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The following 100 Web sites are organized according to main purpose or topic. There is ample overlap, so some sites and links are listed in more than one category. While the sites are arranged by topic and primary audience, all of the sites are likely to be helpful to WEAC members and those they serve. Remember: Never simply accept something you read on the Internet as “fact.” Check it out, determine its source and its research basis, and form your own educated, well-informed opinion!
Individualized Education Plans (IEP)
A Guide to the Individual Education Program (IEP)
http://www.ed.gov/parents/needs/speced/iepguide/index.html?exp=0
This guide was created by OSEP/ US Dept of Education and is helpful
for anyone who wants to learn more about the IEP process and the IEP.
Student's Guide to the IEP: http://www.nichcy.org/stuguid.asp#set1
What is your IEP? Why do you need to be part of your IEP team? How can
you help write your own IEP? NICHCY's Student's Guide to the IEP gives
kids the information they need. It includes handouts (easy to read)
and taped information. Free!
Parents' Guide to the IEP: http://www.nichcy.org/parents.asp#pa12
This easy-to-read guide, available in Spanish and English, helps parents
and teachers understand the components of the IEP and how to participate
effectively in the IEP meeting.
Developing Individualized Education Programs & Individualized
Transition Plans: http://www.vcu.edu/rrtcweb/techlink/courses/EDU651c/credit/contents.htm
This is an online “intro” course teaching about Individual
Education Planning and transition planning related to service children
and youth with disabilities. Training segments include how to develop
goals and objectives, how to integrate transition into the IEP, and
more.
Designing IEP Transition Plans: http://ericec.org/digests/e598.html
This ERIC digest covers the key issues of effective transition planning,
including how to include the student and parents, questions to discuss
and use for developing goals and objectives, and all the items that
must be included in the transition IEP.
Writing IEPs for Success: http://www.ldonline.org/ld_indepth/iep/success_ieps.html
Dr. Barbara Bateman is both a researcher and a practitioner who is well
known for her work with helping educators and IEP Teams create effective,
thorough, and usable IEPs. This site, hosted by LDOnLine, may be perceived
by some to be too assertive, but suggestions are included to help IEP
Teams that are unable to successfully focus on the individual needs
of students to do so. Teachers and well as parents or students frustrated
with wasted hours in IEP meetings may appreciate the options offered.
The third section of the site focused more specifically on transition
planning, which should begin as early as necessary for any individual
student.
Finding Local Resources for Inclusion in IEPs: http://www.wsti.org/poem.cfm
Although this site is actually intended for connecting with agencies,
organizations, or other resources in relation to developing quality
transition IEPs, the contacts are pertinent for the needs of students,
their families, and educators at all age levels. The “POEM”
or Point of Entry Manuals, are on-line for some, but not all, Wisconsin
counties. However, new POEMS for counties are being added as they are
created, so it’s worth a look! Also, some organizations listed
serve more than just one county.
ERIC: http://www.eric.ed.gov/
Educational Resources Information Center is a national information system
funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Institute of Education
Sciences to provide access to education literature and resources. This
site offers a searchable database with articles on special education
and other education issues or topics. The site is currently (2004) undergoing
a major upgrade, but this link will allow you to access what is available
and to stay on top of the changes.
Specific Diagnosis of Disabilities: http://www.familyvillage.wisc.edu/specific.htm
This easy-to-navigate section of the Family Village website offers hundreds
of links to disability-specific information. If you want more general
disability information, use the index at http://www.familyvillage.wisc.edu/general/general.htm
instead.
Glossary of Symptoms and Mental Illnesses Affecting Teenagers:
http://www.aacap.org/about/glossary/index.htm
This glossary of brief definitions was developed by the American Academy
of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry to help teenagers, parents, teachers,
and others learn more about the major mental illnesses, symptoms, and
mental health issues that affect teenagers. Includes links to organizations
and other sites.
NICHCY Fact Sheets on Various Disabilities: http://www.nichcy.org/disabinf.asp
NICHCY offers 14 fact sheets and 3 briefing papers on specific disabilities.
Each defines the disability, describes its characteristics, and offers
tips for parents and teachers. Each ends with a very helpful list of
resources in print or video and disability organizations that can offer
more information and assistance.
US Government: http://www.disabilityinfo.gov/
DisabilityInfo.gov is the comprehensive Federal website of disability-related
government resources. Topics are very inclusive and include: employment,
housing, education, transportation, health, income support, technology,
and civil rights. This site pertains to adults with disabilities (as
well as children/youth) so might be especially helpful for transition
planning for adulthood and/or self-advocacy learning by students with
disabilities.