Something extraordinary happened to Carly Fleischmann, a severely autistic 14-year-old who, unable to speak, was once written off as mentally deficient.

The Best Websites for Teaching and Learning honors websites, tools, and resources of exceptional value to inquiry-based teaching and learning as embodied in the American Association of School Librarians' Standards for the 21st-Century Learner.

The "Top 25" Web sites foster the qualities of innovation, creativity, active participation, and collaboration. They are free, Web-based sites that are user friendly and encourage a community of learners to explore and discover.

Here is our collection of interactive whiteboard games for educators on PBS KIDS. Students will enjoy participating in these collaborative, fun and engaging experiences, while exploring curriculum from trusted programs such as Curious George, Super Why and Arthur. Like our programs, all of our games are age-appropriate and vetted by educators.

Greg Tang is on a mission to improve the quality of math education and understanding in the United States. Each year he travels the country, giving hundreds of workshops and presentations for teachers and students.

The "Find a Book" Web site is a quick and easy way to search the Lexile Book Database for titles at your reading (Lexile) level. Whether you're reading for school or for pleasure, you can use this site to build a custom reading list on the subjects that interest you the most.

A special needs child adds a whole other layer to the familiar working mother balancing act.

Most children who get hurt at school can tell their parents what happened, but what about those who cannot? Twelve-year-old Carmen Maggiore is autistic and cannot communicate verbally, so when his mother, Linda Auger, noticed deep purple bruises on her son's arms and abrasions on his upper chest, lower back, and buttocks, she couldn't ask him to tell her what happened. Auger, who lives in Braintree, Mass., believes her son suffered what many parents dread: abuse at the hands of his former teacher, an adult Auger trusted with Carmen's well-being and education. The teacher has said no such abuse took place. It's an example of the difficult circumstances that parents and schools face when trying to sort out whether abuse occurred in a classroom.

Research shows that students with involved parents score better on tests, earn higher grades, are more likely to attend classes and graduate, and are more likely to go on to postsecondary education. PTA provides many tools to encourage parent involvement. Among the tools are resources on communicating with teachers and schools. As you prepare for the back-to-school season, review the advice in the resources below to get the year off to a good start.

Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) chaired a Senate Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Subcommittee hearing on autism research. Thomas Insel, Director of the Nat'l Institute of Health along with various experts on autism testified before the subcommittee.

Several methods of behavioral therapy may be useful for toilet training children with autism

I hate the health-care system -- but don't you dare mess with it.

I hate the health-care system -- but don't you dare mess with it.

I hate the health-care system -- but don't you dare mess with it.

Baker, who was diagnosed with autisum when he was 18 months old, thinks the disease proglonged his adjustment period when it came to school. The recent Bradwell Institute graduate also suffers from epilepsy and both health issues can make it hard for Baker to feel at ease around his peers.“It was definitely not an easy process,” he said. So it may have come as a surprise to a few teachers and peers to see Baker, Bradwell’s 2009 valedictorian, confidently and passionately addressing his graduating class from a podium during May’s graduation ceremony.

The three new movies would seem to have little in common: a romantic comedy about Upper West Side singles, a biopic about a noted animal science professor, and an animated film about an extended pen-pal relationship.

But all three revolve around Asperger’s syndrome, the complex and mysterious neurological disorder linked to autism. Their nearly simultaneous appearance — two open this summer, and the third is planned for next year — underscores how much Asperger’s and high-functioning autism have expanded in the public consciousness since Dustin Hoffman’s portrayal of an autistic savant in “Rain Man” 21 years ago.

Julia Griner/Serenade Films/Fox Searchlight A STARRING ROLE Hugh Dancy of “Adam” during filming in New York. His character has an obsessive interest in astronomy.

Bright Beacon exists to provide a safe haven for parents of children with medical needs to meet, discuss their children, their children's medical needs, and perhaps even their own personal stories: their victories, defeats, joys and sorrows.

Tip number one: Don’t be afraid to be assertive with your child’s school. At the beginning of Kaden’s first grade year, I voiced my concerns about his behavior and felt pushed aside by his teacher and principal. I was told he wasn’t at the point where he needed to be assessed for behavioral problems. Needless to say, when I discovered the IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) law states that once a parent requests an assessment the school has 60 days to comply., I was shocked. My initial reaction was to confront the school about this situation, but what would yelling at the principal do, other than harm already tenuous relationships? Assertion is different than aggression and I needed to get a grip quickly!

Understanding how Section 504 and IDEA work with each other and complement each other allows you as the parent to better assist your child's educational team in ensuring your child's right to a Free and Appropriate Education (FAPE) is provided allowing for maximum educational success.

With the opening this summer of the 23-bed inpatient behavioral heath unit, Helena joins five other Montana cities that allow people to be treated in their community instead of committing and transporting them to the State Hospital at Warm Springs.

While doctors don't endorse patients with ADHD taking themselves off drugs without consulting their physician, Kirk's experience brings up a question often on the minds of parents: Does my child really need drugs for ADHD, and if so, is there a point when he or she should stop taking them?