Department of Special Instructional Programs:
Exceptional Child Education
Departmental Research Guide

This research guide relays some basic information on library and information resources pertaining to the concerns of this department, as provided by University Libraries and/or sites on the World Wide Web.

1. To Shelf-Browse for Books (using main Library of Congress Subject Divisions)

Books on subjects associated with this field are shelved under the call number ranges listed below. Use TOPCAT to search for specific items in the collection, or more narrowly-defined subjects.

Education:  Education (General), L7-L991 ------- History of Education, LA5-LA2396 ------- Theory and Practice of Education, LB5-LB3640 ------- Teaching (Principles and Practices), LB1025-LB1050.7 ------- Special Aspects of Education, LC8-LC6691 ------- Special Education, LC3950-LC3990.4 ------- Exceptional Children and Youth, LC3950-4806.5 ------- Gifted Children and Youth, LC3991-LC4000 ------- Handicapped/Learning Disabled Children And Youth, LC4001-LC4806.5 ------- Individual Institutions, LD-LG ------- College and School Magazines and Papers, LH1-LH9 ------- Textbooks, LT6-LT1001

Social Sciences:  Handicapped (including blind, deaf, mentally handicapped, physically handicapped), HV1551-HV3024.

2. To Find Journal and Magazine Articles (using indexing/abstracting/full-text services)

The following services are recommended for first-year students and non-majors, as well as advanced students and researchers:

• Academic Search Premier, MasterFILE Premier, E-Subscribe (ERIC), Professional Development Collection, MAS FullTEXT Ultra, and PsycINFO: These WWW-based services (part of the EBSCOhost system) feature indexing and abstracting of numerous education-related journals and magazines WKU Libraries receives in print, as well as the online full-text of many articles.
• Article1st and ERIC: As components of FirstSearch, these databases index numerous education-related journals and magazines; approximately ninety percent of these journals are available in the University Libraries. Article1st indexes almost 13000 journals and magazines devoted to various subjects; over 300 journals are devoted to education-related topics. ERIC (Education Resource Information Center), the largest and most comprehensive U.S. national bibliographic database devoted to education, provides access to thousands of education-related journal articles and documents.
• Kentucky Virtual Library (KYVL): This collection of databases provides the convenience of searching the FirstSearch and EBSCOhost databases, as well as others such as Novelist, using a wide variety of search options and the same interface. Links to Kentucky library catalogs, government information, and teacher resources are also available.

Special resource:  TDNet Electronic Journal Finder [use to access Libraries' electronic journals, magazines, and newspapers, as well as some indexes and databases containing full-text articles; includes a comprehensive A-Z listing of titles]

3. Monographic Reference Works in Helm Library and the Educational Resources Center

The following are recommended for use:

• Education Index Helm Ref L11.E3x
• Encyclopedia of Special Education Helm Ref LC4007.E53
• To browse for handbooks, dictionaries, encyclopedias, directories, etc. devoted to issues in special education, search the Reference shelves in Helm and the ERC within the LC3950-LC4806.5 and HV1551-HV3024 range of call numbers. Special Education teacher resources can also be found in the Educational Resources Center within this call number range.

4. Exceptional Child Education Faculty Web Pages

• Exceptional Education Department http://edtech.tph.wku.edu/~exced/
• Janet L. Applin http://www.wku.edu/%7Ejanet.applin/
• Nedra Atwell http://edtech.tph.wku.edu/%7Enwheeler/
• Janice Ferguson http://edtech.tph.wku.edu/~jferguso/
• Julia Roberts http://edtech.tph.wku.edu/~jroberts/
• Adjunct Faculty:
  • Marcus Pedigo http://edtech.tph.wku.edu/~exced/marcus.html

5. Related Professional Societies (for professional news, careers/jobs, memberships, etc.)

• American Council of the Blind: http://www.acb.org/
• Association of Learning & Curriculum Development http://www.ascd.org/portal/site/ascd/index.jsp/
• Council for Exceptional Children: http://www.cec.sped.org/
• International Dyslexia Association: http://www.interdys.org/
• Learning Disabilities Association of America: http://www.ldanatl.org/
• National Down Syndrome Society: http://www.ndss.org/

6. Web Sites Recommended by Exceptional Child Education Faculty

• ADA Hot Links and Document Center: http://www.jan.wvu.edu/links/adalinks.htm
• ADPRIMA: 504 Plans and IDEA Information: http://www.adprima.com/specialed.htm
• Disability Resources Monthly Guide to Disabilty Resources on the Internet: http://disabilityresources.org/
• EDLAW: http://www.edlaw.net/frames.html
• Education Resource Organization Directory (USDE): http://bcol02.ed.gov/Programs/EROD/
• Education World: http://www.education-world.com/
• Great Lakes ADA and Accessible IT Center: http://www.adagreatlakes.org/
• GreatSchools, Inc. created by Schwab Learning http://www.schwablearning.org/articles.asp?r=1057
• Internet Special Education Resources: http://www.iser.com/index.shtml
• Kentuckiana for School Teachers: http://www.wku.edu/Library/dlps/guides/kyed.htm
• Kentucky Department of Education: http://www.kde.state.ky.us/
• LD Online: http://www.ldonline.org/
• Learning Disability Resources: http://www.dldcec.org/ld_resources/default.htm
• Mark Sheehan's Special Education Page: http://www.halcyon.com/marcs/sped.html
• National Center for Learning Disabilities: http://ncld.org/
• National Council on Disability: http://www.ncd.gov/
• National Foundation for Gifted and Creative Children: http://www.nfgcc.org/
• National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities: http://www.nichcy.org/
• Network Computing & Communications (WKU): http://ncweb1.wab.wku.edu/ncc/
• Office of Special Education Programs (USDE): http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/osep/index.html?src=mr
• Pam Petty's Education Site: http://www.pampetty.com/
• RTI Wire http://www.jimwrightonline.com/php/rti/rti_wire.php
• Special Education Network: http://www.specialednet.com/
• Special Education Resources on the Internet (SERI): http://www.seriweb.com/
• SPED Online: http://www.spedonline.com/

University Libraries Liaison: Roxanne Spencer (x4659 / roxanne.spencer@wku.edu) last updated 1/24/2008
page maintained by Charles H. Smith