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Special Education covers the education of children with particular needs. In this instance, we have concentrated on students who exhibit special requirements in the areas of behaviour disorders and learning, physical, hearing or vision impairment. Gifted students, who also have specific needs, are treated separately.
Special Education provides programs and support through several methods. This may be through the regular classroom, with support of modified curriculum or additional human resources, placement in special classes within regular schools - which may be smaller in size, allowing for more individual attention or, if impairment is significant, it may mean placement in special schools, again with smaller class groups and other modifications. In addition, other resources are available such as transport, building modifications, Individual Education Plans and technology, designed to make learning as easy, enjoyable and effective as possible.
All systems prefer an inclusive approach wherever possible, taking into account the level of impairment involved, the special needs of an individual student and the needs of other students who may be affected.
This page looks at general information from all states & territories, inclusive education and general Australian and international sites. It does not attempt to target specialised areas, that being left to individual pages.
You might consider inclusions on the Special Education Resources page for possible options.
We continually add to the information available and are willing to consider suggested items as time permits.
As page titles clearly indicate the content, we have not added descriptors. Click on the page title to go to the page.
States & Territories
Australian Capital Territory
- Applying for Special Education Services
Services provided. Contact details for further information and applications. - Disability Coordination Office
ACT and South East New South Wales. ‘Information to assist people with a disability transition from school to adult life. Includes region-specific information.’ - Disability Criteria for ACT Students
- Special Education Section
‘Manages the provision of educational services to students with disabilities in ACT government schools.’ - Special Education Unit Locations
Contact details, websites. - Students with Special Needs [Disabilities]
‘Identification and support provisions for students with Special Needs [Disabilities]’ in the Canberra/Goulburn Catholic Education area. - Transport for Students with Disabilities
New South Wales
- Children’s Services New South Wales
‘Wide range of service types to ensure that individual care and educational needs of families are best matched to their service delivery needs. The services listed on this web site support young children and their families, and the people who work with them.’ - Disability Access
Whole of Life - All of Life. ‘Assisting people with disabilities to find education and training information.’ epartment of Education and Training. - Services for Students With Disabilities
‘TAFE NSW employs specialist Teacher/Consultants for Students with Disabilities to ensure that people with a disability have equal access to education and training at TAFE NSW campuses.’ Access PDF brochures for specific disabilities and what help is available. Specialist pages include TAFE Institutes Disability Services, TVET for School Students with a Disability. PDF documents in multiple languages for the last link. - Special Education in Catholic Schools
Catholic Education Commission. Select Special Learning Needs options from the left menu. Access Catholic Special Schools here. - Supporting Students with Disabilities
Department of Education & Training. - The Learning Assistance Program
‘Supports students experiencing difficulties in learning in regular classes, regardless of the cause. It includes support for students with significant learning difficulties, mild intellectual disabilities and language disorders.’ - Who’s Going to Teach My Child ?
A Guide for Parents of Students with Special Learning Needs. Provides information for parents.
Northern Territory
- Early Childhood Intervention
‘The planned provision of specialist services designed to meet the overall developmental and learning needs of the child. The aim of Early Childhood Intervention is to minimise the impact of developmental delay and disability on a child’s development and learning.’ - Educational Psychologists/Guidance
Information, contact details, Guidance Information Sheet. - Special Education Students
Part of the Parent pack. - Special Education and Disability
Information, links to Hearing, Vision, Guidance, Behaviour, Early Childhood Intervention, Therapy Services, Special Education.
Queensland
- Disability Services Queensland
‘Leaders in innovation and partnership in the disability field’. - Disability Services Support Unit
‘Enhance and facilitate inclusive education practices. This work involves supporting specialists who support students with disabilities.’ - Hearing Impairment
Information, information sheets on areas such as Cochlear Implants, hearing aids, teacher roles. Also check Hearing Impairment at The Learning Place. - Inclusive Education [Qld]
Legislation & Policy. PDF documents. - Special Education
Government schools. Check Learning & Disability Support in the left menu. - Special Needs : Professional Development Package
‘Helps teachers become aware of the KISS [Know and do - Instructions - Situation - Success] planning framework, which supports the design and implementation of learning opportunities to meet the diverse learning needs of students.’ PowerPoint presentation, brochures, school case studies, supporting documents, more. - Student Management & Support
South Australia
- Catholic Schools Special Education
Introduction, explanation, contact point. - Disabilities & Information Resource Centre
- Disabilities & Additional Needs
‘Developed to provide parents and caregivers with information relating to children with disabilities and learning difficulties and the support provided by the Department of Education and Children’s Services.’ - Learning Difficulties/Learning Disabilities
- Special Education [AIS]
The targetted program for Special Education in the Independent School’s System. - Special Education Resource Unit
Tasmania
- Disabilities Information
‘Easily accessible, educationally relevant information for teachers and others in supporting roles in schools on a range of disabilities and disabling conditions’. - Guidelines for Individual Education Planning
Information, downloads in Word and PDF formats. - If Your Child Has Special Needs
Information on meeting special needs. - Inclusion of Students with Disabilities in Regular Schools
Inclusive practice. Guidelines, Essential learning, Curriculum Projects, several downloads. - Policies & Guidelines
Special Education and Inclusion. - Special Learning Needs
Contact information, key responsibilities, link to further information about special learning needs in Catholic schools. - Special Learning Needs [AIST]
Contact point to access forms about special needs in Tasmanian independent schools. - Students With Disabilities [Tas.]
Introduction, links to resources/sites, contact points. - Support Materials
Two listings - one for Department of Education, one for External Resources. - Transition Planning for Students with a Disability
‘My Future Let’s Plan has been developed to assist young people with a disability as they move into adulthood. It is based on sound theory and promising practice.’
Victoria
- Centre for Developmental Disability Health
‘Academic unit established by the Victorian State Government to improve health outcomes for people with developmental disabilities through a range of educational, research and clinical activities.’ Information, research activities. - Disability Online [Victoria]
‘Provide people with a disability, their families and carers with access to online disability related information across governments and the non-government sector, which is Quality assured, Reliable, Up-to-date and Locally relevant. Constantly expanded and regularly reviewed.’ - Program for Students with Disabilities
- Program for Students with Disabilities 2009 Handbook
Handbook in PDF format. Other documents in Word format. - Student Support, Health & Safety
‘Measures in place to ensure students are supported at school and have proper access to health and safety services.’ Several sections covered. - Student Wellbeing - Disability Services
Information on programs. - Student Wellbeing - Abilities Awareness
‘Make all people aware of what they can do, not what they can’t do, and to talk about the abilities people with a disability have. The program offers one hour Disability Awareness Workshops for Preps - Year 12.’
Western Australia
- Centre for Inclusive Schooling
Learning difficulties. - Inclusive Education
Information on inclusive learning environments, care & protection, student activity enhancement, community support. - WA Institute for Deaf Education
‘Provides a State-wide co-ordinated service for children who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Parents are provided with a choice of educational settings, ranging from an inclusive placement in a regular school, through to metropolitan specialist schools that are located in inclusive settings and specifically cater for Deaf and Hard of Hearing children.’
Inclusive Education
- Inclusion
‘Inclusive education means that all students in a school, regardless of their strengths or weaknesses in any area, become part of the school community.’ US and a little out of date. The basics remain relevant. - Inclusional Classroom Checklist
‘Try this checklist to see where your areas of strengths and weaknesses are.’ Suggested readings, more suggestions, links to related articles. - Inclusive Education
Policies, Education Queensland. - Inclusive Teaching Checklist
‘Tool for staff to complete a quick check on course materials and related activities. Provided to assist staff in developing inclusive course material/activities.’ Document from the University of Tasmania. Part of their Inclusive Teaching Practice package. Worth checking for those in higher education. - Integration
Contains annotated links to information, articles and resources. Integration is used in the same sense as inclusive. - Making Your Teaching Inclusive
UK site. Common barriers, enhancing learning, types of learning support, more. - SERI Inclusion Resources
Annotated links to networks, resources, other sites.
Other Information
Australian Sites
- Ability Books
‘A disability specific bookstore founded in May 2009. The aim at Ability Books is to provide useful material to people with a disability, their families, service providers as well as any other professionals or individuals interested in gaining more knowledge.’ - Accessibility
By an Australian wheelchair Olympic gold medallist. How to cope from hiring equipment to links to associations. Much bigger, improved version of the original. - ACD Links to Other Sites
Association for Children with a Disability. ‘Our purpose in providing an extensive range of links is to save you time. Disability - Specific links have their own page and index. Overseas links indicated.’ - Activ - Useful Links
‘Click a choice to view a list of Useful Links for that area.’ 4 main areas are provided. - Australasian Journal of Special Education
Details, ordering information. - Australasian Society for the Study of Intellectual Disability
‘To enhance the skills, knowledge and commitment of it’s members and to facilitate a supportive network in order to enhance the quality of life of people with intellectual or developmental disability.’ Access Conference Papers in PDF format. - Australian Disability Clearinghouse On Education and Training
News & events, assistive technology, disability information, legislation/policy, networks & organisations, practitioner resources, teaching/assessment,transition/pathways. Trial of a year’s access or subscribe for full access. Most sections give FAQs and then Web Resources. The Creating Accessible Teaching & Support section, Disability Services and Practitioner Resources are good.
Excellent ! - Australian Disability Information
Vicnet. About one hundred annotated links. The majority Australian, but also quality overseas sites. - Choosing School - Checklist
The Spastic Centre. - Community.gov.au
‘Links to useful information for individuals and communities. Information for parents and specific condition information and National Support groups.’ - Disability and Related Internet Sites in Australia
Part of a site covering Women With Disabilities in Australia. - Disability Awareness Kit
By a Victorian Library group. General awareness factors, several specific impairments. Designed to promote an awareness and understanding of issues surrounding disability, and specific needs in several areas. - Disability Information and Resource Centre
Services, blog, search engine for databases. - Disability - Schooling Choices
‘Choosing a school for a child with a disability takes careful planning. The school you select should offer support programs that suit your child’s needs.’ Better Health, Victoria Fact sheet. Links to other fact sheets on aspects of disability. - Disability Services Australia
Living at home, gaining & keeping employment, community s ervices, transition from school to adult life, information about Headstart. - Disability Studies Links
Flinders University Library. Commonwealth and state links. - Diversity @ Work
Help hiring people with disabilities in south east Australia. - Easy Access Australia
Places, sites, tours, etc., disabled people can easily access. - FaCSIA
‘Services and assistance that help people with disabilities to participate actively in community and economic life, access a responsive and sustainable safety net, and develop their capabilities.’ Links to commonwealth information. - Ideas
Information, service information, employment advice, equipment assistance, accessible places, leisure venues plus more. - Information on the Disability Discrimination Act
Making people aware of their rights. - Information Sheets on Disabilities and Learning Difficulties
FQueensland Studies Authority. Scroll to the bottom of the page to access these. PDF format. - Literacy Online
‘Helping people use the Internet and assisting with reading, understanding and finding information on the World Wide Web.’ - National Council on Intellectual Disability
Commonwealth portal for disability information, communication and exchange. - National Information Communication Awareness Network
Free information services to people with disabilities, their families, carers, service providers and the wider community. - NDS New South Wales
Assistance with disabled rehabilitation. National industry group incorporating 550 non-profit support organisations. - Riding for the Disabled
Directory, mission statement, goals, state organisations. - The Spastic Centre
Information for teachers, parents and students, news, general information. - Women With Disabilities, Australia
Other Sites
- British Columbia Ministry of Education
Access material grouped under headings ranging from Accessibility to Vision. Bullying to IEPs, Safe Schools even Sexual Health. Included on individual special education pages are teaching strategies for specific disabilities. - Disability Online
2 000+ links in directories and sub-directories. Many US oriented, but others of use. - Disability Specific Web Sites
Worldwide sources. For Software, check this section.
Educator’s Reference Desk Pages
- Assistive Technologies
Responses, sites, discussion groups, organisations. - Disabilities
Sites, organisations. - Specific Disabilities - Disorders
- eParent
‘Family & Professional site for the Special Needs community.’ US, but with useful information including journal, news, blogs, bookstore. - Special Education Resources on the Internet
‘Internet accessible information resources of interest to those involved in the fields related to Special Education. This collection exists in order to make on-line Special Education resources more easily and readily available in one location.’ Directories from General Information to Transition resources. - Speech Language Pathology
Caroline Bowen PhD. ‘Comprises over two hundred web links for families, Speech - Language Pathologists, professionals in related disciplines, and students of human communication disorders and sciences. The articles and links here reflect my … interests - also the important part that families can play in the assessment and management of communication impairments.’ - Texas Department of State Health Services
Journal listing which, while it covers most medical areas, covers special education. Provides links to online journals, some with decades of material available. Search alphabetically by title. - Untangling the Web
Link directories. - Yahoo Directory : Disabilities
Sites from @ctive teens to Women with Disabilities.
Technology
Includes software, adaptive technology and more.
- Ability Technology
Australian group working to provide computer accessibility to those who are disabled. Products & services available. - ADCET - Assistive Technology
Annotated links to articles [Word and PDF], hot topics, FAQs, websites for information and suppliers. Ranges from individual software and technology items to groups, research and more. - Assistive Technology Sites
Australian National University’s Student & Academic Services, Disability Services Unit. Links in 9 directories covering major disabilities.
Excellent ! - Axistive
‘The world’s leading news portal for assistive technology,providing a wide range of Free services including product reviews, industry news, market trends, workshops, downloads, product and organization information.’ - ClaroRead
‘ClaroRead lets you read PDFs with the colours and fonts you want and makes it easy to read the text aloud with other programs. Zoom in and out, use high- or low-contrast colours, save your PDF as text or a web page for future use.’
No longer Freeware. - connSENSE Bulletin
‘Bringing you practical resources on assistive technology that will help individuals with disabilities.’ US based. Some effective resources and information included. Recommended is their Guide to Low-Cost/No-Cost Online Tools for People with Disabilities - annotated listing. - SERI Disability Products and Commercial Resources
Annotated links particularly to suppliers and manufacturers of technology to assist those in need. - TadACT
‘TADACT Disability Service designs and makes innovative aids that are not otherwise available. TADAustConnect provides dial-up and broadband internet connection services.’ Links to other state groups. - Welcome to the Australian Caption Centre
‘To promote captioning and the use of captioning to the Deaf and hearing impaired, to provide a wide range of Free information services about captioning and to develop and expand captioning’.