Educational Resources | Links to Websites

WCASS Documents

• Letter regarding physicians' prescriptions for Special Service
  Template for communicating with physicians making recommendations for a student’s IEP
• WDPI Special Education and the Physician (Prepared by WDPI 2014)
  WDPI’s guide for communicating with Physician’s making recommendations for a student’s IEP
• WCASS Guide: TEXT to SPEECH for Print Disabilities (April 2021)
• 12 Key Facts with reference pages

Resources for Educators

• Teaching Students with Special Needs: 
  Offers basic tips and strategies for working with students who have a range of special needs.
• The Educator's Reference Desk
  An information network that provides information and answers on a variety of education issues.
• Teaching Today Wisconsin 
  For the past 15 years we have been providing monthly 70,000 Wisconsin K – 12 educators and administrators with their very own non-political statewide communication and resource tool at no cost to them.
• Special Education Family Engagement
• Disrupting the Myth about “Mediocre” Students
  An article by Dr. Martha Burns. How one teacher turned an underachiever into an overachiever by teaching executive function.
• How Poverty Affects the Brain
  Newsweek article published 8/25/16.  Author ERIKA HAYASAKI
• Bringing Therapy Dogs to School

School Safety

• Wisconsin Safe and Healthy Schools Training & Technical Assistance Center
     Ø  The Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC)
• High-Quality School Emergency Operations Plans
  New Guide on the Role of Districts in Developing High-Quality School Emergency Operations Plans: A Companion to the School Guide
• School Threat Assessment Protocol
  Prepared by the Department of Justice
• A Safety Guide for Disabled Pedestrians 
  Resource guide provides information to help keep pedestrians with disabilities safe.

Resources Related to Autism

• Services for Children with Autism
  Resource page prepared by WDPI
• Autism Speaks
  The creators of this site hope that it will promote early diagnosis and treatment of autism.
• Digital Resources for Students with Autism
• 15 Behavior Strategies for Children on the Autism Spectrum
• How to Create a Backyard Sanctuary for Kids with Disabilities
• For Educators: Strategies for Working With Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Helping Asperger’s Teens To Survive and Thrive: 15 Key Steps
• Creating a Home Atmosphere of Solitude to Help Cope with Adult Autism 
• The Ultimate Guide to Flying with Autistic Children
  Provides tips to parents and caregivers flying with children with autism.
• Best Assistive Tech Apps
  Provides a list of best assistive tech apps for children with autism

Transgender | Sexual Identity

• LGBTQ+ Discrimination Legal Guide (2021)
• GSAFE - Wisconsin:
       Ø GSAFE increases the capacity of LGBTQ+ students, educators, and families to create schools in Wisconsin where all youth thrive.
• School Experiences of Trans and GNC Students in Wisconsin
• Best Colleges For LGBTQ Students 
• Transgender College Student Resource Guide

Resources for Parents

• Parent’s Guide to Skin Conditions: From Infant to Teenager (July 2021)
• Water Safety Guide for Parents (2021): Considerations on water safety unique to pools and natural bodies of water, and the precautions that should be taken with each. Included is a shareable infographic illustrating the top water safety tips for children with special needs, to make this information even more accessible for the community.
• Dyslexia Discussion Starter
  5 Questions parents and educators can ask to start conversations about using terms like - learning disabilities, dyslexia, dyscalculia & dysgraphia.
• Disability & Health Information for Family Caregivers (2020)
• Beneficial Activities for Kids with Special Needs
  Provides a variety of after-school and weekend activities for use with students with a variety of special needs.
• Routines and Children with Disabilities
  Addresses the benefits of using routines with students with disabilities
• Understood
  For learning & attention issues. Get personalized recommendations for you and your child.
• Cerebral Palsy Definition
   A website to provide answers and assistance to parents of a child with cerebral palsy.
• Scholarships for Students with Disabilities
• Cerebral Palsy Guide  (2020)
  A website compiled of the most in-depth resources nationwide to help guide and and serve families
• Birth Injury Assistance (2020)
• Parent and Family Digital Learning Guide (2020 | U.S. Department of Education Resource)

Secondary | College Resources

• College Resources for Students With Disabilities
  Many campuses are equipped with offices and services that address accessibility, accommodation, and assistive technology for a diverse range of needs. 

State and Federal Resources
Wisconsin

• Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (WDPI)
  This site has information on all public operations in Wisconsin.
• WDPI Special Education Team
  This site has information relating to special education legal, policy and rules for operation of Wisconsin School
• WDPI Student Services / Prevention and Wellness (SSPW)
• Wisconsin Response to Interventions (RtI) | Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS)
  
• 2018-19 Wisconsin RtI Center Annual Report
• Wisconsin Department of Health Services
  • Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs
  • Coordinated Services Teams (CST) Initiatives
  • Children’s Community Options Program (CCOP)
  • Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRC)
• Wisconsin Department of Children and Families

CESA Regional Service Networks

Federal

• United States Department of Education
• Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP)
• Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS)
• Office of Vocational and Adult Education
• Office for Civil Rights
• National Center for Homeless Education:  McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act
• Human Trafficking Hotline

Legislative and Legal Resources

• Wisconsin State Legislature
• Office of Special Education Programs
• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
  Information resources for the Americans with Disabilities Act.
• Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) Public Policy and Legislative Information
  Provides legislative information updates on special education legal issues from the national perspective.
• I Educate, I Participate: With Election Day quickly approaching, CEC is pleased to provide you with I Educate, I Participate: Congressional Election Voter Education Guide, your resource to the upcoming elections. (2018)
  

• Wright’s Law  
  Provides a place to search legal issues in special education on a national level
• Pocket Guide to Federal Help for Individuals with Disabilities
  This site provides links to information on legal and advocacy resources.

Professional Associations
Wisconsin

• Association of Wisconsin School Administrators (AWSA)
  AWSA exists to coordinate the collective interests and needs of school administrators in Wisconsin.
• Wisconsin Association of Supervision and Curriculum Directors (WASCD)
  The organization of curriculum directors
• Wisconsin Association of School Boards (WASB)
  This organization supports Wisconsin school board members.
• Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators (WASDA)
  The professional organization for school district administrators in Wisconsin.
• Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC)
  This organization represents the public policy, labor, and professional interests of Wisconsin public school teachers.
• Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance (SAA)
  The joint lobbying arm of WCASS, WASDA, AWSA, WASBO, and WASPA the site details current legislative issues in Wisconsin.

National Associations

• Council of Administrators of Special Education (CASE)
  Provides direction and support to special education leadership personnel, which impacts the quality of education to all children with exceptional needs.
• Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO)
  The CCSSO is a nationwide organization composed of public officials who lead the departments of education in the United States.
• Council for Exceptional Children
  This is the largest international professional organization dedicated to improving educational outcomes for individual children with disabilities.
• National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)
• National Association of Pupil Services Administrators  (NAPSA)
• National Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
  Provides information on educational issues to parents.
• National School Boards Association (NSBA)
  This is an organization that supports national school board members.

Research Websites

• American Institutes for Research
  Provides research-based expertise, resources, and professional development opportunities for teachers and administrators.
• Education Northwest
  Regional educational research and development organizations.
• WestEd
  Provides consulting and technical assistance, evaluation, policy analysis, professional development, and research.
• Mathematica
  Mathematica is the insight partner that illuminates the path to progress for public- and private-sector changemakers.