ABLEDATA

ABLEDATA is a federally funded project whose primary mission is to provide information on assistive technology and rehabilitation equipment available from domestic and international sources to consumers, organizations, professionals, and caregivers within the United States. The site includes an online library with references to a wide variety of books, articles, papers and other paper and electronic publications that deal with topics relating to assistive technology such as reviews of products; research to develop products and improve existing ones; guidance for selecting assistive products or finding information about funding; or general information on a class of products.

Alliance for Technology Access (ATA)

The Alliance for Technology Access (ATA) is a network of community-based resource centers, developers and vendors, affiliates, 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.

Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA)

The mission of ADDA is to provide information, resources and networking to adults with AD/HD and to the professionals who work with them. In doing so, ADDA generates hope, awareness, empowerment and connections worldwide in the field of AD/HD. Bringing together scientific perspectives and the human experience, the information and resources provided to individuals and families affected by AD/HD and professionals in the field focuses on diagnoses, treatments, strategies and techniques for helping adults with AD/HD lead better lives.

Includes an annual national conference, FOCUS, the quarterly publication of the organization, publications and audio/video resources, teleclasses, networking, and advocacy for the field of adult AD/HD.

Center for Applied Special Technology (CAST)

Founded in 1984 as the Center for Applied Special Technology, CAST has earned international recognition for its development of innovative, technology-based educational resources and strategies based on the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL).

By defining UDL and exploring its practical applications, CAST is pushing the boundaries of education research, practice, and policymaking. Achievements include the creation or codevelopment of innovative software such as Thinking Reader, WiggleWorks, and Bobby; leadership of federally funded initiatives to develop and promote a National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS); provision of support for school teachers and administrators through professional development, consultation, publications, and online resources.

Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorders (CHADD)

CHADD is the nation's leading non-profit organization serving individuals with AD/HD and their families. CHADD has over 16,000 members in 200 local chapters throughout the U.S. Chapters offer support for individuals, parents, teachers, professionals, and others.

CHADD is a membership organization, produces the bi-monthly Attention! magazine (for members), and sponsors an annual conference. The National Resource Center on AD/HD (NRC) is the CDC-funded national clearinghouse for evidence-based information about AD/HD.

Website includes research, a directory of links for people with disabilities and their families, online communities, and information about conferences and training.

Closing the Gap

Companion website to Closing The Gap, a newspaper covering the ways computers can be used to serve the needs of persons with disabilities. It covers all aspects of personal computer technology as it relates to special education, rehabilitation and independent living for those who require the assistance of technology tools to pursue common goals and objectives.  Website includes a resource directory, information about their annual conference, and discussion forums.

Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)

The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) is the largest international professional organization dedicated to improving educational outcomes for individuals with exceptionalities, students with disabilities, and/or the gifted. CEC advocates for appropriate governmental policies, sets professional standards, provides continual professional development, advocates for newly and historically underserved individuals with exceptionalities, and helps professionals obtain conditions and resources necessary for effective professional practice.

Website provides professional development opportunities, publications, and links to its member communities.

Council for Jews with Special Needs (CJSN)

A non-profit human resources agency, composed of concerned individuals working together to ensure that all Jews have the opportunity to fully participate in the richness of Jewish religious, cultural, and social life.  Website includes links to resources in the Jewish community, links to employment and volunteer opportunities, and information about their programs.

disABILITY Information and Resources

Listings of resources, organizations, accessibility sites, and more.

DisabilityInfo.gov

DisabilityInfo.gov provides quick and easy access to comprehensive information about disability programs, services, laws and benefits. You can begin your search by visiting any of the nine subject areas at the top of this page. To find disability resources in your state just click on the Find State and Local Resources map located in each of these subject areas.

Includes information about Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), autism and other developmental disabilities, fair housing rights, Social Security disability benefits, and vocational Rehabilitation.

Ensuring Jewish Education For Every Jewish Child

News article from 5 Towns Jewish Times highlights the success of The Initiative for Day School Excellence at the Combined Jewish Philanthropies in greater Boston, a communitywide school improvement project which provides essential special education services for the community, such as speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, and specialized reading and learning support to assist children in Jewish day schools.

Equal Access to Software and Information (EASI)

EASI's mission is to serve as a resource to the education community by providing information and guidance in the area of access-to-information technologies by individuals with disabilities. We stay informed about developments and advancements within the adaptive computer technology field and spread that information to colleges, universities, K-12 schools, libraries and into the workplace.

EASI provides publications, online training courses and webinars on adaptive technology, and listservs for educational institutions, advocacy groups, parents, teachers, and students.

Etta Israel Center

Website of the Etta Israel Center, developed in part through a grant from the Covenant Foundation; includes information about programs and services that help Jewish youth achieve inclusion and integration in the community and works to raise community awareness and sensitivity toward people with special needs.

Gateways: Access to Jewish Education

Gateways offers programs and services to children with special needs and educational challenges in Greater Boston's Jewish day schools, congregational and community preschools and Hebrew Schools, and its own supplemental settings.

Gateways also provides professional development and ongoing coaching to teachers and administrators to learn strategies to teach every child in the classroom and to support all types of learners.

Teen volunteers throughout the wider community are offered opportunities to mentor children in many settings.

Gesher LaTorah

Gesher LaTorah, "A Bridge to the Torah" is a dynamic community-based Jewish special education program serving students with moderate to severe special needs ages 4 through 21 years.

Gesher LaTorah's mission is based on one firm principle:
Every Jewish individual has a rightful place as a proud and self-assured member of the Jewish family, the Jewish school, the synagogue and the Jewish community.

Hidden Sparks

Hidden Sparks is a non-profit fund whose purpose is to help children with learning differences reach their full potential in school and life. Hidden Sparks develops and supports professional development programs for Jewish day schools to help increase understanding and support for teaching to diverse learners.

Of special note is Hidden Sparks Without Walls (WOW), an online offering of short-term courses on differentiated learning to teachers in Jewish day schools and yeshivas, combining audio and online content-- all free of charge.

Hidden Sparks was named as one of the 50 Most Innovative Jewish Nonprofits in America by Slingshot 2010.

Hidden Sparks

Founded in February 2005, Hidden Sparks’ goal is to increase the capacity of Jewish day schools to address the varied needs of children with learning difficulties. Hidden Sparks develops and supports professional development programs for Jewish day schools to help increase understanding and support for teaching to diverse learners. 

In addition to traditional professional development resources available on the website, Hidden Sparks Without Walls (WOW) brings audio and online classes, at no cost, to educators nation-wide. View online recordings of previous WOW classes and lectures, or register for upcoming online classes, at the Hidden Sparks homepage.

Hoagies' Gifted Education Page

Hoagies' Gifted Education Page is a resource guide for the education of gifted children and gifted children with learning disabilities ("twice exceptional"). It includes links to resources on many aspects of gifted education available on the Internet, plus annotations and first hand information provided by parents. Resources include information on identifying gifted children, learning styles and socio-emotional issues, a glossary of gifted education, materials about testing and measurement, support systems and conferences, publications, research. The site also contains special sections for educators, parents, kids, and teens.

Jewish Special Education International Consortium

The Jewish Special Education International Consortium is a professional network of Directors, Coordinators and Administrators of Jewish special education services in Central Agencies for Jewish Education.The mission of the Consortium is to provide a structured forum that will enable professionals in special education to access and disseminate information and ideas on:

--Program models and development

--Specialized curriculum and technology

--Inclusion

--Professional development and support

--Advocacy and Legislation

--Community relations and awareness

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