Librarian's Picks: Education.

'Quick picks' from librarians at the National Rehabilitation Information Center.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act guides states and school districts in providing special education and related services to more than six million eligible children with disabilities. Whether they are in special education classes or part of the mainstream, every child has the right to free appropriate public education. The agencies and organizations listed here can help children achieve their full potential as first-graders, high school seniors, or college freshmen.

For more resources, visit our Ready Reference page for Resources for Education or search the Knowledgebase. You may also download the brochure in PDF format at the bottom of this page. Disponible en español.

Information Sources on Education

US Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs
400 Maryland Avenue SW
Washington, DC 20202
Phone: 800/USA-LEARN; 202/205-5507
Fax: 202/884-8443
www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/osep/
The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) supports research and programs that assist in educating children with special needs. OSEP offers publications and information on current programs, legislation, and federal policy.

Regional Resource and Federal Center (RRFC) Network
Academy for Educational Development
1825 Connecticut Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20009
Phone: 202/884-8215
TTY: 202/884-8200
Email: frc@aed.org
www.rrfcnetwork.org
FRC is a Special Education Technical Assistance Project funded by the US Department of Education. FRC supports and coordinates a Regional Resource and Federal Centers Network (RRFC). The RRFC Network offers tools and strategies that identify appropriate solutions for effective education and human services delivery systems, serving all states and outlying jurisdictions.

Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD)
107 Commerce Center Drive
Huntersville, NC 28078
Phone: 704/947-7779
Fax: 704/948-7779
www.ahead.org
AHEAD is an international, professional membership organization for people involved in providing services to college students with disabilities. They publish a journal of higher education and disability. Their website includes excellent information for students with disabilities and their parents.

DisaBoom’s Directory of Scholarships
www.disaboom.com/Resources/DisabilityScholarships/Default.aspx
Lists general and disability specific scholarship resources.

Learning Disabilities Association
4156 Library Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15234-1349
Phone: 412/341-1515 (V)
Fax: 412/344-0224
Email: info@ldaamerica.org
www.ldanatl.org
LDA is a nonprofit volunteer organization advocating for individuals with learning disabilities. LDA has 50 state affiliates and more then 600 local chapters in 50 states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. The state and local chapters, through their affiliation with the National LDA, work continuously for individuals with learning disabilities, their parents and the professionals who serve them. LDA offers resources, publications, and referral on a wide array of learning disabilities.

National Center for Learning Disabilities, Inc.
381 Park Avenue South, Suite 1401
New York, NY 10016
Phone: 888/575-7373; 212/545-7510
Fax: 212/545-9665
www.ncld.org
NCLD's mission is to promote public awareness and understanding of children and adults with learning disabilities, and to provide national leadership on their behalf, so they may achieve their potential and enjoy full participation in our society.

National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (formerly NICHCY)
PO Box 1492
Washington, DC 20013
Phone: 800-695-0285 (V/TTY)
Fax: 202/884-8441
Email: nichcy@aed.org
www.nichcy.org
Provides information and research on issues of importance to children and youth with disabilities, and the people who care for them.

Parent Advocacy Coalition for Educational Rights 8161 Normandale Boulevard
Minneapolis, MN 55437-1044
Phone: 888/248-0822; 952/838-9000
TTY: 952/838-0190
Fax: 952/838-0199 Email: pacer@pacer.org
www.pacer.org
Whether you suspect your toddler needs special assistance or your teenager needs support in preparing for the workplace, PACER can identify the resources and services available to help your family learn and grow. PACER's programs address special needs for all stages of childhood and all disabilities.

Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC)
4483-A Forbes Boulevard
Landover, MD 20785 Phone: 800/538-3742 (V/TTY)
Email: accesseric@accesseric.org.org
www.eric.ed.gov
The ERIC database is the world's largest source of education information. The database contains more than 1 million abstracts of education-related documents and journal articles. You can access the ERIC database on the Internet or through commercial vendors and public networks. ERIC updates the database monthly (quarterly on CD-ROM), ensuring that the information you receive is timely and accurate. ERIC resources also include a calendar of events and a directory of educational resources and organizations.

National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (NECTAC)
Campus Box 8040, UNC-CH
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-8040
Phone: 919/962-2001
TTY: 919/843-3269
Fax: 919/966-7463
E-mail: nectac@unc.edu
www.nectac.org
Provides technical assistance and support to states and territories for early childhood implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Offers publications, topic-specific resources, and links to state-level special education programs.

For more online information on special education, please visit the following Web sites:

• Learning Disabilities Information & Resources
  Online support, articles, and links to federal and state web sites that have information on Learning Disabilities.
  www.ldonline.org
• National Association of Private Special Education Centers(NAPSEC)
  Information and referral to private special education programs.
  www.napsec.org
• National Association of Protection and Advocacy Systems (NAPAS)
  Provides literature on legal issues and referrals to federally mandated programs that advocate for the rights of people with disabilities.
  www.protectionandadvocacy.com
• IDEA: Guide to Frequently Asked Questions
  Produced by the House Committee on Education and Workforce majority staff.
  www.doe.in.gov/exceptional/speced/docs/idea_faq.pdf