10 steps for making your online courses accessible for all students
New report highlights 10-step plan to applying Universal Design for Learning online According to a new report, incorporating Universal Design ... Read more
Special Education
Special education shifts to results-driven framework
The Office of Special Education Programs’ (OSEP) new Results Driven Accountability (RDA) framework changes its accountability system from a primary focus on compliance to an increased emphasis on…
Inside the unique STEM school for students with learning difficulties
The nation's first STEM academy for those with social and learning difficulties focuses on both hard and soft skills, from coding to collaboration.
5 strategies for supporting students with autism
Technology plays a role in helping students with autism succeed in school Transitioning to a new school year often is ... Read more
Rural district turns to online speech therapy
Although districts are required to provide students in need with special education and related services such as speech therapy, many face obstacles in doing so. One such school…
Michigan expands access to online speech therapy for underserved students
Michigan schools are now eligible to receive Medicaid reimbursement for speech telepractice services, just as they do for on-site services. According to the Michigan Department of Health and…
This game could improve behavior—and achievement
Can playing a game help students—especially those with disabilities or special needs—improve their behavior, learn empathy, and increase academic performance? The founder of gaming monolith Electronic Arts thinks…
Minority children underrepresented in special education
Contrary to popular belief, minority children are not overrepresented in special education classrooms and are actually less likely to be diagnosed with and treated for disabilities than white…
Why maker technology is crucial for students with learning difficulties
Many students with learning difficulties—from Dysgraphia and Dyslexia to ADD—respond well to visual or tactile learning and activities that allow physical participation,
Apperson align social-emotional assessment to Open Circle curriculum
As part of its commitment to educating the whole child through academic and social-emotional learning (SEL), Apperson Inc., a K-12 provider of assessment tools and software solutions that…
Webinar covers social and emotional learning strategies
On June 24, 2015, educators and administrators can learn how SEL assessment and instruction helps improve student outcomes and alleviate behavior issues during the free webinar, “Learn from…
Webinar explores new approach to understanding Autism
The Uniquely Human approach seeks to learn more about individuals with Autism in an attempt to find out why certain behavior might be occurring. It is the subject…
How a collaborative mindset helps teachers reach all learners
Special ed and general ed teachers work together at one district to improve outcomes for everyone The implementation of the ... Read more
S.C. streamlines special education processes
Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), states are required to collect and report data on a number of indicators concerning special education. Gathering this data is…
On-demand special ed PD links educators with evidence-based training
With the U.S. special education population having grown by 73 percent in the last three decades, school leaders, teachers and parents are looking for new ways to better…
Social robots could better engage children with autism, research says
Preliminary research indicates that students with autism might develop stronger social skills via interaction with social robots Milo visits elementary ... Read more
5 useful apps for students with autism
Mobile technology has opened up a plethora of resources for students with special needs, including students with autism. During Autism Awareness Month in April, we're highlighting resources and…
CASE endorses Fast ForWord
The Fast ForWord program from Scientific Learning Corp. has received an official endorsement from the Council of Administrators of Special Education (CASE), an international professional organization affiliated with…
Improving online accessibility for students a major issue for schools
As schools make recorded lessons available to students online, they may not be making them accessible for students with disabilities. For some, that decision is causing serious consequences.
Rural district meets speech language pathologist shortage
In rural southern Mississippi, finding enough qualified speech-language professionals to fully serve a growing population of students with speech and language delays can be problematic. Stone County School…
Tool aims to help maximize learning for students with autism
A new cognition tool is intended to help higher-functioning students with autism maximize their learning potential when they demonstrate inflexible thinking and difficulty identifying relevant information. Skills Advanced…
New PD focuses on dyslexia
Literacy publisher MindPlay has introduced a new professional development program about dyslexia for K-12 teachers and parents. Understanding Dyslexia is an online program that helps teachers identify students…
New partnership supports online learning for special education students
Across the country, schools and districts are leveraging digital learning to overcome staffing and resource challenges to improve outcomes and to address the many needs of their K-12…
Kurzweil improves learning for blind, visually impaired users
Kurzweil Education, Inc., a division of Cambium Learning Group, Inc., announced Kurzweil 1000 Version 14, the latest version of its award-winning text-to-speech software that makes printed or electronic…
Idaho district implements online speech therapy
School districts spanning large areas, like 10,000-plus student Bonneville Joint School District 93 in Idaho Falls, Idaho, often struggle to hire and retain enough fully qualified speech-language pathologists…
8 special education communication apps
Technology facilitates faster and easier communication for everyone, and it plays a unique role in helping students with special needs develop important verbal and non-verbal communication skills. Here,…
5 back-to-school apps for special-needs students
Thanks to new technologies, students starting another school year have at their disposal more innovative applications to make the learning process a little easier and more exciting.
Prepping students with autism for life after K-12
Transitioning to higher education or the workforce is a challenge for most K-12 students, but it can be more challenging for students with autism as they learn to…
Four special-education innovations from ISTE
A software program that can boost the memory and attention of students with disabilities, called the “most innovative medical advancement of 2012” by the National Institutes of Health,…
6 ways to make digital content universally accessible
As school districts move toward a digital transition and attempt to create content repositories, ensuring that the digital content is accessible for students of all abilities is especially…
9 special needs apps for students and teachers
Technology is nearly ubiquitous in today's classrooms, and special education teachers have found that mobile devices and apps can help special needs students develop and strengthen a number…
15 top special education blogs
Special education resources are in high demand, and while each student with special needs is different, special education teachers and support staff benefit from sharing best practices and…
Myths and facts about online speech therapy
Online learning extends educational opportunities to a number of different student groups, and those needing special interventions are able to benefit from expanded learning opportunities, too. One fast-growing…
Ten things your student with autism wishes you knew
Here are ten things your student with autism wishes you knew: 1. Behavior is communication. All behavior occurs for a reason. It tells you, even when my words…