IDEA refers to the Federal legislation reauthorized in 2004, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which mandates special education and related services, including assistive technology, for students with special needs.  Resources in this section include information on legal requirements, individualized education plans, assistive technology considerations, and accommodation solutions.

 

Related Resources

Assistive Technology and the Individualized Education Plan

This resource provides parents with necessary information about Individualized Education Plans (IEP) and assistive technology (AT). It includes tips on how parents can be active in the development of their child's IEP and the determination of his or her AT needs. 

Family Center on Technology and Disability

Classroom 2.0 LIVE Conversations

Classroom 2.0 LIVE Conversations are community-scheduled opportunities to talk on specific topics with other members of the Classroom 2.0 using one of the online voice/video/sharing programs. Using this wiki page you can find discussions to participate in, or schedule to host additional ones.

Create Online Behavior Report Cards

Collect ongoing ratings of students’ behavior, work habits, and work completion with Daily Behavior Report Cards (DBRCs), which can be customized in daily or weekly format, as well as ready-to-use progress-monitoring charts.

Creating NIMAS Files

This resource contains detailed, step-by-step instructions on creating accessible materials for students with disabilities.

CAST

Disability 411

Access blog and podcast for educators working in special education, both in K-12 and higher education. View the archives for podcasts on a variety of topics in disability education.

Disabled Teens to Access IT Career Training Online

Thanks to a grant from the NEC Foundation of America, the Computing Technology Industry Association is launching a national, online training program to improve technology-related career opportunities for high-school students with disabilities. Teens with disabilities will be able to get specialized training and certifications online, tailored to their specific level of ability. They will also have access to mentoring and assistance with finding a job.

GenYES 2.0

GenYES is a student-centered research-based solution for school-wide technology integration. Students work with teachers to design technology-infused lessons and provide tech support. The resulting collaboration provides the students with project-based learning and the teachers with on-site, sustainable professional development. GenYES includes innovative online tools that support student and teacher collaboration and a student-run help desk.

Introduction to Assistive Technology

This module provides an overview of assistive technology used by children with disabilities ages 5-11: what it is and how it can be used to promote independent participation in elementary classrooms.

Assistive Technology Training Online Project

Math Matrix

The math matrix is intended to serve as a resource that matches technology tools with supporting literature on promising practices for the instruction of math for students with disabilities. Search for products and evidence among the six purposes of technology that support reading for students with special needs.

CITEd

MATNOnline Wiki

This wiki provides educators in Maryland with resources to support the education of all students in a Universally Designed for Learning Classroom supports students with disabilities with the use of Assistive Technology.

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National Education Association Teacher Toolkit

The National Education Association Teacher Toolkit helps educators manage their students with an array of tools. Free resources enable teachers to maintain class rosters with individual student profiles, manage attendance, keep behavioral and intervention logs, and create online Individualized Education Plans. Additional resources, including curriculum tools, assessment tools, gradebook tools, performance tools, and learning tools are available for a fee. Subscriptions for these features cost $72.95 for one year, $21.95 for three months, and $7.95 for one month. 

National Education Association and Progress Education Corporation

National Instructional Materials Access Center (NIMAC)

National Instructional Materials Access Center (NIMAC) was established through the reauthorized Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA). The NIMAC receives and catalogs publishers' electronic files of print instructional materials in a standard format and make them available to educators.

American Printing House for the Blind, Inc.

Partners in Learning

The Microsoft Partners in Learning initiative supports the dual commitment by Microsoft to advance the quality of education and provide alternative channels for economic progress. By building partnerships with governments and schools around the globe, Partners in Learning works to integrate technology into daily teaching, learning, and research.

Reading Matrix

This matrix is intended to serve as a resource that matches technology tools with supporting literature on promising practices for the instruction of reading for students with disabilities. Search for products and evidence among the six purposes of technology that support reading for students with special needs.

NCTI

Setting the Stage for Success: Building Success through Effective Selection and Use of Assistive Technology Systems

This brief discusses assistive technology decision making using the SETT framework (Student, Environment, Task, Tool).

Special Education Record-Keeping Made Simple

The sole software developer from the Los Angeles Unified School District discusses his experience and provides feedback on using technology to aid compliance with special education laws.

techLEARNING

Testing Modification Chart Generator

This generator can be used to make a chart that will assist all staff members involved in the assessment of special needs children. Referring to each child's Individualized Education Plan, staff can make a chart that will identify the testing modification needs of up to ten students.

teAchnology

The Benefits of Online Individualized Education Plans (PDF)

This document, posted by the U.S Department of Education, provides a basic illustration of the benefits of online Individualized Education Plans.

XPLANE

Universally Designed Assessments

This article provides an introduction to universal design (UD) philosophy, frequently asked questions about universally designed assessments, and resources on UD assessments.

National Center on Educational Outcomes and Regents of the University of Minnesota

Using Technology to Provide Access to the General Education Curriculum—Techniques to Try (PDF)

This article discusses three strategies of technology scaffolding to provide differentiated instruction to students with disabilities.

Technology and Media Division of the Council for Exceptional Children

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