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Tuesday, October 9, 2012

New Center: Concerns About Online Options for Special Ed. Students - On Special Education - Education Week

New Center: Concerns About Online Options for Special Ed. Students - On Special Education - Education Week:

On Special Education


New Center: Concerns About Online Options for Special Ed. Students

Leaders of a new center designed to expand students with disabilities' access to online courses said in just a few months of work, they have some serious concerns about those students' participation in e-learning.
"Our preparatory investigations have already raised a number of concerns that we think are urgent enough to report even now," wrote Don Deshler of the Center for Research on Learning, David Rose of the Center for Applied Special Technology, Bill East of the National Association of State Directors of Special Education, and Diana Greer of the Center for Research on Learning, in an open letter written this month.
In their letter directed at teachers, parents, students, product developers and policy-makers, the principal investigators of the Center on Online Learning and Students with Disabilities said their initial steps have uncovered a number of issues, including:
  • Complaints as parents and others raise concerns about how students with disabilities are served in online learning environments.
  • Inconsistent policies from