Create Learning Spaces for All

Physical design of the school and classroom.

Classroom Architect. A great site where you can design a layout for your classroom.

Emint National Center from the University of Missouri has many resources for classroom design.

Boundless Playgrounds A great site for accessible, inclusive playgrounds.

National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities. A comprehensive resource for planning the physical environment of schools and classrooms.

Universal design

National Consortium on Universal Design in Learning. The National Consortium is a virtual community of educators who are interested in learning about Universal Design for Learning and are willing to share ideas and practices that benefit all students, especially those with disabilities.

IDEA Center This site is dedicated to improving the design of environments and products by making them more useable, safer, and appealing to people with a wide range of abilities. Includes links to different programs that support this effort, publications, and special interest sites.

Center for Understanding the Built Environment CUBE brings together educators with community partners to effect change which will lead to a quality built and natural environment, one and interdependent. Includes links to their newsletter, workshops, general information, catalogue, and scrapbook.

Inclusive classroom organization and design

Classroom Spaces That Work. Short book written by a teacher with over thirty years of experience, this comprehensive guide is for new and experienced teachers alike, grades K-6 to create a physical environment that is organized, welcoming, and well suited to the needs of students and teachers, an environment that is conducive to learning and makes your best teaching possible.

The Center for Applied Special Technology - CAST CAST uses technology to expand opportunities for all people, including those with disabilities. Click on the "site map" to access dozens of links to CAST, Universal Design, National Center on Accessing the General Curriculum and more.

Learning styles and classroom organization

Learning Styles Community. Site of the Center for the Study of Learning and Teaching Styles at Johns Hopkins University.

Key assistive technology sites

Alliance for Technology Access - ATA Network of community-based resource centers, developers, vendors, affiliates and associates dedicated to providing information and support services to children and adults with disabilities.

Closing The Gap: Computer Technology in Special Education and Rehabilitation Computers are tools that can provide solutions to many problems facing people with disabilities today. Closing The Gap focuses on computer technology for people with special needs.

The Center for Applied Special Technology - CAST CAST iuses technology to expand opportunities for all people, including those with disabilities. Click on the "site map" to access dozens of links to CAST, Universal Design, National Center on Accessing the General Curriculum and more.

The Center for Universal Design. National center taht develops and promotes universal design in housing, public facilities, outdoor environments, and products.

Family Guide to Assistive Technology. A great introduction and overview of assistive technology with many links to resources.

Inclusive Technology. A great site from the United Kingdom.

The National Center to Improve Practice A federally funded center to improve practices through technology, media, and materials. Many useful resources.

The National Center for Technology Innovation (NCTI) seeks to foster innovation in use of technology to support individuals with disabilities.

Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)

Augmentative Communication, Inc. An organization that provides resources and materials on AAC.

The Institute on Communication and Inclusion at Syracuse University provides many resources related to understanding this strategy.

Adapted computer access

Voice to text software programs include: Dragon NaturallySpeaking for Windows and for the Mac - MacSpeech’s Dragon Dictate and MacSpeech Scribe.

Text to speech software: ReadPlease and Natural Readers for Windows and for the Mac- TextSpeech Pro and GhostReader.

Enhancing interdisciplinary instruction. Describes practical strategies for using assistive technology in thematic instruction of students with and without disabilities.

Speaking to Write. This site provides information and resources on use of speech recognition for secondary students with disabilities.