Autism. Hand in Hand

Autism. Hand in Hand. portal is a special education resource designed for parents, behavior interventionists, teachers, support workers, and other people involved in the lives of children with autism. Our mission is to empower everyone who provides services or is engaged in home based intervention program and to provide you with tools and creative ideas for curriculum development, floor time activities planning, social stories, and imaginative reinforcement.

Autism Teaching Tools

Source for practical information and teaching tips for working with your special learners. We have indexed over 200 books, songs, games and toys on the website for your convenience. Our goal is to have a source of materials for you to refer to when you are teaching a specific cognitive concept or skill.

Revised law will affect special-needs students

Revisions to a federal law will bring sweeping changes to special-education programs across the country beginning in July. Some parents and teachers are concerned that the change will allow special-education students to be expelled for disciplinary problems, fail classes because their educational needs won't be met, and leave them unprepared for life after graduation.

Council for Exceptional Children

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.

Federal Resource Center for Special Education

The Federal Resource Center for Special Education (FRC) is a five-year contract between the Academy for Educational Development (AED), its partner, the National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE), and the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs. The FRC supports a nationwide technical assistance network to respond to the needs of students with disabilities, especially students from under-represented populations.

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act - IDEA Law and Resources

The new IDEA will do much to advance the educational success of children with disabilities as well as improve special education conditions. CEC worked closely with Congress members to ensure the needs and requirements of students with disabilities were understood and that their rights would be protected. At the same time, CEC advocated for changes in legislation that would assist special educators by improving special education teaching conditions and providing additional professional development.

Manhattan Charter School to Serve the Autistic

The New York Center for Autism Charter School, is to open in September in a Manhattan public school, and is likely to start with four pupils and four instructors.

National Association of Special Education Teachers (NASET).  

The National Association of Special Education Teachers (NASET) is a national membership organization dedicated to rendering all possible support and assistance to those preparing for or teaching in the field of special education.  NASET was founded to promote the profession of special education teachers and to provide a national forum for their ideas.

NJ DOE – Parental Rights in Special Education (PRISE)

New Jersey Administrative Code for special education (N.J.A.C. 6A:14) and the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) are laws that ensure children with disabilities a free, appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment. An important part of these laws provides parents with the right to participate in their children’s education. You and representatives of your school district are team members who are responsible for developing an appropriate educational program for your child. This document will describe the state and federal laws affecting the provision of special education to help you understand your rights in the special education process.

NJ DOE – Children With Special Needs

There are many children in our schools who have special needs. They include children with disabilities; students who live in economically disadvantaged school districts; children from impoverished families; children whose primary language is not English; and children who are gifted and talented. In all cases, the needs of these students must be met by school districts through providing whatever support or accommodations are necessary to educate them. All of these areas require parent involvement and advocacy to assure that school districts adequately serve their children with special needs.

NJ Early Intervention System

The mission of the New Jersey Early Intervention System is to enhance the capacity of families to meet the developmental and health-related needs of children birth to age three who have delays or disabilities by providing quality services and support to families and their children. Families from diverse racial, cultural and socio-economic backgrounds will be involved in decision-making at every level of the design, implementation and evaluation of the Early Intervention System.

Parents United Together

Parents United Together is a group of parents of children with a wide range of disabilities united on a common issue: education.

Tin Snips

Tin Snips is a special education resource. It contains tools for teachers of individuals with autistic spectrum disorders, related developmental disabilities, and children with special needs. Quite a few of the activities are also appropriate for Pre-K and Kindergarten.

US DOE – No Child Left Behind

President Bush emphasized his deep belief in our public schools, but an even greater concern that "too many of our neediest children are being left behind," despite the nearly $200 billion in Federal spending since the passage of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA). The President called for bipartisan solutions based on accountability, choice, and flexibility in Federal education programs.

US DOE – Office of Special Education

The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) is dedicated to improving results for infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities ages birth through 21 by providing leadership and financial support to assist states and local districts. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) authorizes formula grants to states, and discretionary grants to institutions of higher education and other non-profit organizations to support research, demonstrations, technical assistance and dissemination, technology and personnel development and parent-training and information centers.