Special Educators and Using the Internet

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The internet has become an important tool in today's society. It adds a new dimension to finding resources and information . With a computer,browser,search engine and the click of the mouse,the possibilities are virtullay unlimited. This is why the internet has become such big factor in the realm of education. It brings teachers and students a whole new way to do research , provide a lesson or e-mail friends from all over the world. As educators,the internet brings a vast array of rich learning opportunities. All we have to do is use it.

Professinal Use
As a preservice special education teacher,I have found the internet an invaluable resource. Using the internet has put me in touch with what is taking place in my field. You can use the internet to find information on profesional development. One site that is highly devoted to special education is the CEC-Council for Exceptional Children.The CEC is the largest international professional organizatinon. The CEC provides information on cofrences,journals, and newsletters. This site helps keep members a breast on current happenings. NICHCY-National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities is another source of valuable information for educators,famalies and other professional. They offer referal services and a resource sheet for each state that provides information on services in that area. These are only two of the professional organizations out there. There are to many to list in this article.
Another source for special educators is sites that link you to information on disabilities. There may come a time when a student enters your classroom and has a disibility you may not know a whole lot about or need a refresher. There are sites out there on the internet that can help you find the information you need. One such site is SERI-Special Education Resources on the Internet.This site is provided by Hood College in Maryland.It is the best organized page of links to information concerning special education and disibilities. Another site that provides links to important resources is hosted by the University of Kansas. It is the Disabilities and Special Education Page. This page also provides links to sites relevant to spedial education. By using the internet,the educator can continue to learn more about the population it serves.

Assistive Technology
Assistive technology has certainly existed for some time. It ranges from no-tech to lo-tech to hi-tech.IDEA defines assistive technology as "Any item,piece of equipment or product system,whether aquired commercially or off the shelf,modified or customized,that increases,maintains,or improves the functional capabilaties of individuals with disibilities"(PL 100-407). I feel that with the tremendous growth of technology,assistive technology devices will enable more people with severe disibilities to access the world around them,including the internet.
There is a wealth of information on the internet related to assistive technology. One of these sites is the NCIP-National Center to Improve Practice. This organization is dedicated to promoting the effective use of technology that results in increased educational benefits for students with disabilities. The NCIP is located at the Education Development Center,INC and is funded by the U.S. Department of Education for Special Education Programs(OSEP).Another incredible site related to this topic is Assistive Technology On-line. This site is created by Assistive Technology On-line Web Group and is hosted by the University of Deleware. This is the page. At this site you can find out about organizations,federal funding,papers and publications,information from other media,and devices. In addition,Closing The Gap,is a widely recogonized journal that focuses on applying microcomputer technology in special education and rehabilitation.

How can assistive technology help students with severe disabilities access the internet? Many times students with sever disabilities lack the fine motor skills to operate a computer in a conventional way. But with the advances in assistive technology,there are alternative devices available that allow the user to operate the computer. These devices may include eye swithces,which can be activated by the blinking of the eye and act in ways like a mouse. There are also puff devices,which are controlled by the users breathing. This to can simulate a mouse. Another device is the Head mouse created by Computer Access from Origin Instruments.The head mouse is attached to the head and controlled by head movements. These are just a few of the devices available out there. There are several more and certainly more to come.

other sources
TRACE This organization produces the Co-net CD rom. Co-net allows you to research and view products,services,and documents. You can order the CD from this site.
Tennesse Technology Access Centers This site lists the centers,addresses and contact numbers of the tech.centers in Tennessee.

A Parent Resource
As a special educator,we are not only responsible for providing services to our students,we are also responsible for providing services to the parents of our students. Many times we are the primary resource of information for the parents. We must be invloved in actively including the parents in the educational plans for their children. One way we can assist parents in accessing infortmation on their childs disability is through the internet. The internet can provide parents with information on a particular disability, related organizations, and connect them with other parents in simular situations. The following is a list of some organizations related to a specific disability:

• American Association on Mental Retardation
  
  
• Autism Society of America
  
  
• The National Down Syndrome Society
  
  
• ADD Parents listserv
  
  
• United Cerebral Palsy Home Page
  
  

Conclusion
The internet has become an ever increasing popular tool for all of society. It is also begining to make its way into our classrooms. As an educator it is imperative that we be aware of its uses related to our profession. It contains an abundance of resources and information that we can utilize in our professional development and share with the our students,as well as their parents. What we have to do is educate ourselves about the internet and most importantly,use it.

Bibliography

American Association on Mental Retardation.(1997)[online]http://www.aamr.org/

Assistive Technology On-Line Web Group(1996).Assistive Technology On-line.[online]http://www.asel.udel.edu/at-online/assistive.html

Autism Society of America(1997)[online]http://www.autism-society.org/

Bernstein,Mark.University of Kansas(1995-1997)Disabilities and Special Education Page.[online]http://ksc.geo.ukans.edu/seik.html

Council for Exceptional Children(1997)[online]http://www.cec.sped.org/gome.htm

Closing the Gap[online]http://www.closingthegap.com/

Department of Education.Office of Special Education and Rehabilatative Services(1997).OSERS IDEA Home Page[online]http://www.ed.gov/offices/OSERS/IDEA

Education Development Center(1995). National Center to Improve Practice[online]http://www.edc.org/FSC/NCIP/

Hood College.Special Education Resources on the Internet[online]http://www.hood.edu/seri/serihome.htm

National Down Syndrome Society(1997)[online]http://www.ndss.org/

National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities[online]http://www.nichcy.org/

Powell,Richard.Occupational Therapy Internet World(1995)assittek.htm[online]http://www.mother.com/ktherapy/ot/assittek.htm#TN

Origin Instruments Corporation. Computer Access from Origin Instruments[online]http://orin.com/access/

United Cerebral Palsy Associates(1997)[online]http://ucpa.org/html/

University of Wisconsin-Madison.Trace.[online]http://trace.wisc.edu/index.html

Wong,Meng.University of Pennsylvania(1993)Add Parents Listserv.[online]http://www.seas.upenn.edu/~mengwong/add/addparents.txt


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