Special Education Today Newsletter 6(3)
Here’s the news and info for the week that began 13 July 2026
Here we go again! Welcome to another issue of the newsletter for Special Education Today. This issue—which is the 3rd of the sixth year—is for the week that ended 19 July 2026. It was a wonderful week, right?
This issue of the news letter has features that will be familiar to those who read SET regularly. There’s a local-interest photo, some notes about how things are going with SET, a listing of the week’s spedlettes, and a bit of commentary (which this week might sound like boasting).
…and away we go!
Photo
During my convalescence from hip-replacement surgery, I have had extraordinary care from the wonderful Pat. I have also gotten some solace from our two cats. This week’s photo shows one of them, Bill Star, resting on the stool where I have my still-swollen leg elevated. Bill is a big boy, weighing something close to 8 kilos even though he is not obese. He is unusually still in the photo, and he’s resting his heavy head on my shin.
Parenthetically, I should note that I am doing pretty well. It’s just about five weeks since the surgery. I am still using a walker for general mobility and a cane for ascending and descending stairs. There are another eight weeks of rehabilitation yet to go, and I am eager to complete it.
On the good news front, I was able to go out this week, including a lunch (pizza; what else?) with Michael K. Sorry we did not get a photo of that!
Status update
Substack reported nearly 1250 subscribers and greater than 1700 total followers. I’m pleased to see continued growth in the size of the community. I hope you can continue to promote SET to your friends, colleagues, and family members. They are welcome to subscribe!
Speaking of subscribers, I’d like to welcome supporters Sunil G., Sonja de B., Sunshine, Melissa, and anyone else whom I’ve overlooked. It’s great to have these folks joining Pam S., Mary Anne L., Kristin S., Hill W., Ed. M., Larry M., Linda L., Mike N., Christine T., Dan H., Joel M., Clay K., and Ed P. (among others).
Special tip o’ the cap to SET’s patrons: Anita A., Mike G., and Kathy M.
Spedlettes (AKA “table of contents”)
If your only connection with SET is reading this newsletter, you are missing the “breaking news” (teehee) that appears on the Web site throughout the week. This newsletter appears once a week. I post messages to the Web site [https://www.specialeducationtoday.com] multiple times during the week. I often push those posts out via the email list, but you can see them all if you regularly visit the site.
I was a little slack this past week. Sigh. But, the table of posts for the past week follows:
Special Education Today newsletter: 6(2): What’s in this summary for the week ending 12 July 2026? [JWL[
NZ epidemiological study of neurodevelopmental disorders: What is the prevalence of ADHD, autism, ID, LD, and other disorders? [JWL}
A. Archer interview about teaching: How about 70 minutes of on-the-$$ discussion about teaching? [JWL}
Former US government leaders call for stop to changes for federal special education: What do past assistant secretaries of education recommend legislators do with Trump administration restructuring?
Friday catch-up notes—17 July 2026: What stories didn’t become full posts this week? [JWL}
P. Pullen published “Canon of Literacy”: What can educators learn about reading, spelling, and writing from this fine new book?
Moving ED’s Office of Civil Rights reduces investigations of discrimination: Are there fewer options for individuals with disabilities to pursue remedies? [MY, JWL]
Be sure to check the SET Web site to keep current. You’ll find an HTML-formated version of this newsletter (much prettier than this funky version that comes in the e-mail) as well as any newer posts (and a link to archived posts, with some available to free subscribers and all available to supporting subscribers).
Commentary
As mentioned in the opening for this week’s newsletter, my comments this week may seem a bit like bragging. I write this because the following notes reflect quite positively, I think, on the community that is Special Education Today. So, please permit me if I sound like I am crowing.
Three of the posts shown in the foregoing list of spedlettes feature people who are members of the SET community:
In “Former Government Leaders,” there are at least three SETters who signed the public letter to US legislators.
The “A. Archer interview” is about another member of the denizen of our little island of sanity, the wonderful Anita A.
The post “P. Pullen published” is about the latest book by our own Paige P. (who has probably 3-4 different addresses subscribed to SET).
Woot! Woot!
I think it’s pretty cool that these newsmakers are subscribers to SET with us. To be sure, I elected to post those spedlettes, so one might say that there’s a bias operating here, that I tilted the playing field in favor of featuring news about these individuals. But, I think lots of reasonable people would say that all three stories were quite legitimate news items for the special educators and those concerned about individuals with disabilities. Indeed, that readers dropped “likes” on those very posts underscored the importance of our coverage of the stories.
Now, those half dozen members of our gang are not the only influential people sunning themselves on the beaches or sipping some tropical flavored drink (with a little umbrella stuck in it) over on Larry M.’s Tiki Bars on our little island. There are plenty others, too. And I’m honored to share this slice of paradise with all y’all.
I hope that all the denizens of our temperate island are enjoying a swim, reading some escapists literature, catching a few zzzs under an umbrella, and all that. And I hope that you are taking care of yourselves, your friends and family member's, and your pets. And I hope that you remember our familiar entreaties: Wear your seatbelts (and encourage other passengers in your vehicle wear them, too). Wash your hands frequently. Prefer gathering in safe spaces. Eat healthily and help others to do so. Exercise regularly. And, of course, teach our children well.
JohnL
SET Editor guy
Charlottesville
SET should not be confused with a product with nearly the same name that is published by the Council for Exceptional Children. SET predated CEC’s publication by decades. Despite my appreciation for CEC, this product is not affiliated with that organization.