Archived: Technical Assistance Centers and Clearinghouses Sponsored by OSERS

A r c h i v e d I n f o r m a t i o n

Excellence and Accountability in Teaching - April 1997

Resource Descriptions (continued)

Technical Assistance Centers and Clearinghouses Sponsored by the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services

Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center

The Center provides technical assistance to States, territories and projects funded through the Early Childhood Program. It conducts periodic needs assessments, develops technical assistance plans, delivers technical assistance using a variety of methods (on-site visits, conferences, document development and dissemination), and evaluates technical assistance activities, delivery and mechanisms.

Frank Porter Graham Child Development Center
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC
Phone: (919) 962-2001
FAX: (919) 966-7643
e-mail: nectas@unc.edu
Internet: http://www.ectac.org/

For more information about the Early Childhood Center, one also may contact:

Peggy Cvach
Research to Practice Division
Office of Special Education Programs
Room 4609, Switzer Building
330 C Street, SW
Washington, DC 20202
Phone: (202) 205-9807
e-mail: peggy.cvach@ed.gov

National Center to Improve the Tools of Educators

This Center applies national leadership to improve the quality of technology, educational media, and materials (TMM) for individuals with disabilities. It encourages the appropriate development of TMM and informs decision makers about the acquisition of TMM to enhance outcomes for students with disabilities. Among the Center's activities are: (1) development of research reviews; (2) assistance to policy makers and administrators regarding content standards and effective programs; (3) and assistance to developers of TMM regarding the needs of students with disabilities.

University of Oregon
College of Education
Eugene, OR
Phone: (503) 683-7543
e-mail: Douglas_Carnine@ccmail.uoregon.edu
Internet: http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~ncite/

For more information about the National Center, one also may contact:

David Malouf
Research to Practice Division
Office of Special Education Programs
Room 3529, Switzer Building
330 C Street, SW
Washington, DC 20202
Phone: (202) 205-8111
e-mail: dave.malouf@ed.gov

National Clearinghouse for Professions in Special Education

This Clearinghouse, operated by the Council for Exceptional Children, Reston, VA., in conjunction with the National Association of State Directors of Special Education, is: (1) collecting, analyzing and disseminating information on current and future national, regional and state needs for special education and related services personnel; (2) developing and disseminating information to potential special education and related services professionals concerning career opportunities, locations of preparation programs, and various forms of financial assistance; (3) improving and maintaining a knowledge base concerning appropriate programs preparing special education and related services professionals; (4) establishing networks of local and State educational agencies and professional associations to maximize the sharing and accuracy of information regarding career and employment opportunities; and (5) providing technical assistance to institutions of higher education seeking to meet state and professionally recognized standards. The Clearinghouse disseminates information that will guide national efforts to systematically increase the supply of qualified special education and related services paraprofessionals and professionals from diverse backgrounds.

Council for Exceptional Children
Reston, VA
Phone: (800) 641-7824 or (703) 264-9476
FAX: (703) 620-2521
e-mail: ncpse@cec.sped.org

For more information about the National Clearinghouse, one also may contact:

Martha Bokee
Research to Practice Division
Office of Special Education Programs
Room 3078, Switzer Building
330 C Street, SW
Washington, DC 20202
Phone: (202) 205-5509
e-mail: martha.bokee@ed.gov

National Center to Improve Practice (NCIP)

The purpose of the National Practice Improvement Center is to promote the effective and efficient use of technology, media and materials by improving the professional practices of special education, related services, and regular education personnel providing special education and related services to children and youth with disabilities. The Center has two major goals: (1) to collect, analyze, validate, and extend extant research regarding effective and efficient use of technology, media, and materials to improve outcomes for children and youth with disabilities; and (2) to provide access to research and promote its use. The Center is establishing a network of key stakeholders to provide input to all Center activities. Research topics are synthesized by research leaders, and validated and extended by the Center. Findings are disseminated through a variety of formats, such as research briefs, training materials, videotape, electronic networks, and on-line multimedia magazine.

Education Development Center, Inc.
Newton, MA
Phone: (617) 969-7100 x2387
FAX: (617) 969-3440
e-mail: ncip@edc.org
Internet: http://www2.edc.org/fsc/

For more information about the National Center, one also may contact:

David Malouf
Research to Practice Division
Office of Special Education Programs
Room 3529, Switzer Building
330 C Street, SW
Washington, DC 20202
Phone: (202) 205-8111
e-mail: dave.malouf@ed.gov

National Information Center for Children and Youth With Disabilities

This project provides parents, professionals and others with current factual information regarding the diverse issues related to the education of children and youth with disabilities. To meet the project's goals, the Clearinghouse: (1) promotes awareness through outreach of the Clearinghouse's products and services; (2) maintains a comprehensive Clearinghouse management information system to manage information, resources, maintain data on Clearinghouse users, and respond to requests for information; (3) acquires and maintains the most reliable and current resources collection on disabilities-related issues; (4) produces timely and high-quality information products tailored to Clearinghouse users; (5) provides high-quality information services to Clearinghouse users; and (6) implements a management system to ensure efficient and accountable management of Clearinghouse activities. The Clearinghouse has a special emphasis on disseminating information to under-represented groups such as those with limited-english proficiency.

Academy for Educational Development
Washington, DC
Phone: (800) 695-0285 or (202) 884-8200
FAX: (202) 884-8441
e-mail: nichcy@aed.org
Internet: http://www.nichcy.org/

For more information about the National Information Center, one may also contact:

Doris L. Andres, Deputy Director
Research to Practice Division
Office of Special Education Programs
Room 3528, Switzer Building
330 C Street, SW
Washington, DC 20202
Phone: (202) 205-8125
e-mail: doris.andres@ed.gov

Regional Resource Centers

These centers provide technical assistance and training, as requested, to state educational agencies, and through those state educational agencies to local educational agencies and other appropriate public agencies providing special education and related services. The purpose of this assistance is to aid those agencies in providing early intervention, special education, and related services to infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities and their families. Providing services through six service regions, the centers provide a wide range of assistance. Examples of these services include: assisting in the training of parents and professionals; providing information, expert consultation and resources on State-specific issues; providing inservice training; and helping states with strategic planning.

The Regional resource centers and the institutions at which they are located are:

Northeast Region: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont

Trinity College of Vermont
Burlington, VT
Phone: (802) 658-5036
FAX: (802) 658-7435
e-mail: NERRC@aol.com
Internet: http://www.wested.org/nerrc/

Mid-South Region: Delaware, District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia

The University of Kentucky Research Foundation
Lexington, KY
Phone: (606) 257-4921
FAX: (606) 257-4353
e-mail: msrrc@ihdi.ihdi.uky.edu
Internet: http://www.ihdi.uky.edu/msrrc/

South Atlantic Region: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands

Florida Atlantic University
Plantation, FL
Phone: (954) 473-6106
FAX: (954) 424-4309
e-mail: SARRC@acc.fau.edu
Internet: http://www.fau.edu/wise/team/coe.htm

Great Lakes Area: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin

The Ohio State University Research Foundation
Columbus, OH
Phone: (614) 447-0844
FAX: (614) 447-9043
e-mail: marshall.76@osu.edu
Internet: http://www.csnp.ohio-state.edu/glarrc.htm

Mountain Plains Region: Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming, and Bureau of Indian Affairs

Utah State University
Logan, UT
Phone: (801) 752-0238
FAX: (801) 753-9750
e-mail: latham@cc.usu.edu
Internet: http://www.educ.drake.edu/rc/RRC/mprrc.html

Drake University
Des Moines, IA
Phone: (515) 271-3936
FAX: (515) 271-4185
e-mail: Gary_Damebring@qmbridge.drake.edu

Western Region: Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Republic of the Marshall Islands and Republic of Palau

The University of Oregon
Eugene, OR
Phone: (541) 346-5641
FAX: (541) 346-5639
e-mail: DLS@oregon.uoregon.edu
Internet: http://interact.uoregon.edu/wrrc/wrrc.html

For more information about the Regional Resource Centers, one also may contact:

Marie Roane
Monitoring & State Improvement Division
Office of Special Education Programs
Room 4625, Switzer Building
330 C Street, SW
Washington, DC 20202
Phone: (202) 205-8451
e-mail: marie.roane@ed.gov

National Transition Alliance

The project provides technical assistance and other information for policy-makers, teachers, administrators, persons with disabilities and other interested members of the public on ways to promote the transition of youth with disabilities, including those with severe disabilities to desired post-school outcomes, specifically gainful employment, postsecondary education, and independent living. The project provides technical assistance to personnel responsible for providing transition services, particularly personnel working in planning and implementing School-to-Work opportunities systems projects; states implementing cooperative projects to implement transition services, and model demonstration, transition, postsecondary, and supportive work projects; and supported work under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Vocational Rehabilitation Act.

Transition Research Institute at Illinois
University of Illinois
Champaign, IL
Phone: (217) 333-2325
FAX: (217) 244-0851
e-mail: leachylyn@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu
Internet: http://www.dssc.org/nta/

For more information about the National Transition Alliance, one also may contact:

Jane M. Williams
Research to Practice Division
Office of Special Education Programs
Room 4616, Switzer Building
330 C Street, SW
Washington, DC 20202
Phone: (202) 205-8294
e-mail: jane_williams@ed.gov

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