With the diversity in Special Education, some sites are not disability specific but act as portals to specific resources, support groups, discussion forums, journals, … .

This page provides technology support, software/hardware, groups, individual support, resources for specific disabilities and more. You should also check Special Education pages, general and specific, for further resources.

Remember many sites are not Australian. Check carefully to be sure they conform to Australian requirements before use, e.g. spelling, Mathematical formatting, terminology, … .

Listed individual resources are suitable for teacher use with all education levels unless specifically indicated otherwise.

Australian Sites

• Access Technology
  Listing sources to help in working with children with disability. Not all links are to sites, nor Australian.
• Australian Communication Exchange
  News, events, research information, online media, student resources, writing competitions, Australian Deafness Directory, information downloads, fact sheets, FAQs, more. Great site for those interested in, or needing help with, deafness assistance and education.
  Teachers, Parents
• Autism Resources
  Quality resources, links, FAQs, information on Autism, samples, phone back service. Quality Australian site.
  Teachers, Parents
• Ben and His Helmet Books
  For Asperger’s Children. ‘The Ben and His Helmet series of books are written especially for children with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder’. Fee-based but a discount for buying all 5 books.
• Click ‘n’ Colour
  ‘A new colouring concept directed at older children and adults. Users can colour on screen or they can be printed out and hand coloured. These retro style designs challenge fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, patterning, colour schemes, brain gym, imagination and colouring is a calming activity. They can be reused as they download as a file’. Fee-based but very cheap.
• EnableNet
  ‘Being developed as a one stop site for information on disability and a meeting place for people interested in disability issues’. Disability Information page is in directories covering specific topics.
  Teachers, Parents
• Help With Learning Problems
  ‘Easy do it yourself. Buy books or get Free help on the net. Most subjects, ages 3 to teenage. Excellent links to useful educational sites, Free or low cost advice and help. Just come in and browse’.
• Low Vision Aids - HumanWare Australia
  ‘HumanWare products are designed to last, to grow [and in many cases, to go] with the user. Giving them the independence to compete effectively with peers, to feel connected - to be a vital part of the global information age in which we live’. Fee-based.
• Inekards
  ‘The Perfect Resource for ABA or Speech Therapy. The Inekards flashcards range will enable you to teach your child effectively with visuals and encourage language development. Primarily designed to help children with Autism but can also be used as a stimulus in many other educational and therapy settings’. These are Fee-based.
  Teachers, Parents, Primary
• Jays’ Education
  ‘Programs are specially designed for children with learning difficulties. Over 40 workbooks covering key learning concepts including numeracy, reading & writing, drawing and self-checking activities’. Also check the LUK Self Checking Programs. Fee-based, but very reasonable.

New South Wales Links

• Cerebral Palsy Alliance
  Information for teachers, parents, students, the media; breaking news, other general information. Previously listed as The Spastic Centre.
  Teachers, Parents
• Independent Living Centre NSW
  Information on support for people with disabilities.
  Teachers, Parents
• The Northcott Society

• Precision Academics©
  ‘Over 400 Workbooks suitable for students with special learning needs. Resources are designed to cater for the needs of children of all ages, who attend mainstream, special schools as well as home school settings’. While Fee-based, costs are within the scope of schools and individual families. ‘Download some Free samples to try with your students [or children]’. No restrictions on usage once purchased.
  Teachers, Parents
• Schonell Centre
  Australian special education centre with more than 50 years history. Carries out research which can be accessed here. Produces the International Journal of Disability, Development and Education.
• See-n-Speak
  ‘Quality visual photographic teaching supports for all toddlers and small children with special needs : Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down Syndrome, Anxiety Disorders, Speech and Language Disorders’.
  Early Learning
• Special Needs Education
  Search the catalogues using appropriate terms.
• Speech Language Pathology
  Caroline Bowen PhD. ‘The Sitemap provides details about a large and helpful site for families, Speech - Language Pathologists, professionals in related disciplines, students of human communication disorders and sciences. Articles and links reflect my interests - also the important part that families can play in the assessment and management of communication impairments’.
  Teachers, Parents
• Statewide Vision Resource Centre
  Department of Education and Early Childhood Education, Victoria. Annotated links from peculiarly Victorian information, resources, technology, more.
  Teachers, Parents
• TAD - Technical Aid to the Disabled
  TAD [Qld] ‘uses volunteers dedicated to the design, construction and provision of aids for people with disabilities’. TAD provides design, engineering, rehabilitation, computer, therapy, other professional and technical skills. Site still being removated. Another group, TADVIC does the same in Victoria. Other State Groups are linked from this page.
  Teachers, Parents
• The Brainary
  ‘The Brainary have excellent specialist educational resources and often upload interesting articles and news items about special education issues’.

Top of Page

Other Sites

• 100 Web Tools for Learning with a Disability
  ‘Whether you need to use the computer for research, to write a paper or just to learn a new skill, those with disabilities of all kinds can check out these resources to help them improve their learning potential while surfing the Web’.
• About Solutions
  ‘Closing The Gap Solutions answers the most common questions in special education and rehabilitation : What products are available ?, What do they cost, and where can I get them ? How do I use them ?. Available in online or print editions. YChoose the option best for you’. Updated yearly. US based, but still relevant for Australia. Fee-based but fairly reasonable.
  Teachers, Parents
• Access ebility
  ‘Information, resources, services, products of interest to people with disability, their families and carers, as well as health professionals and other service providers in the disability sector’.
  Teachers, Parents

Accessibility Help [Technology]

Assistance from some major players in IT, beneficial in school & tertiary settings.
Teachers, Parents

• Abilityhub
  ‘Assistive Technology for people with a disability who find operating a computer difficult, maybe even impossible. Directs you to adaptive equipment, alternative methods available for accessing computers’. FAQs, links, technical information.
• Access Firefox
  ‘The Internet is for everyone’.
• Adobe Accessibility
• Apple - Special Needs
• Apple - Special Needs - Resources
• Google Accessible Web Search
  ‘Designed to identify and prioritise search results that are more easily usable by blind and visually impaired users. Accessible Search goes one step further by helping you find the most accessible pages in that result set’.
• How To Configure and Use Text-to-Speech in Windows XP
  Step by step information from Microsoft.
• IBM Accessibility Centre
• Lens - Magnifying Glass
  Up to 64x magnification [Free]
• Macromedia - Accessibility
• Microsoft Accessibility
• Mouse Cam

• ADHD
  Thinkquest. ‘Filled with information on ADHD, along with ways to help yourself or others. We have a glossary to help you understand some of the medical terms. We hope you enjoy our site !’
• AFB Product Database
  US based. Links searchable by various methods, covering assistive technology for those who are blind or visually impaired.
  Teachers, Parents
• Bob’s Place of Educational Links
  Inclusive Education. Links under headings such as ADD/ADHD, Autism, Hearing Impairment, Resources, Technology.
  Teachers, Parents
• Complete Disability Resource Guide
  While some sections are peculiarly American, other areas will be of use. Worth visiting for these areas. Listed in directories with topic headings.
• Disability Resources : DRM Webwatcher
  Links to disability related items from 22q11 Velo-Cardio-Facial Syndrome to Xeroderma Pigmentosum. Web page design, vocational education, media. To find links to anything in the disability area, specific or cross-disability, this is one place to start.
  Teachers, Parents
• DMD Forum
  ‘For parents, friends, relatives, individuals whose lives are affected by Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy’.
  Teachers, Parents
• Education, General and Special
  Disabilities Resource Directory. Sites related to educational software and hardware for those with disabilities of various kinds.
  Teachers, Parents
• Ghotit
  ‘Ghotit offers the most powerful English spelling and grammar checker for people with dyslexia, dysgraphia and other writing difficulties’. Note that this is not a free program, but Fee-based but may still be worth consideration.
• Ginger
  ‘Ginger Software’s mission is to facilitate error-free writing, particularly for those who use English as a second language, or for those with learning difficulties like dyslexia’.
• IndependentLiving.org
  Swedish. Links to resources on Accessibility & Universal Design to Women with Disabilities. Opens on the Computers & WWW and Disability page but you access other pages from here. Annotated links provided.
  Teachers, Parents
• Internet Disability Resource Site
  Practical US site covering everything from information to technology and specific articles e.g. Teens and Disability.
  Teachers, Parents
• Internet Resources for the Blind
• Internet Resources for Special Children
  ‘The IRSC Web Site is an attempt to bring together valuable information for parents, educators, medical professionals, etc. who interact with children who have disABILITIES’. Accessed via topic heading. UK listing.
• LD Online
  ABCs of LD/ADD, LD in Depth, For Teachers, Audio Clips, news, other sections of interest though not directly applicable in Australia.
  Primary, Secondary
• Learning - Special Education Products
  ‘Independent Living Technologies is dedicated to providing educational products that aid disabled children and adults with their daily lives. Our inventory of software, books, videos covers everything from basic reading and writing to life skills development’. US based, but a good range.
• Mass Media & Disability Links
  Annotated links to book publishers, news, organisations, research groups, accessibility, films and broadcast, web publications. Includes Australian sites.
• SEN Teacher
  ‘Cost-free teaching & learning resources for students with special needs and learning disabilities. All resources available or listed here are Free for use in schools, colleges and at home’. Printables, links, downloads, software, search tools.
• SERI Special Education Resources on the Internet
  Information of interest to all who are involved or interested in special needs education.
  Teachers, Parents
• Special Education Resources for K-12
  Links under specific headings. Developmental Disabilities, Assistive Technology, ADD, Blind & Visually Impaired, Deaf & Hearing Impaired, Learning Disabilities, Individualised Plans.
  Primary, Secondary

Top of Page

Special Education Software [and Hardware]

Commercial software. For Freeware, check the Education Software page.

• AbleNet
  A range of programs.
• Boardmaker
• Co-Write & Write Outloud
• Dragon Naturally Speaking
• EnableMart™ Technology for Everyone
  Assistive technology for Vision, Hearing, Mobility, Learning, Communication, more. A link to hardware like Large Print Keyboards.
• Inclusive Technology
  Freeware and Fee-based software. Software for able-bodied/minded students.
• Innovation Management Group, Inc.
  Software & hardware.
• Inspiration & Kidspiration
• IntelliTools
• JAWS® for Windows®
  Screen reader.
• Kurzweil Educational Systems
  Voice software.
• Quantum RLV
  Previously listed as Quantum Technology.
• SNIP
  Software to manage students with special needs and learning disabilities.
• Software for People With Disabilities
  ‘Links compiled as an information resource’. Extensively annotated links to software.
• Talking Dictionary
  ‘Speech enabled 250 000 word English dictionary, thesaurus’.
• Vendor & Product Links
  Annotated links. From help with Apple hardware & software including Free downloads, to language software.

• Take a Look Through My Eyes
  Thinkquest. ‘We want to challenge you to see the world in a different way. To take a look through the eyes of someone who is mentally disabled. Discover there are differences, but even more, there are a lot of similarities’.
  A First Place Winner !
• The Conductive Education Website
  ‘The world-wide community of those whose common aim is to make Conductive Education available for all. Conductive Education is a major breakthrough in the well-being of children and adults with motor disorders and their families’. UK based. Material still has value.
  Teachers, Parents
• Train Teaching Resources And Information
  ‘Teaching Resources with simple text supported by pictures. Information Sources about Deafness and Language Disorders’.
• Visual Aids for Learning
  ‘The aim is to improve the independence and self esteem of all people with learning difficulties. The resources have been developed in consultation with teachers trained in early childhood, primary school, high school and speech therapy. Each is also the parent of a child with developmental delays’.
• Windows - Audio - Text to Speech
  Shareware programs converting text to speech. Useful for hearing impaired.

Top of Page

© D & B Mann Webmasters. All rights reserved. Last updated - 6 May 20112.
Best viewed at a resolution of 1280 x 800 or greater. We use and recommend Mozilla Firefox as the preferred browser.