Go to: General   Learning Disabilites   Gifted & Talented   ESL   Text-To-Speech  

 General Resources 

• About: Special Education
  From About.com, one of their well-organized lists of annotated subject-area links.
• Complete Disability Resource Guide
  Very nice subject-organized set of links about disabilities, disability rights, support groups, government agencies, and other resources.
• Council for Exceptional Children
  "The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) is the largest international professional organization dedicated to improving educational outcomes for individuals with exceptionalities, students with disabilities, and/or the gifted."
• Deaf Resource Library
  "The Deaf Resource Library is a virtual library -- an online collection of reference material and links intended to educate and inform people about Deaf cultures in Japan and the United States; as well as deaf and hard of hearing related topics."
• Google Accessible Search
  "Google Labs product designed to identify and prioritize search results that are more easily usable by blind and visually impaired users ... by helping you find the most accessible pages in that result set."
• Intervention Central
  Tools and strategies for academic and behavioral intervention for children and youth.
• ReadTheWords.com
  "A free, web based service that ... can generate a clear sounding audio file from almost any written material. We generate a voice that reads the words out loud, that you request us to read."
• SERI: Special Education Resources on the Internet
  Extensive, well-organized, annotated links to resources about disabilities, learning disabilities, parent and teacher resources, physical challenges, gifted and talented, and other related topics.

 Learning Disabilities

• All Kinds of Minds
  "The All Kinds of Minds’ mission is to help students who struggle with learning measurably improve their success in school and life by providing programs that integrate educational, scientific and clinical expertise."
• Bookshare.org
  "The Bookshare.org library provides print disabled people in the United States with legal access to over 37,300 books and 150 periodicals that are converted to Braille, large print or digital formats for text to speech audio."
• Disabilities: Learning Disabilities
  Links to sites for parents, students, and teachers.
• Great Schools - Special Education
  "GreatSchools is committed to helping you understand your child's learning difficulties, including those that can be diagnosed - learning disabilities, AD/HD, autism and Asperger's syndrome - and other difficulties without a diagnosis."
• LDA: Learning Disabilities Association of America
  "LDA is the largest non-profit volunteer organization advocating for individuals with learning disabilities." The website has information about this subject for parents, teachers, professionals, and others.
• LD Resources
  Lots of articles and links for people with learning disabilities. Includes bulletin board (discussion) area and newsletter.
• LDOnline.org
  Information and resources about learning disabilities for parents, teachers, and kids.
• Misunderstood Minds
  Companion website to the PBS Special about students with learning disabilities.
• National Center for Learning Disabilities
  Provides information, resources, and referral services for children and adults with learning disabilities.
• New York State: Special Education
  Information about Special Education in New York State, from regulations to links to resources.

 Gifted/Talented Students

• Gifted Children
  Tons information for parents and teachers of gifted children. Requires an annual subscription for access.
• Hoagies' Gifted Education Page
  Extensive resources for gifted kids and their parents.
• Kidsource: Education - Gifted and Talented Students
  Annotated links to resources for the gifted/talented student, with rankings.
• National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented
  Resources and links for parents and teachers of gifted students.

 ESL (English as a Second Language)

• English as a Second Language
  "A starting point for ESL learners who want to learn English through the Web."
• English at Home
  "Learn English grammar, vocabulary, verbs and speaking with games, an English newsletter and more."
• ESL Basics
  "We ... provide hundreds of ESL videos on our site. Plus, if you're an ESL/EFL teacher, you can check out helpful videos and job postings in our ESL/EFL teachers section."
• IEI: Internet English Resources
  Resource list supplied by the Intensive English Institute.
• Internet TESL Journal
  "For Teachers of English as a Second Language - Articles, Research Papers, Lessons Plans, Classroom Handouts, Teaching Ideas & Links"
• Repeat After Us
  " RepeatAfterUs is an award-winning online library with the best collection of copyright-free English texts and scripted recordings. Our free audio clips provide an excellent resource for students and literature lovers of all ages."
• TESL/TEFL/TESOL/ESL/EFL/ESOL Links
  A number of useful links for students to help themselves learn English, and teachers of students learning English as a second language.
• Tower of English
  Links to web resources for ESL students and teachers. Organized by subject.
• UsingEnglish.com
  "A large collection of English as a Second Language (ESL) tools & resources for students, teachers, learners and academics. Browse our grammar glossary and references of irregular verbs, phrasal verbs and idioms, ESL forums, articles, teacher handouts and printables, and find useful links and information on English."

 Text-To-Speech Software 

• Adobe - Read Out Loud
  Explanation of the built-in text-to-speech feature in Acrobat Reader versions 7 and later. (multiplatform)
• AT&T Natural Voices ($$)
  "Award winning text to speech technology developed by AT&T Laboratories. Natural Voices is believed by many to be the most natural sounding TTS available..." Commercial product. (Win, Linux)
• Kurzweil 1000 ($$$$)
  "Award-winning software that makes printed or electronic text readily available to people who are blind or visually impaired. It combines accessibility, communication and productivity tools..."
• NaturalSoft
  This company offers a free as well as pay versions of their text to speech software. (Win. Mac free and personal versions)
• ReadPlease
  "Developer of award-winning text-to-speech software for Windows® based operating systems." Available in free and 'Plus' editions. (Win)
• Read The Words
  "Users of our service can generate a clear sounding audio file from almost any written material. We generate a voice that reads the words out loud, that you request us to read."
• vozMe (online)
  Free basic online service - paste text into a box and click a button to hear it read out loud. Site also offers a browser bookmarket with a text-to-speech function.