Special Education

Special Education services are available to students with identified handicapping conditions who require services in order to progress in school until the age of 22.  Students experiencing difficulty in the regular education program may be referred for screening and/or a Team evaluation to determine whether a handicapping condition exists. When indicated, the student's parents, classroom teachers, and specialists are involved in the development of an Individualized Education Plan to address these needs, and to work as a team in implementing guidelines and responsibilities related to state (Chapter 766) regulations and federal (P.L. 94-142) special education laws.

Students' needs are met through consultation and/or direct service, using both remedial and/or compensatory approaches, with a goal toward appreciating and incorporating individual styles of learning. Students may receive support in a variety of areas as defined by their Individualized Education Plan (I.E.P.). Programs may include a combination of services within regular classrooms and in resource rooms or learning center settings. Collaboration among special educators, teachers, parents and students is maintained for coordination of academic and social/emotional expectations, classroom modifications and strategies, and student progress.

Forms -Pre-referral Form [pdf] from Nashboa Assistive Technology Team  10/04

Special Education Links

• Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST)
• Massachusetts Department of Education (Special Education)
• Special Education Resources on the Internet (SERI)

SPED Connections from the Department of Education DOE

Special Education Resources on the Internet -  SERI
A collection of Internet accessible information resources of interest to those involved in fields
related to Special Education.

National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities
NICHCY is the national information and referral center that provides information on disabilities and disability-related issues for families, educators, and other professionals.

Council for Exceptional Children: (Division of Career and Development and Transition)
DCDT focuses on the career development of children, youth and adults of all ages and exceptionalities, including transitions and career development of exceptional children.

The National Center for Learning Disabilities
The mission of National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) is to promote public awareness and understanding of children and adults with learning disabilities.

The Institute for Community Inclusion
The Institute for Community Inclusion supports the rights of children and adults with disabilities to participate in all aspects of the community.

National Center to Improve Practices in Special Education
The National Center to Improve Practice was established to improve educational outcomes for students with disabilities by promoting the effective use of assistive and instructional technologies among educators and related personnel serving these students

Developmental Delay Resources
DDR is a nonprofit organization dedicated to meeting the needs of those working with children who have developmental delays in sensory motor, language, social, and emotional areas.

The Family Village
The Family Village is a global community that integrates information, resources, and communication opportunities on the Internet for persons with cognitive and other disabilities, for their families, and for those that provide them services and support.

Cornucopia of Disability Information
CODI serves as a community resource for consumers and professionals by providing disability information in a wide variety of areas.

Special Education Schools Network
A compilation of Special Education Schools across the country, as well as resources and organizations related to Special Education Schools.

Mobility International USA
MIUSA is a U.S. Department of State funded program to empower people with disabilities around the world through international exchange, information, technical assistance and training, and to ensure the inclusion of people with disabilities in international exchange and development programs.

A collection of SPED links from Berrien County Intermediate School District http://www.remc11.k12.mi.us/bcisd/classres/specialed.htm

Emotional Impairments

• American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry provides information to assist parents and families in their most important roles, contains news, facts, journal & publications and more.
• Internet Mental Health Disorders. Besides offering excellent links to other sites, it has detailed and extensive material about the diagnosis and, in particular, medical treatment. Contains professionally-oriented information.

Gifted

• Gifted Resources Home Page Links to all known online gifted resources, enrichment programs,
  talent searches, summer programs, and more.
• Prufrock Press The leading publisher for education of the gifted.

General Special Education Sites

• Aligning IEP and CIM Information from Oregon on IEPs.
• Assistive Technology-Disabilities Designed to provide information on assistive technology.
• Closing the Gap Computer technology in special education and rehabilitation
• Disability-Related Sites on the WWW
• Disability Resources from Apple Education Includes assistive technology, software and more.
• DO-IT Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology
• Gan Harmony Variety of programs dedicated to individuals with special needs, including opportunities and activities toward better inclusion in school, society, and life in general. Contains projects and programs, links to online discussion lists and support groups, stories and articles.
• The Internet: an inclusive magnet for teaching all students A handbook with much info!
• Internet Resources for Special Children (IRSC)
• The National Center to Improve Practice (NCIP) promotes the effective use of technology to enhance educational outcomes for students with sensory, cognitive, physical and social/emotional disabilities.
• National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities Includes publications, state resource sheets, and information about conferences.
• National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) NORD is the only organization of its kind--a unique federation of more than 140 not-for-profit voluntary health organizations serving people with rare disorders and disabilities.
• National Transitional Alliance seeks to help disabled youth successfully bridge the gap from school to employment.
• Office of Rare Diseases Research, information, and more.
• ParenthoodWeb Library. Although the information on ADHD is somewhat limited, parents will enjoy the broad range of advice offered about parenting.
• Special Education/Disability Sites
• Special Needs Education Network Sponsored by Canada's Schoolnet. The Room 13 Project is a pilot project designed to explore how modern technology can be used to benefit students with special needs.

Hearing Impaired and Deaf Resources

• American Sign Language and Deaf Culture
• A Practical Sign Language Dictionary

Learning Disabilities/ADD/ADHD

• Attention Deficit Disorder: What You Should Know K-12 Questions and answers.
• Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorders (C.H.A.D.D.) ADHD-related site. It is rich with accurate and diverse information, not only about ADHD, but also about other disorders (OCD, Tourettes, and autism).
• Language Based Learning Disabilities Info and research, references lists, and databases of helps.
• Learning Disabilities Association Find articles related to mainstreaming, ADD/ADHD, dyslexia, education standards, literacy, and more.
• LD Online The interactive guide to learning disabilities.
• LD Resources Essays, resources, software and more.
• The National Attention Deficit Disorder Association The home page for ADDA (the more adult-oriented ADHD support group). Good information and links.
• NIMH info page on ADHD Site with a lot of detailed information. The ADHD-related sites are also part of a much larger collection of materials about mental health disorders.

Mentally Impaired

• The Arc Home Page A national organization on mental retardation.
• National Association for Down Syndrome
• DownsNet Library, information, reserach and more.

Visually Impaired

• A Blind Net Home Page Useful and factual information about blindness.
• American Council of the Blind
• Blind and Visually Impaired Links on various topics.
• A Deafblindness Web Resource with terms, resources, and more.
• Royal National Institute for the Blind in the UK.
• Sight Systems list of links on low vision and vision rehabilitation.