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This article is about how students with learning disabilities can use text messaging, wikis, and blogs to help in the classroom. Since blogging is something we have talked about in class, it's great to see how a tool like this isn't a barrier for students with learning disabilities, but how it can help them shine in a classroom.

Ali- I find your article very helpful. I especially liked the part about Blogging since I am new to the blogging world. I learned that Blogging can be quite helpful for getting teens to express themselves more freely and more frequently. I find it interesting that teen bloggers write more often. I do think that it is hard to get reluctant teens to write...especially with pen and paper. In regards to disabilities, it is very helpful on a personal level. My friend's daughter had surgery called DBS-Deep Brain Stimulation for her condition called Dystonia. She has had to learn to use her left hand, so she has not been writing as often. I am here in Maine with her now and she is recovering beautifully. Blogging would be a great way to get her writing again.Thank you, Ali! My friend Jenny thanks you too.

This site is a great resource for teachers or parents that are unfamiliar with disabilities. It gives background knowledge about learning disabilities as well as, suggestions for schoolwork, homework, accommodations and assistive technology. The assistive technology section has a variety of suggestions, videos, books and apps that are helpful for teachers and parents alike.

This is a great site that you found Kim. As a teacher it is always tricky to address accommodations and adjust to the modifications some of our SPED students need. It also has a lot of information for parents too.

This site should be saved on every teachers computer! It is a jackpot for tools to use in the classroom for any child with a disability. Not only does it have a behavior management section but it also has a whole section on social skills. One of my favorite tools from this site though is the cards that teachers can print out for schedules or behaviors. In addition to all of this, it also has games and songs.

You know how once in a while you find a resource and you feel like you've won the lottery? That is how I feel about this placemat and I hope you are as excited by it as I am. For those of you who use the iPad to meet the diverse needs of your learners, you MUST check out this list of apps. I hope you are impressed with the layout of the tool and how straightforward it is. I am forever being asked what apps I recommend and often have a hard time to recall all the best. Now that I have the placemat, I have a quick resource that is visually appealing and understandable. Such an incredible resource for including students with very diverse needs using one singular device.

This article explains what assistive technology is, breaks it down into the specific problems that are addressed and what tools are available for parents, students and teachers.

This site has a listing for a bunch of different apps (free and paid) to help students of all ages with dyslexia and other differences. It also might be a good way to teach or reinforce to students with strengths in the specific intelligences that some apps target. Not all will apply to the age group that I teach, as it seems to have a lot for younger kids.

This is also a great way of incorporating "new" technology into the classroom (such as the ipad) or for differentiating homework.

This is part of a blog sorted by tags of accessibility. It has suggestions, products, sites, interviews, podcasts, etc.

What's going on in the world of Assistive and Educational Technology. (by Hillary Brumer). Hillary Brumer is a close friend and colleague of mine and I felt it necessary to share her brilliance with you all. Hillary and I co authored an article for an early childhood ed publication and also share a deep love for the iPad and how it impacts individuals with special needs. She is in the midst of her doctoral studies and is a valuable resource to anyone who has learners with diverse needs in their class. Her blog is geared toward app reviews and assistive tech devices.

I follow this site on Twitter and noticed that they had this post. It has resources to make the web accessible to those with learning differences, including voicethread.

This website talks about how research regarding Web 2.0 accessibility has expanded in library and information science studies due to the distinctive difficulties that individuals with disabilities face when they have to rely on digitized layouts.

An article on the barriers that those with cognitive disabilities face when using the web.

This article explores the role of virtual learning environments in education. I have some gifted students at my school who find a lot of barriers or restrictions in traditional classrooms, and this could be a way for them to capitalize on their giftedness.

This is a slideshow for using technology for ESL classes to increase accessibility. There are lots of great suggestions for apps, the benefits of research using the web, and some interesting slides on QR codes.

This is really interesting. You all should read it. It talks about what colors to use on a web page or text to optimize concentration by those with dyslexia and how they're very different preferences than those without dyslexia.

This paper describes some barriers ESL students face with web text and how it hinders their access to material. Very interesting!