The topics listed are individual websites that can be accessed by members of The National Association of Special Education Teachers (NASET). If you are not a member of NASET, you can join today.

Members of NASET, please login (member login and password) to have full access to all the information and other websites links, in our database.

ABA

• A good overview of ABA -ABA Overview : "Applied" means practice, rather than research or philosophy. "Behavior analysis" may be read as "learning theory," that is, understanding what leads to (or doesn't lead to) new skills. (This is a simplification: ABA is just as much about maintaining and using skills as about learning. 
• A very good and thorough site containing numerous links on ABA : I am the father of a school-age child who has autism. This is a collection of Internet and other resources which parents of children with PDD, PDD-NOS, autism, Asperger's Syndrome, or hyperlexia may find useful. 
• Books and materials on ABA - ABA Books : from the Institute for Applied Behavior Analysis - Click on resources at this site.
• Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis : The Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis is a psychology journal that publishes research about applications of the experimental analysis of behavior to problems of social importance. 
• Introduction and Overview to The Applied Behavior Analysis Approach to Autism Treatment : In this Section, you will find scientifically validated information about the causes of autism, and the Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) approach to treating it. The content of this Section is carefully refereed by an Advisory Board comprising the leaders in ABA and Autism. 
• Applied Behavior Analysis-Teaching children with Autism: Behaviorism is the examination of human and animal behavior using the principles of science: observation, reproduction, testing, objectivity, etc. Applied behavior analysis, then, is the application of this science of behavior to meet a certain end: to increase or decrease a particular behavior, to improve the quality of a behavior, to stop an old behavior, or teach a new. 

Abbreviations and Acronyms Used in Special Education 

• Extensive ERIC list of terms used in special education: Acronyms frequently used in special education. 
• Abbreviations and acronyms used in special education rights and responsibilities 
• The great list of abbreviations used in special education

About Public Agencies 

• The agencies described provide assistance to people with disabilities and their families. : The agencies described below provide assistance to people with disabilities and their families and will tell you the names and addresses of these agencies in your state.  
• Americans with Disabilities Act- What adoption agencies need to know: By its specific terms, the ADA applies to all adoption agencies, irrespective of the number of employees. Public adoption agencies are covered under Title II and private adoption agencies are covered under Title III of the Act. The ADA contains important requirements designed to protect the interests of individuals with disabilities -- requirements that may affect the way in which agencies utilize disability-related criteria in the selection of prospective adoptive parents.  
• National agencies serving individuals with disabilities 

Academic Goals and Objectives for IEP’s 

• IEP Goals and Objectives/Benchmarks : IEP meetings give you and the school a chance to work together to design an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for your child with learning disabilities who’s eligible for special education. The goals and objectives or benchmarks are the core of the IEP. As a parent, you play an important role in deciding what will be written. 
• For Parents and professionals ...  a library book of over 6,000 IEP goals and objectives to select from for your next IEP: Use The Goal Digger to point-and-click on your computer screen the goals, objectives, and criteria for each area of learning and include the child's present level of performance if you wish. Personalized with automatic insertion of the child's name and gender-correct pronouns in goals and objectoives.  
• IEP4U.COM has over 4000 free Goals and Objectives (IEP-ITP) each with changeable benchmarks. : IEP4U.COM has over 4000 free Goals and Objectives (IEP-ITP) each with changeable benchmarks. The Idea Statements are spread out over seven subjects (Domains) and four functional levels. Teachers, parents and students can now access objectives directly from this Web Site. 
• IEP goals: Questions and answers about goals and objectives 
• Measurable IEP goals: explanation and samples included 
• IEP links: extensive links about Info, elements of goals and objectives/benchmarks, methodology, suggestions, articles, links, etc. 

Accessing Parent Groups 

• Accessing parent group information: Families with a child who has a disability have special concerns and often need a great deal of information: information about the disability of their child, about school services, therapy, local policies, funding sources, transportation, medical facilities, and much more. 

Accessing Programs for Infants, Toddlers, and Preschoolers with Disabilities (ages 0-5) 

• Finding help for young childre-birth to age 5: The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) has been amended! This is the law that guides how schools deliver special education and related services to students with disabilities. 

Adaptations & Accommodations (Classroom and Testing) for Students with Disabilities 

• Assessment and Accommodations. Assessment and Accommodations examines what the research has to say about providing students with disabilities with accommodations that support learning as well as their ability to show what they know and can do. NICHCY has included multiple examples of accommodations, guidelines to help IEP teams decide what accommodations a student needs, connections to Federal guidance and requirements on this important topic, and links that will help you identify what accommodation policies your state has adopted to guide participation of children with disabilities in large-scale assessments.
• Nine types of adaptations that can be used in the classroom: a good place to begin for understanding how material can be adapted for children with special needs. 
• This is a collection of pertinent articles and book references providing professionals with suggestions and techniques for designing curricula, settings, and evaluations for students with special needs: Contains information on how to make adaptations and accommodations for students with disabilities in both general and special education classrooms. This information is needed in part because more and more students with disabilities are being educated in the general education environment along with their peers without disabilities, using the general curriculum—that is to say, the curriculum that is used with nondisabled students. 
• This is a chapter from the author’s book, discussing concise strategies and alerts for professionals, who must accommodate special ed students in their classrooms. : Accommodations are neither difficult to provide nor distracting to the rest of the class. In fact, many of these accommodations may make learning easier for all your students. 
• Suggested classroom interventions: This page provides some practical suggestions that can be used in the regular classroom as well as the special education classroom.  By looking through a given list of interventions, a professional will be able to select one or more strategies that are suited to a specific child in a specific environment. 
• This site explains the legal issues for accommodations for high school students with disabilities, and gives examples of accommodations and assessments. : Fewer students with disabilities in middle schools and high schools use accommodations than students with disabilities in elementary schools.
• Author provides IDEA definitions of adaptations, accommodations, and modifications to help students with disabilities. : IDEA Reauthorization language provides the education community an opportunity to rethink how students with disabilities are served, not only in special education classrooms but also in every other setting on the school site. Does the student require behavior support on the bus? On the playground? Does the student require accommodations and/or modifications in curriculum instruction? Or accommodations during testing?  
• An experimental analysis of accommodation decisions on large scale mathematics tests-Pdf file: This article reports on an investigation of professionals and students within special education to determine the accuracy with which professionals recommend read-aloud accommodations for mathematics tests, and develop a profile of students who benefit from this type of accommodation. 
• Creating and using meaningful alternate assessments-Pdf file: How to ensure, decide, and design alternate assessments for children with special needs. 
• Webpage presents homework strategies for teaching students with disabilities : Homework is one aspect of the general education curriculum that has been widely recognized as important to academic success. Teachers have long used homework to provide additional learning time, strengthen study and organizational skills, and in some respects, keep parents informed of their children's progress.  
• Some testing accommodations not valid for many students with LD: Under IDEA '97, students with disabilities must be included in high-stakes assessments, but they are allowed certain accommodations to help them achieve valid scores on those tests. How does a professional determine which accommodations are most beneficial? 
• Site contains disability specific strategies for accommodating students in classrooms both physically and via curriculum. 
• This is a short guide to define and explain about accommodations for students with disabilities. : Laws require schools to provide aids, services and other accommodations to qualified students with disabilities, who need an accommodation to participate in school. This brochure will explain information about various accommodations and help you find out if you may qualify for an accommodation. 

Adaptations and accommodations for specific disabilities-PDF files 

• Attention/Behavior Difficulties
• Attention Deficit
• Autism
• Deafblindness
• Deaf, Hard of Hearing
• Emotional Behaviors
• Mild Intellectual Disability
• Nonreader
• Sensory Impairments (Vision and Hearing)
• Significant Developmental Delay
• Specific Learning Disabilities
• Speech and Language Impairment
• Tourette's Syndrome
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Visual Impairments

For a more extensive and disability specific list of recommendations on this topic Click Here to go to Exceptional Students and Disability Information on this website

Adaptive Physical Education 

• This site provides educators with activity guides, national standards, definitions, assessment tools, adaptations, journal articles, research, newsletters, adapted texts, and IEP development.: The following information should be helpful to those who are responsible for educating students with various disabilities. 
• What is adaptive physical education: Change the word "adapted" to "modified" and you have the idea of Adapted Physical Education. It is GOOD teaching which adapts (modifies) the curriculum, task, and/or environment so that ALL students can fully participate in physical education. Read more... 
• Alliance for Disability: Lists urls of associations linked to adaptive sports, athletics, and activities for people with disabilities, and severe handicaps. 
• United Cerebral Palsy:  has links to sites for exercise & fitness, sports & team games, advocacy, camps, arts & entertainment, services, and therapeutic hobbies for people with CP 
• Health and PE Unit Plans: This is an alphabetical list of lesson plans and activities for disabled students 

Adults with Disabilities 

• Resources for adults with disabilities: Once a student leaves high school, other agencies are available to assist with putting the individual in contact with helpful resources. This listing of resources is for adults to help them get started. This list offers organizations that provide information, referral, and/or direct services. 
• Lists disabilities lawyers, glossary of terms, and links to disability laws.
• Disability information: This is a directory of government Internet links for those with disabilities, their families, employers, service providers, and others, with access to a wide variety of resources of info and issues on disabilities, and color-coded into 9 categories. 
• Resource links for adults with disabilities: Employment, Difficulty on the job, Adult education and literacy-related activities, Recreation activities, Resources on independent living,, AT, other organizations on disability, resource booklets and written information. 
• This site is a guide for adolescents and adults with disabilities and attention disorders, and professionals. 
• Association for children and adults with learning disabilities: This association provides information and their goals for helping children and adults with disabilities get the services they need and inform others of what should be done for this population. 
• Correctional education programs for adults with learning disabilities: Correctional education programs are designed to help inmates acquire basic skills, social skills, workplace readiness and vocational skills, and to foster enhanced self-esteem. The ultimate goal of correctional education is to reduce recidivism -- to help inmates become self-sufficient so that they can be re-integrated into society and become productive and successful workers, citizens, and family members.  

Advocacy for Children with Disabilities 

• Wrightslaw: On this site find articles, cases, newsletters, and resources about dozens of topics in the Advocacy Libraries and Law Libraries. Wrightslaw is ranked #1 in education law, special education law and special education advocacy. 
• Provides articles on all types of toddler disabilities - from learning to physical. 
• US Department of Justice: Contains many publications, Mediation Program, how to file a complaint, guide to rights and laws for those with disabilities, guide for disabled seeking employment, and many other resources for parents. 
• A tremendous resource for disabled children and their parents, offering help with goods and services. 
• Special education advocacy: This is a site full of articles, newsletters, and Q and A’s to help parents get acquainted with advocacy issues, tactics, and strategies concerning their special needs child. 
• Advocacy for children with special needs: This is an informative site that touches upon many topics that are helpful for parents and children with disabilities, including their rights and advice on various approaches. 
• Special education advocacy strategies: This is an educational site where parents, advocates, attorneys, and school personnel can come for accurate and up-to-date information and strategies to secure the rights of children with disabilities. 
• Federation for children with special needs: This is a helpful site to make parents aware of their rights and the law surrounding special education. 

American Sign Language (ASL) 

• A basic dictionary of ALS terms:  Scroll down to see the dictionary letters. Click on any letter and get the hand sign for the word. 
• ASL University-Fingerspelling: practice quizzes, spelling quizes, animated spelling quizzes, practice sheets, fingerspelling alphabet and much more. A great site and a must see if you need assistance in this area. 
• Gallaudet fingerspelling font page: The full alphabet and number keys contain graphic representations of the corresponding American Sign Language alphabet for the deaf. The font may be used for learning sign language, correspondence using sign language, or whatever purpose you dream up.  
• Welcome to the ASL Fingerspelling practice site: A fun sight to visit. Shows actual hands spelling the words and letters. 

Annual Review Preparation

Asperger’s Syndrome 

• The plain diagnostic criteria for Asperger's Syndrome: The following criterion are from the 2000 Revision of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fourth Edition-Text (DSM IV-TR). See the DSM IV-TR manual for details and examples. Note: Asperger's Disorder is one of five specific Pervasive Developmental Disorders listed in the DSM IV-TR under the general heading of Pervasive Developmental Disorders. 
• Online Asperger Syndrome Information and Support : As parents of children who are diagnosed with AS, we understand how essential is it that families of children diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome and related disorders, educators who teach children with AS,  professionals  working with individuals diagnosed with AS,  and individuals with AS who are seeking support, have access to information.   
• All about autism, Asperger Syndrome, and related developmental disorders. : a wealth of information, links, organizations and resources on this topic. 
• Fact sheet on Asperger's Syndrome.  
• Asperger's Syndrome publications including guidelines for diagnosis, assessment and treatment: from the Yale cChild Study Center 
• What are the warning signs for Asperger Syndrome? Visit First Signs. : dediucated to the detection of early warning signs of developmental disorders and delays. 
• What the Autism Society of America has to say about Aspergers: Asperger's Disorder is one of five Pervasive Development Disorders (PDDs), which also includes Autism, Rett's Syndrome, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, and PDD-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS). PDDs are a category of neurologically-based disorders that have a range of delays in different developmental stages.  

Assessing Children for the Presence of a Disability 

• Overview article: This resource list provides school systems with information on assessment of school-aged children. The books and articles listed below may be useful to schools as they plan assessments of individual students to determine if they have a disability and, thus, are eligible for special education and related services. 

Assessment Measures Used in Special Education (Informal) 

Assessment Measures Used in Special Education (Standardized) 

• Reading Tests
• Math Tests
• Spelling and Written Language Tests
• Comprehensive Achievement Tests
• Early Childhood Assessment Measures
• Perceptual Assessment Tests
• Psychological Assessment Tests
• Speech and Language Evaluation Tests
• Occupational and Physical Therapy Evaluation Measures 

Assistive Technology 

• Excellent site for overview information: family guide to assistive technology 
• Types of assistive technology: Assistive technology products are designed to provide additional accessibility to individuals who have physical or cognitive difficulties, impairments, and disabilities. When selecting assistive technology products, it is crucial to find products that are compatible with the computer operating system and programs on the particular computer being used. 
• Customizing technology solutions for college students with learning disabilities: Coupled with the application of universal design principles, new and different types of assistive technologies - many specifically designed for students with learning disabilities - are also becoming commonplace. These tools allow students greater independence in learning by customizing applications to maximize learning strengths and to minimize or circumvent specific learning weaknesses. 
• Assistive technology and your child: Technology is one of the buzzwords of the late 20th century, conjuring up images of computers that talk or televisions so thin they can be mounted on the wall like a picture. Technology isn't just a matter of high-tech solutions to simple problems, however. People with disabilities are now taking advantage of all kinds of technological advances to overcome barriers caused by their disability. 
• Assistive Technology: Becoming an Informed Consumer - NICHCY: Raising a child with a disability presents families and professionals with many challenges. Today, one of the major challenges facing people who care for and about children and youth with disabilities is technology -- what to get, where to get it, how to use it, how to pay for it, how to evaluate its effectiveness, and where to put it.
• Assistive Technology Guide for Students with Learning Disabilities: provides an overview of current technologies to help parents decide on available tools for their child.  
• Assistive Technology for Students with Learning Disabilities: Despite adequate cognitive ability, learning disabled students' difficulties with basic skills such as reading and writing can prevent full participation in the classroom and later in critical adult life activities. Computer technology provides the answer for many of these students. 
• Assistive Technology for Children with Autism: For years, different modes of technology have been used to improve the quality of life of people who have various developmental disabilities . However, the varied use of technology for children with autism continues to receive limited attention, despite the fact that technology tends to be a high interest area for many of these children. 
• Technology in Early Childhood Programs: As technology becomes more accessible to early childhood programs and computer software becomes more user-friendly, early childhood educators have a responsibility to examine its impact on children and prepare themselves to use it for all children’s benefit. 
• Assistive Technology Legislation: During the 1980's and 90's, the civil and education rights of individuals with disabilities were strengthened. As AT has the potential to provide opportunities for increased independence and participation in all of life's activities, the federal government recognized this ability.  
• The Public School's Special Education System as an Assistive Technology:  : The public school's special education system is a source of a wide range of educational services, special supports, and even AT that may be needed by children with disabilities to benefit from the public school's educational system. These rights to educational services and supports are grounded in two federal statutes, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, that have each been in place for more than 20 years.  
• Simplified Technology for Children with Disabilities: This book is written for professionals, parents, therapists and others involved with children who have expressive language disabilities, including both expressive and receptive delays. 
• Technology Related Articles from LD OnLine: Technology can open doors and break down barriers for children, youth and adults with learning disabilities. Whether in the classroom or workplace, technology can provide a vital difference. Here we explore new developments in technology, and practical insights into the promise and realities of making technology work for people with learning disabilities.  
• The Alliance for Technology Access: The Alliance for Technology Access (ATA) is a network of community-based Resource Centers, Developers, Vendors and Associates dedicated to providing information and support services to children and adults with disabilities, and increasing their use of standard, assistive, and information technologies. 
• This fact sheet from The Arc: Assistive technology is the term used to describe devices that are used by children and adults with mental retardation and other disabilities to compensate for functional limitations and to enhance and increase learning, independence, mobility, communication, environmental control and choice. It also refers to direct services that assist individuals in selecting, acquiring or using such devices (The Arc, 1991).  
• DREAMMS for Kids, Inc. specializes in Assistive Technology (AT) related research, development, and information dissemination.: Assistive technology solutions. 
• EASI's K12 Information Technology Centre: EASI is the Premiere Provider of Online Training on Accessible Information Technology for Persons with Disabilities reaching more than 4,000 people in over 3 dozen countries since 1993  
• Connecting technology with the way young children learn: resources and information for educators and care providers 

Assistive Technology Equipment 

• Hundreds of assistive technology products: from Enable MArt, this site contains hundreds of different assistive technology devices and equipment for school, home and everyday use. 
• The ABLEDATA database contains information on more than 30,000 assistive technology products:  ABLEDATA provides objective information about assistive technology products and rehabilitation equipment available from domestic and international sources. Although ABLEDATA does not sell any products, we can help you locate the companies that do. 
• Leading-edge assistive technology: Assistive Technology, Inc. is a premier developer of hardware and software solutions for people with physical, cognitive, and speech disabilities. Explore our website to learn more about our augmentative communication devices, speech-generating devices, assessment software, and services. 
• Products for persons with special needs (i.e. Special Education), including special software and hardware adaptations for persons with very special needs. 

Assistive Technology Reports

Associations, Organizationsand Clearinghouses  in Special Education

Attention Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder

Autism

Autism Spectrum Disorder