The onset of COVID-19 has dramatically increased the usage of digital learning formats by education agencies across the nation and shifted the learning environment to "school at home." Since students are online more, they are vulnerable to more threats. Cyber safety is critical and is a shared responsibility of students, parents, and…

Questions often arise about how accessible educational materials (AEM) might be included in Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). The two purposes of this article are to (1) help families and educators understand the importance of including AEM in the IEPs of students who require them, and (2) to discuss locations in the IEP where it may be…

Technology, when used appropriately, can empower learning, engage and motivate students, and help make learning interactive. Students can benefit from educational technology because it can personalize instruction and adapt to their strengths and weaknesses. Today's digital tools and resources support and enhance learning at home and in the…

"Digital Play for Global Citizens" is an introduction to how educators and parents can use a multitude of innovative technology tools to help their students and children learn about, understand, and engage with our increasingly interconnected world. Educating students to become "macro-minded" (habits of mind that are associated…

Sometimes parents just do not know where to begin once their child has been diagnosed as deaf or hearing impaired. This booklet helps answer some of the questions these parents might have. A resource section has been included for parents and professionals for future reference. One of the most important things to remember is that, once a child has…

The purpose of this brief is to help families and educators understand the right of students with disabilities who need accessible educational materials to receive these materials in a timely manner. This right is based on provisions in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), as well as in the disability civil rights statutes…

Many parents find it hard to make decisions about screen time for their kids because advice comes from different directions and often conflicts. In the field of child development, there are decades of theory and research that can be very helpful as a guide for screen and digital device use with young kids. These ideas can be a resource for parents…

Sometimes parents just do not know where to begin once their child has been diagnosed as deaf or hearing impaired. This booklet will help answer some of the questions parents might have. A resource section has been included for parents and professionals on pages 43-44, for future reference. One of the most important things to remember is that,…

Communication is important to all people. Through gestures, body language, writing, facial expressions, speech, and other means, people are able to share their thoughts and ideas, build relationships, and express their needs. When they cannot communicate, their behavior, learning, and sociability can all suffer. Fortunately, augmentative and…

This guide provides recommendations for collecting accurate, comparable, and useful data about virtual education in an elementary/secondary education setting. Its goals are to: (1) identify components common to many education information systems that are necessary to meet the information needs of policymakers, administrators, instructors, and…

This book is designed to help a Technology Advisory Council (TAC) get a start at helping children obtain a better education--an education that prepares them for adulthood in an information age society. The advisory council is a representative group of stakeholders, i.e., the people who are affected by decisions and those involved in implementing…

Communication is accomplished in many ways--through gestures, body language, writing, and speaking. Most people communicate verbally, without giving much thought to the process, but others may struggle to effectively communicate with others. The ability to express oneself affects behavior, learning, and sociability. When children are unable to…

This booklet is intended for teachers in grades K-12, guidance counselors, school administrators, preservice teachers and their college instructors, and interested parents. The information included in this publication has been gathered from the research and programs developed and refined by hundreds of dedicated teachers and researchers in the…

Twelve monthly issues of this magazine for parents and others concerned with children with disabilities are contained in this document. Individual issues typically include a number of articles based on the issues theme, a special report, research reflections, and regular columns covering news items, practical answers to child rearing problems,…