With the advancements in technology, the learning and educational sector has been opened up to more resource options than ever before. Students now have access to such a huge range of options to assist them. These include, but are not limited to; e-books, audio-books, pod-casts, online lectures, real-time tutorials, forums and numerous assistive technology gadgets… Read more

The Spectronics website hosts an extensive list of resources for iPads in Inclusive settings. Posts such as Using iPads to Support Students Struggling with the Literacy Requirements of Schools and Beyond and Educational Technology Leaders are some of our favorite. We thought you might enjoy this great collection of resources… Read more

CAST UDL Lesson Builder The Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST) website hosts a Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Lesson Builder that provides educators with models and tools to create and adapt lessons to increase access and participation in the general education curriculum for all students. To find out more CAST and its lesson builder, check out: http://lessonbuilder.cast.org/… Read more

Collaborative Planning for External Support Services Tool This tool is designed for two teachers to use when determining the specific external supports needed by a special education or special needs student. Note that you can also use this in planning to meet the needs of a student who is struggling in school. How do we formalize External Supports? Step 1… Read more

Many children with disabilities struggle with writing assignments in school. Whether the difficulty lies with the physical act of writing (holding a pencil, using a keyboard, forming letters), writing mechanics (grammar and spelling) or getting thoughts onto paper, the integration of web tools and instructional technology into the learning environment can be a great way… Read more

Many students have difficulty reading printed text and therefore have limited access to learning through books. Bookshare is an organization with the purpose of making text available to students with vision impairments or other print disabilities. They have over 34,000 books and 150 periodicals available that are converted to Braille, large print, or text to speech audio… Read more

Using concrete and pictorial images in mathematics instruction is a research-proven strategy for many learners including students with disabilities. This strategy is commonly known as the Concrete-Representational-Abstract (CRA) Instructional Approach. This three sequence framework ultimately helps students make a connection between the concrete stage and abstract stage to achieve mastery of each mathematical concept. The… Read more

Many children with disabilities struggle with writing assignments in school. Whether the difficulty lies with the physical act of writing (holding a pencil, using a keyboard, forming letters), writing mechanics (grammar and spelling) or getting thoughts onto paper, writing can become a painful task for students with disabilities.  As writing becomes a dreaded activity, students’… Read more

Many students with learning disabilities have difficulty with executive function – organizing, planning, keeping track of time, remembering information and keeping track of multiple tasks can all present difficulties for students with LD. Typically, individuals who struggle with executive function use a variety of strategies to help with organization and planning; students may use agenda… Read more