we can go ahead and improve the capacity of teachers to address the learning needs of the heterogeneous groups of kids that they have in front of them on a daily basis.
If you are looking for a school that: Is committed to enriching the lives of our diverse population; Works to meet learner and community needs in a mutually supportive partnership; Has competent teachers, therapists, staff & facilities; Is accessible and safe; and
Affordable Health Dental Insurance – Insurance For Dental Implants
Dental insurance coverage are generally for ordinary dental care such as extraction, cleaning and filing and lately, even partial coverage of dental braces. If your need is for an insurance to cover dental implants, you might find it hard to look for an insurance company that will cover such kind of dental service.The reason for this is obvious. Dental implants are a rare dental application which would not be advantageous income wise, on the part of an insurance company to offer considering the rarity of such dental need. On the other hand, you might indeed find an insurance company offering this kind of coverage but on a very costly basis. Insurance companies offering this kind of coverage are those high end companies catering to the rich and affluent segment of our society.Such insurance companies are the heavyweights of the industry that would tend to insure anything of great value. These kind of insurance companies insure international shipping, airline companies, oil explorations and even precious stones. Their health insurance covers anything that would be insurable. Unlike the small and traditional insurance companies that do not tend to insure things that are rare in nature, these kind of insurance companies will go for it so long as their price of insurance will be accepted by the client.You can find these international insurance companies in the internet. When you browse in their websites, look for their health insurance offerings where you can find their offerings on dental care. For sure, dental implants will be offered and dental braces together with other ordinary dental care services. You can then visit the office of the insurance company you browsed on the net and inquire from them personally the cost of their insurance offerings on dental implants.Naturally, this insurance to cover dental implants is no ordinary matter thus you have to expect extra ordinary insurance charges. If you think you can manage with the insurance cost, then why not? In fact, so long as you can afford to pay the insurance premiums, it would be to your advantage to have one, if you think you might need it in the near future. Dental implants, though a very costly type of dental service, can be moderated with an insurance coverage, especially a full coverage type of insurance dedicated to dental implants.Although you might feel you are in good hands with these giants of the insurance business, it would still be worth examining very closely the terms and agreements of the policy that they have for a full coverage of dental implants. Further, before you visit them and examine their offered policy, it is advised that you have to visit first a dentist of your choice and inquire about dental implants. Try to inquire if what is the basic procedure in having an implant, and other dental services needed to have an implant. Inquire also about the cost of such a dental procedure. If your dentist might not be able to give you an exact estimate of a dental implant, even just a ballpark figure will do.With this dental implant information, you can now proceed to visit the office of the insurance company and make your inquiry and clarifications about full coverage of a dental implant. Once fully satisfied, you can now make your final decision about having insurance for a dental implant.