Inclusive Design Research Centre

The purpose of this study was to identify key areas of need for professional development services among educators who work with students with disabilities. Educators of students with special needs are a striking example of a group of professionals who are under pressure to learn "on-the-fly," and require immediate access to information and resources critical to the success of students in their classrooms today. Increasingly, these teachers face questions about how to provide appropriate instruction, use assistive technology and develop adapted curriculum for exceptional students. This project will explore the effectiveness of new, online technologies for provision of just-in-time, customized learning programs to meet their urgent need for information on accommodation of exceptional learners. The purpose of this study is to identify key areas of need for professional development services among educators who work with students with disabilities. Deliverables for this project will include recommendations for increasing effectiveness of professional development in this field, with particular attention to support delivered through distance education technologies, using the SNOW (Special Needs Opportunity Windows) project as a delivery model.