40 AI tools for the classroom - Ditch That Textbook 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) | NJDOE - This webpage provides an overview of foundational AI terms and concepts, high-level discussion questions regarding AI in education to consider at the Local Education Agency (LEA) leadership and classroom educator levels, resources to learn more about AI, resources for educators to teach their students about AI, as well as links to further research and reports regarding AI.

Diffit for Teachers - An AI-powered tool that helps teachers easily create differentiated lessons and resources for the classroom. Convert any content to any reading level, create automatically generated summaries, comprehension checks, vocabulary words, and more!

Goblin.Tools - Support executive functioning with this collection of small, simple, single-task tools that help people with tasks they may find overwhelming or difficult. Generate To-Do Lists (Magic), rewrite text, (Formalizer), evaluate tone (The Judge), time management (Estimator), organize thoughts (Compiler), and even design recipes (The Chef).

Magic School AI - Magic School supports educators with over 80 powerful AI tools, including a behavior intervention suggestion generator, assignment scaffolder, IEP generator, academic content generator, and an accommodation suggestion generator.

There's an AI for That - Database of over 6500 AIs available. USe this smart AI search to find the best AI tools for any use case.

Find more AI resources: Educational Technology: Using Tech in the Classroom

ABA Free Resources - Free ABA samples, picture communication, social stories and more.

ADSA: Low Tech Communication Board Library - The Low Tech Communication Board Library is a collection of downloadable communication boards (PDF files) as well as helpful links you can click on (-video; -website; -song) to use with individuals with communication needs.

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) - Speech | ASHA.org - Children and adults with severe speech or language problems may need to find other ways to communicate besides talking. There are many types of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) they can use.  

Braille Resources - BrailleBug- Braille based resources for the home and classroom.

DCF | Assistive Technology Links | Tips, strategies and resources for using Augmentative Communication with children.

Free communication cards for augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) - These cards are easily downloadable in a PDF format with working buttons, ensuring easy access without the hassle of downloading additional apps on devices. They are designed to be easily understood and can be used by adults and children alike, including those with neurodevelopmental disorders. The cards cover a range of everyday topics and situations, in 5 languages, providing a simple yet effective tool for enhancing communication. 

National Braille Press - Education - National Braille Press is anchored in education. Our approach offers the opportunity for blind and visually impaired students to learn in a world where access is universal, and high-quality braille and tactile graphics are not only necessary, but required.

NJ Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing - Find information regarding support, training, ALS, and  the NJ Hearing Aid Project

Pyramid Education Consultants | Free Materials - Free materials for professionals and caregivers to support your efforts with your learners.  

SET-BC | Search for Classroom & Training Resources - Helping to provide the support needed to better educate students with complex needs.

Special Education and Inclusive Learning: Encouraging the Use of AAC Devices in Every Lesson - Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices are becoming increasingly common in classrooms as technology advances. Tips for incorporating AAC devices into classroom routines and free educational games for AAC users

Students with Limited Verbal Capabilities Can Thrive in Inclusive Classrooms - With the right support, students who cannot rely on natural speech to communicate can do well in integrated classrooms.

Universal Core Communication Systems - The Universal Core vocabulary is a set of 36 highly useful single words that can be used alone or in combination to communicate on a range of purposes across numerous topics with a diverse variety of communication partners. Several formats are available to support student access through direct pointing or touch, eye gaze selection, and partner-assisted scanning. High-contrast versions are available to address the needs of students with visual impairments, and 3D symbols are available for students who are blind.

Braille Resources - BrailleBug- Braille-based resources for the home and classroom.

Seeing AI App from Microsoft - Seeing AI is an artificial intelligence application developed by Microsoft for iOS. It uses the device camera to identify people and objects, and then the app audibly describes those objects for people with visual impairment. Now available in Italian, Turkish, Dutch, German, French, Japanese, and Spanish.

ASL Nook - Featuring a family of native ASL users, each short ASL Nook video centers on a theme, from school signs to patriotic signs to animal signs, presenting language in context, showing the adults and children interacting.

Central Institute for the Deaf (CID) Professional Resources | Free Downloads - As part of CID’s commitment to serve professionals who support children who are deaf or hard of hearing, they provide helpful, relevant downloads for free. The handouts listed on this page can be used as a reference in your office, classroom, or home.

Educational Program Planning Guide for Students who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing | NJDOE - Presently in New Jersey, the methods for determining the levels and types of services needed vary among school districts. It was decided that a rubric would be most effective for providing uniform guidance to Local Education Agencies (LEAs) for determining the types of instructional support and/or related services, and the frequency and appropriate personnel to deliver these services.

NAD - American Sign Language - Recommendations from the National Association of the Deaf, including What is ASL?; Community and Culture – FAQ; Learning ASL; Teaching ASL and more.

NJ Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing - Find information regarding support, training, ALS, and  the NJ Hearing Aid Project.

NJ Deaf Student's Bill of Rights - The Deaf Student’s Bill of Rights is a statement of responsibility to ensure that school districts meet the unique needs of students who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind and use varied communication modalities. 

The Scope of Service of Professionals in Deaf Education | NJDOE - The education and support of students who are Deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) involves a team of specialized professionals, each contributing unique expertise to ensure these students thrive academically and socially. These professionals play distinct yet complementary roles, from providing tailored instruction to facilitating communication and managing auditory technology. Understanding the specific responsibilities of teachers of the Deaf/hard of hearing (TOD), educational interpreters, audiologists who consult in education, and speech-language specialists is crucial for creating a cohesive and effective educational environment for these students. 

Online Adapted Literature & Lessons | Sherlock Center  Nearly 500 classic, popular, and/or educational works of literature adapted for students with special needs. The works include digital books, movies, videos, music, and PowerPoint presentations that aim to help students with visual and other disabilities.

AEM: Accessible Educational Materials - The AEM Center provides support for the use of accessible educational materials  in early learning, K-12, higher education, and workplace settings.

Bookshare | An Accessible Online Library for people with print disabilities - An online library of digital books for kids with print disabilities. Bookshare membership is available to kids who provide proof of their print disability, such as blindness or low vision, a learning disability, or a physical disability that makes it difficult or impossible to read standard print.

BridgingApps | Apps for Special Needs - Bridging the gap between technology and people with disabilities.

Described & Captioned Media | Learning Center  -We're here to educate students with sensory disabilities, along with their parents and teachers. Our major network-produced, educational content is carefully customized to serve the needs of K-12 students, as well as adult students studying to meet the needs of blind and deaf students.

Do2Learn: Educational Resources for Special Needs - Provides thousands of free pages with social skills and behavioral regulation activities and guidance, learning songs and games, communication cards, academic material, and transition guides for employment and life skills.

Embedded Supports to Differentiate Instruction for Struggling Students | Power Up What Works

Freckle Education | Differentiation Platform for K-12 - Freckle empowers teachers to differentiate instruction across Math, ELA, Social Studies and Science.

Immersive Reader | What is the Immersive Reader? - Microsoft Immersive Reader is a free tool, built into Word, OneNote, Outlook, Office Lens, Microsoft Teams, Forms, Flipgrid, Minecraft: Education Edition and the Edge browser, that implement proven techniques to improve reading and writing for people regardless of their age or ability.

Resources for Supporting Learners with Disabilities | Digital Promise - A curated list of special education resources and edtech products to support learners with disabilities in a distance learning context.

Microsoft  Learn Educator Center: Educator Training and Professional Development  - Change description update to: The diversity of learning needs demands school systems provide inclusive, accessible learning environments that inspire confidence and encourage independence differently for each student. Learn about a variety of educational topics and earn professional development hours.

The Talking Book & Braille Center - New Jersey State Library - Provides no-cost, home-delivered services, on behalf of the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled to children, teens and adults in New Jersey who have difficulty reading standard print or trouble holding a book.

TextHelp - Learn about a variety of educational-related topics, such as Universal Design for Learning (UDL), the science of reading, English Language Learners, and Inclusive Education

25 FREE Google Drawings graphic organizers | Ditch That Textbook

CORGI - Digital graphic organizers for building higher-order thinking skills

Free Graphic Organizers for Teachers| Education Oasis

Graphic Organizers | EduPlace

Visuals Engine | Create Visual Schedules 

Visual Schedules | View2Do  

Neurodiversity in the Classroom: Strength-Based Strategies to Help Students with Special. Needs Succeed in School and Life. By Thomas Armstrong (sample) 

Neurodiversity Resources for Educators | Heinemann 

What Is Neurodiversity? | Understood.org

Autism and Neurodiversity in the Inclusive Setting with Dr. Amy Accardo | LRC-South PD Series Introduction - LRC-South video series that explores topics ranging from basic language use and definitions, to strengths and differences of neurodivergent individuals, to developing support systems through universal design.

For additional resources, please visit Spotlight on Neurodiversity

8 Tips for Conducting Virtual IEP Meetings | edutopia - Educators, parents, and students usually gather in person at school for individualized education program meetings, but digital tools can be used for this work.

15+ Recommended Resources to Help You Include and Support Students with Disabilities - Brookes Blog

Autism ABA Free Resources - Free ABA samples, picture communication, social stories and more

Autism New Jersey | Referrals - As a service for families, Autism New Jersey maintains a free referral database of autism service professionals in many different categories.

Autism Toolkit Downloads -Resources to help children, teens, and adults with autism interact successfully at home, in school, and in the workplace.

Brookes Blog | Tips and Takeaways for Teaching All Kids 

Bullying and Youth with Disabilities and Special Health Needs - Children with disabilities—such as physical, developmental, intellectual, emotional, and sensory disabilities—are at an increased risk of being bullied. Any number of factors— physical vulnerability, social skill challenges, or intolerant environments—may increase the risk.

CAST: Home Center for Applied Special Technology - A nonprofit education research and development organization that works to expand learning opportunities for all individuals through Universal Design for Learning. 

Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) - CEC's Resources offer educators many aids to assist them in providing the best of special education services.

CEC Exceptional Teacher Resource Repository - Database of resources for CEC members to find expert-reviewed resources created by your peers that you can use in your own classroom. Search for resources for supporting all learners in all kinds of formats: videos, handouts, templates, instructional strategies, how-tos, etc.

DotoLearn - Provides thousands of free pages with social skills and behavioral regulation activities and guidance, learning songs and games, communication cards, academic material, and transition guides for employment and life skills.

Educating All Learners | EALA - To ensure equity for all learners, an uncommon alliance of national and local education, disability and civil rights organizations has come together to address and reimagine organizations, approaches, systems, and learning environments.

Finding Free Articles on Teaching Students with Disabilities by Ashley Lierman, the Instruction Librarian at Rowan’s Campbell Library.  

IRIS Center- The IRIS Center is a national center dedicated to improving education outcomes for all children, especially those with disabilities birth-21, through the use of effective evidence-based practices and interventions.  Resources include PD modules, case studies, activities, evidence-based practice summaries, and more.

Learner Variability Navigator | Learner Variability Project - The best fit for learners isn't one-size-fits-all. Understanding learner variability helps you create products and lessons that support the full diversity of learners.

Learning Disabilities Association of New Jersey- The Learning Disabilities Association of NJ (LDANJ) is the state affiliate of Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDAA).  LDANJ is an organization of volunteers dedicated to providing information, support, and advocacy for children and adults with learning disabilities. Our members include individuals with learning disabilities, their families, and the professionals who serve them.

LD OnLine: The world's leading website on learning disabilities and ADHD - Help children and adults reach their full potential by providing accurate and up-to-date information and advice about learning disabilities and ADHD. Features hundreds of helpful articles, multimedia, expert columns, essays, resource guides, forums, and more.

National Autism Resources - School Sensory Rooms - Provide students an environment to explore together, develop key skills, and promote well-being. 

National Center for Learning Disabilities | Resources -  Working to improve the lives of individuals with learning disabilities and attention issues—by empowering parents and young adults, transforming schools, and advocating for equal rights and opportunities.

NCSE - Sensory Spaces in Schools - This resource aims to highlight the importance of teachers and school staff creating and using sensory spaces in schools to enhance and promote the health and wellbeing of the whole school with a focus on both the culture and the environment. 

The New Jersey Dyslexia Handbook | NJDOE- A guide to early literacy development & reading struggles 

NJDOE Office of Special Education - Responsible for supervising and monitoring the implementation of the federal requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (IDEA) in local education agencies (LEAs) which include all school districts.

Power Up What Works | Powerup Your Teaching & Learning - Offers resources, strategies, and practical tips to personalize instruction with technology to meet the needs of struggling students.

Progress Center: Home - provides information, resources, tools, and technical assistance services to support local educators and leaders (kindergarten through transition age) in developing and implementing high-quality educational programs that ensure students with disabilities have access to free appropriate public education (FAPE) which allows them to make progress and meet challenging goals.

Students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing | NJDOE - In August 2019, two pieces of New Jersey legislation were signed for the purpose of supporting children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. Resources include a downloadable Educational Planning Guide.

Strength-Based IEPs with Drs. Brent Elder & Michelle Damiani  | LRC-South PD Series Introduction - Examine current practices of inclusive education through a lens of social justice. We provide a definition and examples of strength-based approaches to writing IEPs, including considerations that have emerged in light of COVID-19. Viewers are introduced to a variety of approaches and tools they can use in their own practice to promote strength-based approaches to writing IEPs.

TIES Center | Educators - Instructional materials, information about communicative supports, professional development materials, and other resources to support K-8 educators of students with significant cognitive disabilities.

UDL TechToolKit - A collection of online tools and resources to engage all learners

Understood.org - Families, Educators, and Young Adults programs created to serve the millions of people in the United States who learn and think differently.

Unified Classroom | Special Olympics - Bring Special Olympics to your classroom! These fun engaging activities highlight inclusion and are made for all grade levels!

Virtual IEP Meeting Tip Sheets | Center for Parent Information and Resources - A collection of tip sheets on planning for and participating in virtual meetings, including those related to a student’s IEP

Autism NJ- Transition- Transition years (14 to 21) are a critical time that bridges the services provided by school with the adult system. Students and families should use this period to establish and set goals, understand the services and support that may be needed, and plan for the future. 

Disability Rights New Jersey: ASPYIR Transition Planning Tool - ASPYIR is an innovative, interactive self-assessment tool for transition-aged students and youth, ages 14 to 21 years, preparing to enter adulthood.

Division on Career Development and Transition - The International Division on Career Development and Transition (DCDT) is an international professional educational organization which is affiliated with the International Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) whose members are dedicated to shaping policies and practices that impact the quality of career development and transition services of youth with exceptionalities.

Exploring Pathways from High School to College for Students with Disabilities with John Woodruff - This video provides an overview of the college transition process, including the stages of transition planning, strategies for a successful transition and challenges students may face. Understand how college is different from high school. Learn about the importance of parent partnerships and transition tips for parents. Review the multiple paths to college that are available to students with disabilities.

Graduates-timeline.pdf - A timeline for students exiting school and turning 21

Interests and Preferences: List of Inventories - This pdf contains a set of informal assessments focused on individual interests and preferences for students in the transition planning process

LifeCourse Nexus: Training and Technical Assistance Center - The Charting the LifeCourse framework was developed by families to help individuals with disabilities and families at any age or stage of life develop a vision for a good life, think about what they need to know and do, identify how to find or develop supports, and discover what it takes to live the lives they want to live.

National Technical Assistance Center on Transition: The Collaborative (NTACT:C) - The National Technical Assistance Center on Transition: The Collaborative (NTACT:C) is a Technical Assistance Center co-funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) and the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA).

The New Jersey Transition Toolkit: School to Adult Life - The New Jersey Transition Toolkit is designed to assist school staff and students with disabilities and their families in their efforts to prepare students with disabilities for entry into a successful adult life after high school.

Pacer's National Parent Center on Transition and Employment - Find helpful information and resources on transition topics such as independent living, postsecondary education, and employment.

Person-Centered Approaches in Schools and Transition (PCAST)- The NJDOE, Office of Special Education, in partnership with The Boggs Center on Disability and Human Development at Rutgers University, provides training, coaching and other professional learning opportunities to school staff, students, and family members to promote using person-centered approaches to ensure effective supports are available and used to achieve positive outcomes for students in elementary grades through high school and 18-to-21-year-old programs.

Secondary Transition: Entitlement vs. Eligibility (IDEA, ADA, and Section 504) PDF | PaTTAN 

Secondary Transition: Helping Students with Disabilities Plan for Post-High School Settings | IRIS 

SPAN Family Guide to Transition Services in New Jersey - SPAN is pleased to provide this Family Guide to Transition Services in New Jersey, which provides one cohesive document on the transition process, services, and supports. 

Seeking Employment | NJCDD - Services to enable eligible individuals with disabilities to achieve employment.

Transition Assessment Matrix - These simple tools allow you to capture transition-related services and activities happening in the classroom, during community-based instruction, in a career/technical education classroom/program, and throughout a student’s school year. Authentic assessments can help inform transition and Transition IEP decision-making.

Transition Coalition - Provides specialized professional development, technical assistance, and research-based practices and resources for students with disabilities involved in the transition planning process.

Transition from School to Adult Life - NJDOE resources to assist students with disabilities to successfully move from school into the adult world.

Transition Improvement Grant: Age-Appropriate Transition Assessments and Resources

Transition of Students With Disabilities To Postsecondary Education: A Guide for High School Educators | USDOE, OCR - The purpose of this guide is to provide high school educators with answers to questions students with disabilities may have as they get ready to move to the postsecondary education environment.

Transition to Adulthood for Young Adults with Developmental Disabilities: Boggs Center - Transitions occur in many areas of life as adolescents become young adults, including movement from school to work or postsecondary education, the shift from pediatric to adult health care, and leaving the family home. For students with disabilities, preparation for transition should begin by age 14 and focus on academic instruction, community experiences, employment, daily living skills, and exploration of supports needed for success in adult life. This timeline identifies considerations in planning for transition by age, from 14 to the end of your child’s educational entitlement at age 21.