Search Engines

1. All Teacher Websites: All Teacher Websites only provides results from websites geared toward teachers, so you don’t need to dig through irrelevant search results again.
2. Biographicon: Not only can you search for biographies about famous people, you can help students create their own biographies (birth dates, street addresses, telephone numbers or other contact information not allowed).
3. Early Childhood Teachers Search Engine: The PreKinders site offers a custom Google search engine (see below under Web tools) that searches through about seventeen sites selected by the Web author.
4. iSeek: This search engine is targeted to students, teachers, administrators and caregivers, as it is safe, authoritative, intelligent and saves time. Teachers can instantly identify lesson plans, activities, school subjects, grade levels and more with iView navigation.
5. KidRex: KidRex is a fun and safe search for kids, by kids, monitored by adults. KidRex searches emphasize kid-related Web pages from across the entire Web and are powered by Google Custom Search and use Google SafeSearch technology. Additionally, KidRex maintains its own database of inappropriate Web sites and keywords.
6. Quintura Kids: A great site for kids when visualization becomes the center of user experience “replacing antiquated listings and Boolean strings.” When searching for a topic, the regular list comes up along with a cloud that allows students to delve deeper into that topic.
7. RefSeek: Currently in public beta, RefSeek is a web search engine for students and researchers that aims to make academic information easily accessible to everyone. RefSeek searches more than one billion documents, including web pages, books, encyclopedias, journals, and newspapers.
8. Sweet Search: Direct your students to this search engine, which is created, reviewed and approved by a team of librarians, teachers, and research experts. Note that the searches listed below Sweet Search are geared toward specific studies, such as social studies, biographies, and a Sweet Search for school librarians.

Web Tools and Articles

9. 15 Little-Known Ways Google Can Help Teachers And Students: Edudemic offers a detailed article on various Google resources and how to use them. The topics include Google Books, Geo Education, Google News, Google Notebook, the custom search engine, Google Calendar and other resources.
10. Searching With Savvy: The Best Search Engines for Teachers and Students: If you are frustrated by search engines that give you unrelated responses, if you are spending too much time looking for on-line resources, if you are worried that students may access the wrong kind of information, then read on…this article provides great information about the variety of ways to search logically.
11. The Google Custom Search Engine: Teachers can personalize a custom Google search engine (CSE) that searches across sites that you specify, and displays results that you know will be right for you or your students. You can also share your knowledge and expertise with colleagues and the educational community at large by creating a CSE that searches a specific set of educational sites, professionally vetted resources, or an esoteric blend of your personal favorites. You also can search through the directory for Google Custom Search Engines.
12. WolframAlpha: The 21st Century Search Engine for educators: This article explains the Wolfram|Alpha search tool succinctly. The author also offers other search tools for educators, including a series of links for “21st century search engines teachers must be aware of…”

Directories

13. Eduhound: Eduhound site sets are collections of topic-based online education resources. Pick a topic and learn more about that topic through the links chosen for this site’s directories. This tool can provide valuable ed tech resources to incorporate into your curriculum. Educational topics, templates, technology tutorials, and practical tips are featured as well as lesson plans.
14. Free Teacher Tools: This page offers portals and search engines for teachers as well as education plans and more resources…definitely a time-saving opportunity that teachers can tap into, offered by the Educational Technology Training Center at East Brunswick Public Schools.
15. HomeSchool Supersearch: This is a filtered, family-safe search engine and directory for teachers, educators, students and homeschoolers. At the same time, it is a pay-per-click search engine, and businesses and Web site owners can advertise by bidding on keywords.
16. Kathy Schrock’s Guide for Educators: Discovery Education offers a three-tabbed resource that links search engines, subject directories and information about the Internet. These resources are directed especially to educators.
17. Lesson Plan Search: Educators can add or modify sites within this directory, geared toward lesson plans in various topics. Thematic Units contains the highest number of links, followed by science, seasonal activities and social studies.
18. NASET Search Engines: This directory, offered by the National Association of Special Education Teachers, offers a wide variety of search engines. Oddly, none of them are linked to the actual search engine, so users need to copy the URL and paste it in the URL window to go to the site.
19. Search Tools for Kids, Teens, and Teachers: This directory is broken down into categories for teachers and teens. This page also explains the difference among various search tools such as search engines, indexes and directories and portals.
20. Specialized Search Engines and Directories: This link leads to directories especially for educators. All of these links lead to sites that contain specific information that may not turn up when you do a general search of the Web using generalized search engines and directories.

Social media has become so prevalent that it is vital that you understand how to use it effectively when working with students. Teachers should know that Facebook is one of the best ways to interact. When used correctly, Facebook can be a great help. Here are 25 Facebook applications that can help educators — and their students — in the classroom:

Teaching and Sharing with Students

These are great apps that can help you teach more effectively, as well as share information with students.

1. SlideShare: This Facebook app is all about presentations. You can put together class presentations and share with students. A great way to make sure class materials are available and accessible.
2. Webinaria: This is a screencast recorder that can help you record videos. You can record your presentations, and make them available for later use. A great tool for those who want to record their lectures.
3. Mathematical Formulas: This is a great way to help you share math with students. You can distribute different formulas and solutions, and help students with proofs.
4. JSTOR Search on Facebook: If you are looking for a great way to find research articles and help students learn about finding important information, this a great application.
5. Flashcards: You can create study tools and helpful hints for your students with the help of this Facebook app.
6. Quizlet: If you want to be able to create flashcards for your students, as well as find helpful resources for test questions, this is a great resource.
7. Koofers: You can share tests, quizzes and study guides with students, and you can also use this application to get a breakdown of class stats. Keep up with your students — and get information about how they rate your class — with help from this app.
8. Arithmetic Challenge: This can be a fun way to get students in your class learning and sharing math. You can issue challenges to students, and have them challenge each other. A great way to share learning.
9. Math Games: A fun way to get your students involved in math, and math quizzes.
10. weRead: Encourage book discussions with your students. You can use this application to get students interested in reading — and to help them find what you are reading in class.
11. NASA Earth Observatory Image of the Day: This is an awesome application that can be used for you to show students different images of Earth. A number of ways to incorporate this cool app into your lesson plan.
12. Get Homework Help: Your students can find help, and you can help tutor them, in different subjects. A great way to access different resources. It can even help you get ideas for your next lesson.
13. WorldCat: This is a network of libraries and content services from around the world. You can find information at different libraries, and you can easily share knowledge with your students. A great tool.
14. CourseFeed: Share assignments with your class, and you can also arrange study groups, and send out announcements related to your class.
15. Class Notes: You can scan notes and share them with students. A great way to share exam reviews and lecture notes with those in your class.
16. Quiz Planet: Create your own quizzes so that you can test students’ knowledge. An awesome resource that can help you create learning tools for your students.

Organization

Get more organized as an educator. You can use Facebook to help you coordinate your activities — and even to help you better coordinate class activities and assignments with students.

17. Calendar: You can organize your day, and you can post helpful organizational notes and information for your students. A powerful organizational tool.
18. My HomeworkNOW and School Alerts: Stay connected to your students, and organized. A great way for you to coordinate with parents as well. Keeps everyone in the loop.
19. To Do List: A great app that can help you stay more organized. You can use this for assignments, or to help students stay on task at school. A helpful way to see what you have left to do, and to prioritize.
20. My Documents: Keep things organized in terms of documents and sharing. You can create an easy way for students to turn in assignments, and you can share what you need — and stay on top of everything.
21. Study Groups: Organize your students into study groups. This is a great way for them to coordinate efforts, as well as share notes and files. You can also use it to direct your students and to collaborate with other teachers.
22. Notely: If you are looking to organize your schedule, this a great Facebook application. Comes with a calendar and to do list, as well as a planner. A great way for you to organize class lessons and assignments, and help your students keep up with what is happening.
23. fdCal: This is another calendar Facebook app that can help you keep up with what is happening. This app interfaces with iCal and Microsoft Outlook, as well as other programs, so that you can get information about your schedule. Helpful way to stay organized, and for your students to keep up with the class schedule.
24. Smart Links: If you are looking to organize your applications and contacts, this is a great help. You can create a folder for your class, including students and their parents. You can also organize administration contacts and notes. A great way to keep things compartmentalized.
25. SmartMessage Center: Communicate more effectively with students, parents and other teachers and administration. A great way to help you stay organized and keep in touch with students. Make sure they all get the information they need for your class.

College- and University-Based Initiatives

1. eCommons @ Cornell: This project is a service of the Cornell University Library that provides long-term access to a broad range of Cornell-related digital content of enduring value.
2. Highwire: This is Stanford University’s OA project, which they bill as “the largest archive of free full-text science on Earth.” Researchers also can use tools, such as citation alerts.
3. Open Access Books: The Hilton C. Buley Library at Southern Connecticut State University offers open access resources for the public and for students.
4. Open Access Resources at Seattle Community Colleges: This Wiki is an open resource for faculty at Seattle Community Colleges to learn more about Open Access tools and content.
5. Public Knowledge Project: This project is a college and library cooperative dedicated to improving the scholarly and public quality of research.
6. Spectrum Research Repository: In 2010, Concordia University’s academic community passed a landmark Senate Resolution on Open Access that encouraged freely accessible research.
7. The Ohio State University Press Open Access Initiative: Complete texts of certain peer-reviewed books are available from this Web site.
8. The Orange Grove: University Press of Florida has partnered with The Orange Grove, an initiative and a digital repository that fosters an environment to share, disseminate, and collaborate in the development of educational resources.
9. University of Florida’s Marion Brechner Citizen Access Project: CAP’s goal is to allow citizens and public officials to better understand public access to local government information in all 50 states.
10. University of Toronto Project Open Source | Open Access: This networked community of scholars, students and members of the broader community is interested in the phenomenon of open source and open access.
11. uO Research: The University of Ottawa’s institutional repository includes theses, articles, working papers, technical reports, conference papers, data sets in various digital formats.

Tools

12. Creative Commons: This nonprofit organization works at increasing sharing and improving collaboration.
13. Digital Preservation: This Library of Congress initiative is designed for national digital information infrastructure and preservation.
14. DSpace: This open source software enables open sharing of content that “spans organizations, continents and time.”
15. LOCKSS (Lots of Copies Keep Stuff Safe): This tool, based at Stanford University Libraries, provides libraries with digital preservation tools and support.
16. Media Access Project: MAP is a non-profit, public interest law firm and advocacy organization working in communications policy.
17. Oasis: Open Access Scholarly Information Sourcebook provides help for institutions and groups that want to create open access projects.
18. Portico: This digital preservation service, a non-profit organization originally launched by JSTOR in 2002, is among the largest community-supported digital archives in the world.
19. Public Knowledge: Public Knowledge is a Washington, D.C.-based public interest group working to defend citizens’ rights in the emerging digital culture.
20. Xena: This “XML Electronic Normalising for Archives” open-source software for digital preservation is written and maintained by the digital preservation team at the National Archives of Australia.

Organizations and Initiatives

21. CONSER Open Access Journal Project: This Program for Cooperative Cataloging (PCC) targets the Directory of DOAJ (see below) to assure that CONSER records are available for all journals in the collection.
22. FedoraCommons: FedoraCommons refers to Fedora Repository Project, an architecture for storing, managing, and accessing digital content.
23. Online Computer Library Center: OCLC has become the world’s largest library cooperative for libraries, archives and museums.
24. Open Archives Initiative: This project develops and promotes interoperability stands that aim to facilitate the efficient dissemination of content.
25. Open Archives Initiative Protocol for Metadata Harvesting: The OAI-PMH is a low-barrier mechanism for repository interoperability.
26. Open Content Alliance: OCA is a collaborative global effort to build a permanent archive of multilingual digitized text and multimedia material.
27. Open Courseware Consortium: This project is a collaboration of higher education institutions and associated organizations from around the world creating a broad and deep body of open educational content using a shared model.
28. Open Source Initiative: OSI is a non-profit corporation formed to educate and advocate for the benefits of open source.
29. Openlaw: Derived from the open code model, this project is an experiment in crafting legal argument in an open forum on-line.
30. Public Library of Science: PLoS is a nonprofit organization of scientists and physicians committed to making the world’s scientific and medical literature a freely available public resource.
31. Science Commons: Science Commons works in a number of broad areas to clear the legal and technical barriers to research scholarly copyright, biological materials transfer, data integration and patent licenses.

European Initiatives

32. Budapest Open Access Initiative: This project invites the signatures, support, and participation of the entire world scientific and scholarly community.
33. Digital Preservation Coalition: This project was launched in 2001 to foster joint action to address the urgent challenges of securing the preservation of digital resources in the UK.
34. Open Access in the Helmholtz Association: Since 2005, the Helmholtz Open Access Project has supported scientists as well as respective Helmholtz Centres in the realization of Open Access.
35. Open Access Publishing in European Networks (OAPEN) is a collaborative initiative to develop and implement a sustainable open access publication model for academic books in the Humanities and Social Sciences.
36. OpenAIRE: Open Access Infrastructure for Research in Europe is a three-year project funded under FP7 (Seventh Framework Programme) has taken up its work to implement OA on a pan-European scale.
37. Openarchives.eu: This project is the European guide to OAI-PMH (Open Archives Inistiative Protocol for Metadata Harvesting) compliant digital repositories worldwide.
38. OpenDOAR: This project is primarily a service to enhance and support the academic and research activities of the global community, sponsored by the University of Nottingham, UK.
39. Planets: This four-year project is co-funded by the European Union under the IS&T FP6 Programme to address core digital preservation challenges.
40. Study of Open Access Publishing: SOAP is a two-year project founded in 2009 and funded by the European Commission under FP7.
41. The European Library: This project offers a free service that provides access to the resources within 48 national libraries of Europe in 35 languages.

Open Access Repositories

42. ARKive: ARKive is creating the ultimate multimedia guide to the world’s endangered species.
43. Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ covers free, full text, quality controlled scientific and scholarly journals in all subjects and languages.
44. NEON: The National Ecological Observatory Network will collect data across the United States on the impacts of climate change, land use change and invasive species on natural resources and biodiversity.
45. Open Access Textbooks: This is a two-year initiative to create a sustainable model for the discovery, production, and dissemination of open textbooks.
46. Project Gutenberg: Download over 33,000 free ebooks to read on your PC, iPad, Kindle, Nook, Sony Reader, iPhone, iPod Touch, Android or other mobile or cell phone.
47. The Internet Archive Text Archive: This repository contains a wide range of fiction, popular books, children’s books, historical texts and academic books.
48. The Universal Digital Library: The Million Book Digital Library Project created this tool to find free-to-read books, primarily in the English language.
49. UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive: A repository for digital and Internet art, performance, installation, conceptual, and other variable media art.
50. Yashar Books Open Access: Open Access Project is an experimental, cutting-edge plan for developing Torah scholarship.

The individuals listed below are arranged in alphabetical order by surname to show that we do not favor one individual over another.

1. Dr. Brent A. Askvig is the Executive Director of North Dakota Center for Persons with Disabilities (NDCPD) and is a professor of special education at Minot State University. In 2009, NDCPD at was awarded an exclusive contract with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to promote the utilization of the telemedicine network as it relates to early hearing detection with newborns. Dr. Askvig has been the lead author and principal investigator on numerous state and federal grant and contracts totaling nearly $20 million. Dr. Askvig also serves as a consultant to ND Department of Public Instruction.
2. Malachy Bishop, PhD, CRC, is a professor in the Rehabilitation Counseling program at the University of Kentucky (UK). He conducts research primarily in the areas of quality of life, adaptation to disability, and the psychosocial aspects of living with chronic neurological conditions including multiple sclerosis, brain injury, and epilepsy. Dr. Bishop has received the American Rehabilitation Counseling Association’s Research Award four times and was the 2005 recipient of the National Council on Rehabilitation Education’s New Career Award. He has authored over 50 peer-reviewed articles, 13 book chapters, and an edited book.
3. Janet Gaffney, BA, MEd, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Special Education with affiliate appointments in the Departments of Educational Psychology and Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), is a past recipient of the Alan C. Purves Research Award of the National Council for Teachers in English and was appointed an Associate in the Center for Advanced Study at the University. She was also the recipient of the 2006 College of Education’s Graduate Teaching Award and the 2007 University’s Distinguished Graduate and Professional Teaching Award.
4. Dr. Ann P. Kaiser is professor of special education, Susan Gray Chair in Education and Human Development and professor of psychology at Peabody College, Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University. Her research areas include early intervention, language intervention and acquisition, environmental designs for dependent populations and policy. Dr. Kaiser serves as the principal investigator for the research and demonstration grants at KidTalk. She has received numerous awards for her research and mentoring including the Harvey Branscomb Distinguished Professorship at Vanderbilt University.
5. Dr. Frances A. Karnes, a professor in the Department of Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Education and Director of the Frances A. Karnes Center for Gifted Studies at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM), is responsible for initiating gifted education in Mississippi. She is the recipient of many awards based upon her leadership and research into legal issues that arise as parents, educators and other advocates seek appropriate educational opportunities for gifted and talented children. One of those awards was the Award for Excellence from the Mississippi Association for Gifted Children in 2003.
6. Dr. Frank Lane is the head of the Division of Rehabilitation Counseling Psychology program at Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT). He also serves as President of the American Rehabilitation Counseling Association (ARCA), is a member of the board of directors for the Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE) and serves as an editorial board member for the Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin and the Australian Journal of Rehabilitation Counseling. Dr. Lane has 6 years of experience teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in rehabilitation and psychology.
7. James McLeskey, AB, MEd, PhD, director of the College of Education’s new Center for Disability Policy and Practice at the University of Florida (UF), earned the prestigious 2010 TED/Merrill Award for Excellence in Teacher Education, awarded by the Council for Exceptional Children. Under his direction, the department’s grant funding and national ranking soared. UF’s special education program perennially leads all college departments and programs in research funding and currently ranks fifth in its specialty in the U.S. News & World Report rankings of America’s Best Graduate Schools.
8. Dr. David McNaughton, professor of special education at Penn State, received the 2010 Outstanding Researcher Award in the College of Education. McNaughton is a leader within the field of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) for individuals with severe disabilities. His research interests also include supports to employment for individuals with severe disabilities. He has an extensive list of publications and has successfully obtained over $5.1 million in external funding to support his research and graduate training programs, including a current role as co-investigator for the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Consortium (RERC) in Augmentative and Alternative Communication, National Institute on Disability Rehabilitation and Research, U.S. Department of Education.
9. Dr. Mickey Pardew, a full professor in special education at Western Oregon University (WOU), recently was named to the newly created Oregon Commission on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Dr. Pardew’s areas of expertise include early intervention/special education partnerships, teaching individuals with low incidence disabilities and Autism Spectrum Disorders. She also is a board member of the Northwest Autism Foundation, Polk Adolescent Day Treatment Center and the George E. Miller Children’s Foundation, a grassroots organization that serves children with special needs, their families and communities.
10. Dr. Randall Parker is the Melissa Elizabeth Stuart Centennial Professor of Education, a Professor of Special Education, and the Director of Rehabilitation Counselor Education at the Department of Special Education, The University of Texas at Austin. His research interests include factors affecting adjustment to disability, assessment of aptitudes and interests, methodological issues in data analysis, and the reliability and validity of self-estimates. Dr. Parker has accumulated many awards and fellowships and sits as chair on at least three committees.

However, you can go beyond surfing the Internet these days. The iPad is especially helpful for many teachers. There are a number of iPad apps designed to help teachers prepare for class. The iPad is portable, so it makes it simple to take with you wherever you go. Here are 20 iPad apps for teachers:

Organization and Time Management

These great iPad apps can help you keep yourself organized, as well as manage your time. Keep notes and lesson plan ideas as well.

1. Bento: This is a great organizational iPad app designed to help you keep track of what is happening in your life. You manage your life easily by keeping track of lesson plans, appointments, and even notes about your students. Cost: $4.99
2. Mobile Mouse: This great app turns your iPad into a wireless remote that you can use your classroom. Great for when you want to coordinate the technology in your class, and be a more efficient teacher. Cost: $2.99
3. iWork: A great suite of applications that can help you stay organized. You can get Pages, Numbers and Keynote in one pack that allows you to take notes, organize information and more. Cost: $30
4. Dropbox: This helpful organizational tool helps you to sync up your files. This means you can use your iPad to sync up with the computer at your school, as well as your home computer. Makes it easy to prepare lesson plans at home, and to take your work with you wherever you go. Cost: Free
5. Evernote: This is one of the ultimate note taking applications for iPad. Remember what you need to know, jot down information that is important for your class, and coordinate lesson plans. Keep notes on your students so you can interact with them better. You can do notes using text, voice or even pictures. A great way to keep track of what you are doing. Cost: Free
6. WritePad: You can write using a stylus — or even your finger. When you have an idea, you can easily capture it, and use it to organize your thoughts. It is a great way to organize your thoughts, and to make notes on lessons. Cost: $9.99
7. QuickVoice Recorder: Record your class lessons, and listen back to them for more information on how you can improve. A great way to record teaching ideas and make notes on students quickly and easily. Cost: Free
8. Cramberry: This is an interesting iPad app that allows you to create and share your own flashcards. Enhance your lessons with flashcards that you can share with your students. A great educational and organizational tool. Cost: $1.99
9. Idea Boards: Four different writing surfaces to help you organize your thoughts. Jot down lesson plan ideas, make notes, and create reminders. Cost: $1.99
10. Things for iPad: A task manager that is highly sophisticated. Keep track of faculty meetings, parent teacher conferences and more. Prep for class, and keep track of projects and schedules. Cost: $19.99

Educational Apps

The iPad also has a number of educational apps designed to help you reference interesting resources. These can help you find information quickly and efficiently.

11. This Day in History: Add a little interest to each day with these simple, interesting history lessons. A new one each day, courtesy of your iPad. Cost: Free
12. World Atlas HD: National Geographic offers some great maps that can help you reference what you are looking for. Interesting maps that you can consult for a number of reasons. Perfect for preparing lessons, or for helping your students learn. Cost: $1.99
13. BBC News: Teach current events lessons with a little help from the BBC News iPad app. A great resource for preparing lessons related to current events, history and more. A good way for you to keep on the news as well. Cost: Free
14. Mathematical Formulas: Get quick access to mathematical formulas. Organized by the type of math, from algebra to geometry to complex numbers, this iPad app can ensure that you find the formula you need, when you need it. Cost: $0.99
15. The Elements: This great science app provides you with a look at all of the elements. But it adds a fun twist. Includes pictures that go with the elements. A great way to visualize the elements. A fun tool for students. Cost: $13.99
16. Pi83 Graphing Calculator: Perform various graphing functions using this calculator. No need for a separate calculator when you have your iPad. Useful for lessons, to help students, or for your own edification. Cost: $0.99
17. Cram: This is a study tool meant to help students learn information. But it can also be useful for teachers. You can use it to create tests and quizzes. Plus, using the app provides you with access to online test banks and quizzes. A great way to make test taking more efficient. Cost: $3.99
18. GoSkyWatch Planetarium: A great astronomy app, this is perfect for those who want to prepare astronomy lessons. Includes information about constellations, and helps with location. You can take it outside, and use it to find different features of the night sky, or you can use it as you put together your lessons. Cost: Free
19. Discover: An encyclopedia at your fingertips. You can explore Wikipedia, and get interesting information about any number of subjects. A great way to learn more about a variety of subjects. Discover serves as a go to app for those who want to prepare lessons, or just look something up quickly. Cost: Free
20. The Skeletal System Pro: This app offers detailed information on the skeletal system. It is offered by a company that also provides apps on muscles, the digestive system and other areas of anatomy. A great reference for lesson prep. It is also a helpful and fun resource to use in class. Get this app, as well as the other medical apps, and find out how you can make the human body even more interesting. Cost: $19.99

1. Pedro Ponce de León (d. 1584) was a Spanish Benedictine monk believed to be the first person to develop a method for teaching deaf/mutes during the 16th century. Details of his methods either were never recorded or have been lost. Many laymen believed at that time that the deaf were too simple-minded to be eligible for salvation under Christian doctrine.
2. Abbot Charles-Michel de l’Epée (d. 1789) was a philanthropic educator of 18th-century France who has become known as the “Father of the Deaf.” What distinguished Épée from educators of the deaf before him, and ensured his place in history, is that he allowed his methods and classrooms to be available to the public and other educators.
3. Abbot Roche-Amboise Sicard (d. 1822) took l’Epée’s sign language and further perfected it. He was made principal of a school for the deaf at Bordeaux in 1786, and in 1789, on the death of the Abbé de l’Épée, succeeded him at Paris. He met Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet while traveling in England and invited Gallaudet to visit the famous school for the deaf in Paris.
4. Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet (d. 1851) helped fund and was for many years the principal of the first institution for the education of the deaf in North America. When opened in 1817, it was called the “American Asylum for Deaf-Mutes” in Connecticut, but it is now known as the American School for the Deaf.
5. Louis Braille (d. 1852) became blind after he accidentally stabbed himself in the eye with his father’s awl. He later became an inventor and designed braille writing, which enables blind people to read through feeling a series of organized bumps representing letters. This concept was beneficial to all blind people from around the world and is commonly used even today.
6. Edward Miner Gallaudet (d. 1917), Thomas’ son, was the president of Columbia University for the deaf from 1864–1910. He sought college status for that university and received it with President Abraham Lincoln’s help. The school then became known as the first college for the dear, or Gallaudet University. He was a staunch advocate of sign language.
7. Dr. Jacob Bolotin (d. 1924) was the first congenitally blind man to receive a medical license. Dr. Bolotin lived and practiced in Chicago during the early part of the twentieth century and was particularly known for his expertise on diseases of the heart and lungs. He used his many public speaking engagements to advocate for the full inclusion of the blind in education, employment, and all other aspects of society.
8. Eglantyne Jebb (d. 1928) was a British social reformer who wrote the first draft of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, a series of related children’s rights proclamations adopted by the International Save the Children Union, Geneva, in 1923 and endorsed by the League of Nations General Assembly in 1924.
9. Clifford W. Beers (d. 1943) was a young businessman who had a mental breakdown and recovered to write about it in A Mind That Found Itself in 1908. He created the National Committee on Mental Hygiene to move Americans away from state hospital custodialism and to emphasize prevention.
10. Herbert Hoover (d. 1964) endorsed Jebb’s work and created the Charter of the American Child. “For every child who is blind, deaf, crippled, or otherwise physically handicapped, and for the child who is mentally handicapped, such measures as will early discover and diagnose his handicap, provide care and treatment, and so train him that he may become an asset to society rather than a liability.”
11. Helen Keller (d. 1968) was an American author, activist and lecturer. She was the first deaf/blind person to graduate from college. She was not born blind and deaf; it was not until nineteen months of age that she came down with an illness described by doctors as “an acute congestion of the stomach and the brain”, which could have possibly been scarlet fever or meningitis.
12. Dr. Gunnar Dybwad (d. 2001) persuaded the leaders of the Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Children to sue on behalf of disabled children in 1969. The case, PARC versus Pennsylvania, is credited with establishing the rights of children with disabilities to get a free and equal public education.
13. Rosemary Kennedy (d. 2005) was the third child and eldest daughter of Joseph and Rose Kennedy. A lobotomy performed on Rosemary in 1940 left her permanently disabled. She inspired her sister, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, to begin a summer day camp that grew into the Special Olympics, and inspired her brother, President John F. Kennedy, to initiate sweeping legislation designed to improve the quality of life for Americans with disabilities.
14. Anne McDonald is an Australian author and an activist for the rights of people who have communication disabilities. She developed severe cerebral palsy from a birth defect, and was institutionalized throughout her teens. At age 18, she repeatedly fought the system in Australia to achieve, through facilitated communication, her own deinstitutionalization, independence, and enrollment in a university.
15. Rosemary Crossley is another Australian author and advocate for disability rights. She wrote, with Anne McDonald, the book, Annie’s Coming Out, the story of Anne’s breakthrough to communication. She later wrote a second book, Speechless: Facilitating Communication for People Without Voices.
16. Madeleine Will, in 1986, proposed what has been called the Regular Education Initiative. Citing concerns about some unintended negative effects of special education “pull-out” programs, her proposal suggested that greater efforts to educate mildly and moderately disabled students in the mainstream of regular education should be pursued. In 2004, Ms. Will was named Director of the National Policy Center of the National Down Syndrome Society.
17. John Elder Robison, brother to Augusten Burroughs (author of Running with Scissors) wrote his own memoir on what it was like to grow up with Asperger’s Syndrome. The book, Look Me in the Eye, published in 2007, was a groundbreaking look into how one person coped with an unknown disease until he learned about Asperger’s at age 39. Robison now serves as a volunteer spokesman for the Graduate Autism Program at Our Lady of the Elms College in Chicopee, Massachusetts.
18. Dr. Stephen Shore was nonverbal until four and diagnosed with “atypical development with strong autistic tendencies,” Stephen Shore was regarded as “too sick” to be treated on an outpatient basis and recommended for institutionalization. Fortunately, his parents disagreed. He is now completing his doctoral degree in special education at Boston University with a focus on helping people on the autism spectrum develop their capacities to the fullest extent possible.
19. Temple Grandin is a Doctor of Animal Science and professor at Colorado State University, bestselling author, and consultant to the livestock industry in animal behavior. As a person with high-functioning autism, Grandin is also widely noted for her work in autism advocacy and is the inventor of the “hug machine” designed to calm hypersensitive persons.
20. Susan Lee Barker, a special education teacher, brought a lawsuit against the school district that she worked for. She took the brave position that if anti-discrimination laws protect kids with disabilities, and prohibit retaliation against kids for taking action to protect their own rights, then those laws must also protect the people who stand up for those kids. In 2009, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals agreed in the now-famous case, Barker v. Riverside County Office of Education.

Special Ed Teachers

1. @barefootglenda Glenda is a wife, mom and special education teacher.
2. @dancallahan Dan is a special education teacher, and also is a tech specialist.
3. @spedteacher Deven believes that “if you expect simple answers to complicated questions, you’re in the wrong place…”
4. @bosoxfan9819 Jeffrey is a 6th-grade teacher who is certified in special education and who also is into instructional technology and classroom management.
5. @tgrant14 Todd is a special education teacher and coach who is fond of Web 2.0 for the classroom.
6. @tperran Tom is an educator for students with special needs in Virginia.
7. @UltimateTeacher Joseph is an elementary teacher, special education teacher, part-time “ultimate Frisbee player, husband father and “crazy teacher.”
8. @don_iain Iain is a teacher at a special school, a sports fan and a movie geek.
9. @lfeld52 Lori is a special education teacher who has a “MacBook stuck to her side like Velcro.”
10. @teromako Tero is a special education teacher with an MA in education. He works with children in the autistic spectrum disorders.
11. @Shaza33 Sharynis a special education and technology teacher with a master’s degree in curriculum. She teaches in Hong Kong.
12. @Includekidswdis Amanda is a special education teacher, an author of children’s books and a university lecturer on including children with disabilities in regular school and pre-school settings.
13. @kimsten Kim is a special education teacher in Canada who works with gifted learners.
14. @paperwerksart Kim is a mixed-media and collage artist who teaches students with severe disabilities.
15. @KarenJan As an assistive and educational technology consultant, Karen’s passion is to remove the obstacles to learning for all students.
16. @BMurray13 Barbara is a special education teacher who uses technology as much as possible in the process.
17. @AutismTips Andrea is a certified special education teacher who shares her secrets for thriving with autism.
18. @autismece Shanelle is a pre-school teacher in Canada who loves to help and work with autistic children.
19. @puzzlingalong This Twitterer is a BCBA-behavior analyst, consultant, parent trainer and teacher specializing in autism/ABA.
20. @akbusybee Andrea teaches children with autism, and is married to classically trained executive Chef William.

Advocates and Groups

21. @Apraxia_KIDS This is a national 501(c)3 nonprofit for children with apraxia of speech and their families. Dedicated to up-to-date, reliable information for parents & professionals.
22. @ChildPsych Dr. Laura Kauffman is a licensed child psychologist with expertise in parenting and educational issues for kids and teens.
23. @LaGloria Gloria is a special education advocate and community organizer in Miami who has previous experience with the ACLU.
24. @CoachForADHD Laura coaches students, adults and families with attention challenges like ADHD and ADD to cope with everyday living, overcome challenges, learn to focus & accomplish more.
25. @disability Rudy has cerebral palsy and helps others cope effectively with disabilities, health problems and life difficulties through a blog and a social network.
26. @GaryBrannigan Gary is a clinical and school psychologist who specializes in parenting issues and learning, reading and other disabilities.
27. @KidSpecialNeed Hank works with parents in special education advocacy.
28. @butwait Shelley is a “K12 eduhacker” who helps others to find their “learning tribe.”
29. @mamatude Terri is the About.com guide to Parenting Special Needs and author of 50 Ways to Support Your Child’s Special Education.
30. @brightmindLABS Fraser is interested in fusing gaming principles with CBT to get results for kids with Asperger’s Syndromeand high-functioning autism.
31. @BonnieTerry_btl Bonnie is a dyslexia LD Specialist who can identify your child’s learning problems and help improve reading, writing, math skills with specially designed books and games for dyslexia.
32. @cvspecialneeds CV Special Needs is a community of people, parents, educators, advocates and others connected to special needs in California’s Central Valley.
33. @TheCoffeeKlatch A cup of coffee with parents of special needs children with expert guests on Blog Talk Radio and on Tweetchat. M-T-T 9am est W-9pm est.
34. @ChildrensLink Lorna offers resources and support links to parents and families who have children or young adults with special needs.
35. @ScottBaio This actor and his wife have a special foundation for special needs children and to raise awareness to expanded newborn screening.
36. @SpecialNeeds7 As parents of a Special Needs Child this couple understands the daily challenges. They have a large following and support group with Special Needs Bridge.
37. @operationSAFE Helping children after trauma through art, story, games, play, song, dance, film, love, hope and through people who care.

Tools

38. @AutismClassroom Autism Classroom offers free teaching materials, free training and information to parents and educators about autism.
39. @Bookshare This company makes the world of print available to disabled people.
40. @ChildFindMich ChildFindMich a part of IDEA and the MI Dept of ED, to locate Michigan children and youth who may be eligible for early intervention/special education services.
41. @DavidRose_CAST David Rose is the founder and CEO of CAST (Center for Applied Special Technology), a company that provides opportunities for all students, especially those with disabilities.
42. @disabledworld Disability news, community, videos and article submissions welcome. Disability and Health RSS feeds for website content.
43. @disabilityscoop The premier source for developmental disability news.
44. @KidsLoseRights This organization helps special needs kids maintain their rights.
45. @PCIEducation PCI Education creates and provides breakthrough materials to educators and their students with special learning needs.
46. @rethinkautism Rethink Autism seeks to ensure that every child on the autism spectrum has access to effective and affordable ABA-based treatment.
47. @SpecialEdLawCA Special Education Law Firm serving California, with offices in Los Angeles and San Francisco.
48. @SpeclNeedsAtSea A one-stop source for scooter rentals, wheelchair rentals, mobility aides, oxygen & other equipment for travelers with disabilities.
49. @specialquest States and local communities, including Early Head Start and Head Start programs and their community partners, collaborate to provide high-quality, inclusive services for young children with disabilities and their families.
50. @TSLEvents Exhibitions for education professionals in the early years, primary, secondary and special needs sectors.

Will This Career Fit You?

First, special education teachers, like any other teacher, must be organized, patient and have the ability to motivate students. Additionally, all states require teachers to be licensed and hold at least a bachelor’s degree, although some states may require a master’s degree. But, special education teachers also must understand their students’ special needs.

As a Special Education Teacher, You Also Must:

• Realize that you may work with a variety of disabilities, including severe cognitive, emotional or physical problems. Most special education teachers instruct students at the preschool through high school levels, although some teachers may work with infants and toddlers or college-aged students.
• Learn how to work with young students who may suffer from disabilities that range from speech or language impairments to hearing or visual impairments to traumatic brain injuries.
• Know how to develop a Individualized Education Program (IEP) for each student who receives special education. This program sets personalized goals for the student and is tailored to that student’s individual needs and abilities. Teachers work closely with parents, school administrators and other teachers to develop this program and to inform all about the child’s progress within the school environment. This plan also helps others to promoted learning outside school.
• Design and teach curricula, grade papers and homework assignments and are involved in the student’s behavioral, social, and academic development. Some teachers, depending upon the age of the student, also provide students with career counseling or help that student learn life skills such as balancing a checkbook.
• Become involved with communicating and coordinating with others involved in the child’s well-being, including parents, social workers, school psychologists, occupational and physical therapists, school administrators, and other teachers.
• Be able to work in a variety of environments, including classrooms and resource rooms, or even in hospitals, homes or residential facilities.
• Learn to rely more and more on technology and specialized equipment such as computers with synthesized speech, interactive educational software programs, and audiotapes to assist children.

Work environments are moving away from hospitals and residential facilities as more students attend schools and special programs outside those former environments. Still, special education teachers may be subject to programs that are year-round, enabling education that leaves no lapses for the student to regress during that time off.

Education and Training

Many colleges and universities offer programs in special education from the undergraduate through master’s degree and doctoral degree levels. But, many special education teachers often undergo longer periods of training than general education teachers simply because of the nature of the work. The last year of most programs usually is spent student teaching in a classroom supervised by a certified special education teacher.

All 50 states and the District of Columbia require special education teachers to be licensed. In some States, special education teachers receive a general education credential to teach kindergarten through grade 12. These teachers then train in a specialty, such as learning disabilities or behavioral disorders. Many States offer general special education licenses across a variety of disability categories, while others license several different specialties within special education.

You can compare special education teacher certification and licensure at the National Comprehensive Center for Teacher Quality. This site shows that special education teachers are, basically, categorized by five different levels:

1. Special Education Teacher Certification/Licensure
2. General Special Education Certification/Licensure Information
3. Early Childhood Special Education Certification/Licensure
4. K-12 Special Education Teacher Certification/Licensure/Endorsement
5. Disability- and Severity-Based Special Education Teacher Certification/Licensure

Each one of the above categories includes even more categories, with the last level holding the most opportunity. Another resource to learn more about special education teacher certification includes the National Association of Special Education Teachers (NASET).

What Happens After Education and Training?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, special education teachers held a total of about 473,000 jobs in 2008. Nearly all worked in public and private educational institutions; however, a few worked for individual and social assistance agencies or residential facilities, or in home-bound or hospital environments.

After some years on the job, special education teachers can advance to become school supervisors or administrators. They also may earn advanced degrees and become instructors in colleges that prepare others to teach special education. In some school systems, highly experienced teachers can become mentors to less experienced teachers.

The number of special education teachers is expected to increase by 17 percent to 2018, which is faster growth than found in most occupations. However, this field also expects to grow faster than average, as a large number of openings will result from the need to replace special education teachers who switch to teaching general education, change careers altogether, or retire. At the same time, many school districts report difficulty finding sufficient numbers of qualified teachers. As a result, special education teachers should have excellent job prospects.

After a few years in this career, what happens if you tire of your job, it becomes too stressful, or you just want a change? Some jobs that are similar to special education teachers include (all links to job descriptions at the Bureau of Labor Statistics):

• Audiologists
• Counselors
• Occupational Therapists
• Psychologists
• Recreational Therapists
• Social Workers
• Speech-language Pathologists
• Teacher Assistants
• General Teachers
• Vocational Teachers

Some or all of these listed career paths may require more education and training.

Other Resources

Other than the resources already linked above, you might find the following resource helpful:

• Council for Exceptional Children: The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) is the largest international professional organization dedicated to improving the educational success of individuals with disabilities and/or gifts and talents.
• Do2Learn: For over ten years Do2Learn has, through funding from several sources including the National Institutes of Health, used technology and the web to provide special learning resources for individuals with disabilities and the professionals and caregivers who serve them.
• National Center for Special Education Personnel and Related Service Providers: This program works to increase the nation’s capacity to recruit, prepare and retain diverse highly qualified special educators, early intervention and related service providers.
• TeacherVision: This section of the TeacherVision site provides curriculum strategies and classroom management techniques for students with different learning needs.

If you are interested in being a better special ed teacher, you can use the following open courseware classes to learn interesting techniques, and even to prepare special education lesson plans. Increase your knowledge and become a better teacher with help from these 50 free open courseware classes for special education teachers:

Mental Needs

These open courseware classes can help you help your special needs students that have learning disorders, mental disabilities and more.

1. Individualized Reading Instruction in the Elementary Grades: The University of Michigan offers a helpful look at assessing reading skills, and tailoring curriculum toward those with different needs.
2. Psychiatric Epidemiology: This course from Johns Hopkins University aims to teach about the different disorders that can occur in childhood and through the teen years.
3. Autism Theory and Technology: This MIT course addresses autism, the different theories behind it, and technology that can be used to help these students succeed.
4. Understanding dyslexia: Get insight into how dyslexia works. The Open University offers a helpful course on teaching those with dyslexia.
5. Attention: Learn about attention, and how it works. Also provides insight that can help you understand students with attention deficits.
6. Substance Abuse and the Family: Learn how substance abuse in the family can lead to learning problems and special education requirements.
7. Teaching Students with Special Needs: Behaviour Management: Learn how to run your classroom when teaching those with special needs. Helpful hints on behavior management from the University of Southern Queensland.
8. Inclusive education: knowing what we mean: Helpful course on setting up an inclusive learning environment for a variety of students.
9. What children’s perspectives tell us about inclusion: Learn more about children, and what they are looking for in an inclusive education — including for those with special needs.

Physical Needs

Many special needs children have physical limitations. Here are some open courseware classes that can help you address these physical needs.

10. The Linguistic Study of Bilingualism: Learn how to teach those whose first language may not be English in this course from MIT.
11. Multicultural Education & ESL Education: Dixie State College helps you learn about teaching in a multicultural setting.
12. Accessibility and eLearning: Different techniques and technologies that can help those with special needs.
13. American Sign Language and Signed English: This course from Lesson Tutor offers a series of lessons that can help you communicate more effectively with hearing impaired students.
14. Teaching Blind Students: The University of Northern Iowa offers this helpful group of resources that includes information on making text accessible, and for building curricula.
15. Adapted PE: Get a look at different strategies for adapting physical education to the needs of your students.
16. Human Growth and Development: Tufts University addresses issues of physical development, and provides an understanding of what could result in disabilities.
17. Pathophysiology of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism: Learn about the issues that comes with certain diseases, and how to address the results in a classroom setting.

Using the Arts

Many special education students benefit from exposure to the arts. These open courseware classes can help you develop lessons that might be more likely to help you reach those with special needs.

18. Introduction to Sculpture: Learn the basic principles of sculpture, and how they can be used to teach.
19. Picturing the family: Help students get a grasp of the idea of family, culture and other complex topics.
20. Fundamentals of Music: MIT offers a basic course in music.
21. Creating Musical Sounds: The Open University offers a look at different ways to create music, including quite a few that can be adapted for those with special needs.
22. Art of Color: Teach students about color, and how they can make their own works of art for expression.
23. Introduction to Video: Many students with special needs enjoy making video. This MIT course can help you learn more about video so that you can teach it.
24. Theater Arts Topics: This helpful course can introduce you — and your special education students — to theater.
25. Dance skills: Many students enjoy dance and movement. This course from The Open University can be of help.

Child Development

Get a handle on child development, from early childhood through the teen years. A great foundation for all teachers, and many of these course also include valuable information the development of special conditions and needs in children.

26. Infant and Early Childhood Cognition: Get a basic grasp of cognition.
27. Play, learning and the brain: An overview of how play can aid in learning.
28. Psychology of Gender: Gain an understanding of the psychology behind “girl” and “boy”.
29. Developmental Psychology: The University of California Berkeley offers insight into how children develop.
30. Knowledge in everyday life: Learn how to help children of different need levels acquire knowledge.
31. Childhood Psychological and Emotional Health: Learn about children’s emotional health from Connexions.
32. Adolescent Health and Development: Johns Hopkins offers a look at how youth develop. Helpful for those teaching teenagers.
33. Adolescent Stages: The Child Development Institute offers a look at teenage development.

General Teaching

Get helpful hints on teaching in general, and techniques and methods that can be adapted for special education in many places.

34. Concept-Centered Teaching: Learn how to teach concepts to your students.
35. Using visualisation in maths teaching: Helpful information on using different tools to teach math.
36. Gender Issues in Academics and Academia: Overview of gender issues that are likely to come up.
37. The Nature of Constructionist Learning: Help students learn with hands-on projects.
38. Exploring K-12 Classroom Learning: Get a handle on teaching in school classroom settings.
39. The Creative Spark: Learn about the creative process, and how to teach it to students.
40. Evaluating school classroom discussion: Find out how to gauge the effectiveness of your interactions with students.
41. Teaching for good behaviour: Learn techniques you can employ to encourage good outcomes.
42. Thinking about how I work with other professionals: Improve your interactions with fellow special education and other teachers.

Education Administration

If you would like to be an administrator some day, these open courseware classes can help you learn about what it takes, and how you can improve your chances.

43. Economics of Education: Course addressing the realities of money and education.
44. Communicating Across Cultures: Helpful administration level course on cultural sensitivity.
45. Technological Tools for School Reform: Be a part of the solution in educational reform.
46. School business manager: developing the role: Helpful look at planning in terms of school administration.
47. Integrating Thinking for Future Leaders in Education: Critical thinking skills and more from Rice University’s Connexions.
48. K-12 Leadership and the Educational Administration: A Theory of Preparation: Get insight into planning district-wide curriculum policies.
49. Ethical Administrators: Tools for the Trade: Another Connexions course, this one focuses on ethics in educational administration.
50. School governors: planning for improvement: Learn how you can create plans for better schools and for better special education programs.

Education

1. ADDitude Magazine: More than a blog, this site offers resources, tips, educational advice and more for families living with ADHD and learning disabilities.
2. Ann’s Learning Disabilities Blog: Ann Logsdon is helps parents and teachers support students with a range of educational and developmental disabilities.
3. Bilingual Special Ed: Dr. Claudia Rinaldi is an assistant professor in special education at Boston College.
4. I Speak of Dreams: This blogger focuses on effective parenting and education and learning disabilities, among other topics.
5. Jan Palmer — Special Ed Teacher, BCBA: Jan Palmer works with children and adolescents with developmental disabilities in regular classrooms, specialized settings or one to one situations.
6. Jerry’s Special Education Blog: Jerry is currently teaching in a “most restrictive setting” as an autistic support teacher for high school aged children in a residential facility.
7. Making Special Education Actually Work: This blog’s purpose is to enlighten and empower all responsible adults to ensure that all children, regardless of disability, receive a free and appropriate public education.
8. Special 2 me: An enthusiastic special education teacher chronicles her journey in a low-income, high crime, Title I school in Los Angeles.
9. Special Education and Learning Differences: PCI Education offers a real-life approach to teaching basic academic skills and life skills for struggling students.
10. Special Education MangoMon Blog: Learning Today’s Smart Tutor & MangoMon reading and math programs are research-based.
11. Special Education Strategies And More…: This blog is for teachers and parents of children with special needs to find positive strategies promoting academic, social and emotional growth.
12. Teach Effectively! TeachEffectively emphasizes evidence-based instruction and educational practice for students who are at risk for school failure or who have disabilities.
13. Teacher Sol: This blog belongs to a special education teacher in Washington, DC.
14. Teaching Learners with Multiple Special Needs: Resources and ideas for teachers of learners with severe, profound, intensive, significant, complex or multiple special needs.
15. Teaching Students with Learning Difficulties: This blog is for teachers, lecturers and support staff working with students with learning difficulties over age 16.
16. The Life That Chose Me: A blog by a high school special education teacher, a parent with two boys with ASD, who serves students with severe and profound disabilities.
17. Your Mama’s Mad Tedious: Diary of a Special Ed Teacher: This special ed teacher and U.C. Berkeley journalism grad provides an interesting look at her roll in special education.

Assistive Technology

18. Access Ability: Ron was blinded in an auto accident at age 31, and his focus at this blog is serving a broad population with disability support services.
19. Assistive Technology: Learn more about assistive technology, eLearning, mind mapping, project management, visual learning, collaborative tools and educational technology.
20. AT Cubed: Follow this blog for assistive technology tools, tricks and tips.
21. ATMac: This blog’s focus is on Apple and Mac users with disabilities.
22. Disability411: A self-professed technology geek, Beth loves exploring ways that technology can increase accessibility for people with disabilities. She also writes a blog.
23. Free Technology for Teachers: Richard Byrne digs deep to find tech resources for parents and teachers in this long-running blog.
24. Learning is Messy: Brian Crosby has infused technology into his award-winning elementary school programs since the 1980′s.
25. Moving at the Speed of Creativity: This blog focuses on issues related to engaged learning through every form of educational technology.
26. No Limits 2 Learning: Lon Thornburg is an educator and an assistive technology specialist and trainer who shares his knowledge on this blog.
27. Teachers Love SMART Boards: James Hollis helps teachers use technology to help students increase their ability to learn.
28. Teachers Teaching Teachers: Two teachers bring their EdTech knowledge to other teachers (and parents) who want to learn.
29. TechSoup: This blog offers a variety of information and services for the benefit of the nonprofit sector.
30. The Assistive Technology Blog: This blog is maintained by The Virginia Department of Education’s Training and Technical Assistance Center (T/TAC).

Law and Policy

31. Autism Policy and Politics: This blogger is writing a book on autism policy and politics in the U.S., and his blog contains relevant information to the project.
32. Day in Washington: This nationally syndicated disability policy blog is updated weekly.
33. Developments in Special Education Law: H. Jeffrey Marcus, P.C., presents current developments in special education law in federal and New York State cases.
34. Patricia E Bauer News & Commentary on Disability Issues: This blog attempts to aggregate news and commentary about disability, and to document the efforts of people who are seeking new ways to address familiar challenges.
35. Special Education Law Blog: A special education legal resource discussing case law, news, practical advocacy advice, and developments in state and federal laws.
36. Special Education Law Blog: Jim Gerl is a consultant for a number of state education agencies, and he is a frequent speaker on special ed law topics.
37. The Wrightslaw Way: Wrightslaw provides information about special education law, education law, and advocacy for children with disabilities for parents, educators, advocates and attorneys.

Trends and Inspiration

38. ABC Therapeutics: This blog about occupational therapy also leans heavily on how children react to various therapies as remedy to injury, illness or disability.
39. ADHD & LD Resource Blog: A resource for those who want to learn about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Learning Disabilities (LD) and related topics.
40. Dyslexia My Life: Mr Sagmiller speaks on dyslexia candidly and how it has affected his now successful life.
41. Empowering People and Changing Lives…One Note at a Time: Erin is a college student who suffers with congenital hydrocephalus and cerebral palsy.
42. Engel’s Ensights: Blinded at age 18 by a drunk driver, Marcus went on to complete college and to become a public speaker and advocate.
43. Journeys with Autism: A woman, diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome at age 50, talks about her journey of learning about the autism spectrum.
44. On Special Education: Education Week reporter Christina A. Samuels tracks news and trends of interest to the special education community.
45. Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities: This new blog is part of a non-profit organization that approaches learning disabilities and attention-deficit disorders as differences, rather than as roadblocks.
46. Special Education Parents Advisory Council: SEPAC was formed in May 2005 with a focus on special education in Scottsdale, Arizona.
47. Special Needs Children: Terri Mauro has two teenagers with special needs: a 19-year-old with language-based learning disabilities and a 16-year-old with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, both adopted from Russia in 1994.
48. Thrive On the Autism Spectrum: This is a positive blog about autism spectrum disorders, autism, Asperger’s and ADHD. Patricia also maintains Coach for Asperger’s and Social Skills for Kids.
49. SpedPro: SpedPro provides a source for current professional information about special education.
50. SpeEdChange: Ira Socol presents a blog that speaks to the fundamentals of future education for different students in democratic societies.