[cid:image003.png@01D8E460.89F46C00]According to the National Center for Education Statistics<https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d21/tables/dt21_204.40.asp>, in the 2020-21 school year 7,182,916 children (ages 3 to 21) enrolled in public schools received special education services. With a new school year upon us and parent-teacher conferences just around the corner, it is important to have resources at the ready to support our patrons as they seek to better serve this population. Parents Family Matters<https://www.michigan.gov/mde/Services/special-education/parent-resources/family-matters>, a special outreach program through the Michigan Department of Education, provides parents and families with information about special education laws, rules, services, and practices. Easy-to-understand documents are provided in English, Arabic, and Spanish that detail items such as Accommodations, Educational Evaluation, and Placement. The Michigan eLibrary<https://mel.org/welcome> (MeL) offers the 2022 editions of Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities: Health & Wellness<https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customlink/proxify/proxify.php?count=1&encode=1&proxy=https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?url=&target=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&bquery=JN+%26quot%3bIntellectual+%26amp%3b+Developmental+Disabilities%3a+Health+%26amp%3b+Wellness%26quot%3b+AND+DT+20220415+NOT+PM+AOP&type=0&searchMode=Standard&site=chc-live> and Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities: Supportive Health & Wellness<https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customlink/proxify/proxify.php?count=1&encode=1&proxy=https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?url=&target=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&bquery=JN+%26quot%3bIntellectual+%26amp%3b+Developmental+Disabilities%3a+Supportive+Health+%26amp%3b+Wellness%26quot%3b+AND+DT+20220415+NOT+PM+AOP&type=0&searchMode=Standard&site=chc-live> through the Consumer Health Complete<https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?database=ebsco-c9h> eResource. These texts identify ways to care for and support specific intellectual or developmental disabilities such as activities for a child with Rett Syndrome<https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customlink/proxify/proxify.php?count=1&encode=1&proxy=https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?url=&target=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=cmh&AN=131494242&site=chc-live>. There are also a handful of publications such as Exceptional Parent<https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customlink/proxify/proxify.php?count=1&encode=1&proxy=https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?url=&target=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eue&jid=EPR&site=ehost-live> in the MeL eResources that can offer information on practical experiences in handling the everyday challenges of children with special needs. Educators Education Source<https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?database=ebsco-eue> is one of the most comprehensive eResources available in MeL that supports educators in all grade levels and disciplines. While the database can be utilized to search for specific special education topics, professional journals such as Behavior Disorders<https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customlink/proxify/proxify.php?count=1&encode=1&proxy=https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?url=&target=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eue&jid=BHD&site=ehost-live>, Language, Speech & Hearing Services in Schools<https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customlink/proxify/proxify.php?count=1&encode=1&proxy=https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?url=&target=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eue&jid=LSH&site=ehost-live>, and Research & Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities<https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customlink/proxify/proxify.php?count=1&encode=1&proxy=https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?url=&target=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eue&jid=MYX&site=ehost-live> can be searched directly and offer educators cutting-edge information on issues and studies in the special education field. Additionally, many education-focused publications, such as Phi Delta Kappan<https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customlink/proxify/proxify.php?count=1&encode=1&proxy=https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?url=&target=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eue&jid=PDK&site=ehost-live> feature special education subject matter, conversations, and histories, like the March 2022 issue<https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customlink/proxify/proxify.php?count=1&encode=1&proxy=https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?url=&target=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eue&bquery=JN+%26quot%3bPhi+Delta+Kappan%26quot%3b+AND+DT+20220301+NOT+PM+AOP&type=0&searchMode=And&site=ehost-live&scope=site> has done. There are also a wide range of titles on special education topics available in the eBook Academic Collection<https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?database=ebsco-e000xna> of MeL. With titles that focus on strategies working with preschoolers<https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customlink/proxify/proxify.php?count=1&encode=1&proxy=https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?url=&target=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=e000xna&bquery=(+special+education+or+special+needs+or+disabilities+)+AND+preschool&type=1&searchMode=And&site=ehost-live&scope=site> to more specific subjects like those that speak to Autism<https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customlink/proxify/proxify.php?count=1&encode=1&proxy=https://widgets.ebscohost.com/prod/customerspecific/mel/auth.php?url=&target=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=e000xna&bquery=(+special+education+or+special+needs+or+disabilities+)+AND+autism&type=1&searchMode=And&site=ehost-live&scope=site>, MeL has hundreds of eBooks on the many different veins of special education. If you are having any issues linking to items on this page, please explore the MeL eResource Access Page.<https://www.mcls.org/mel/mel-databases/help/remote-access/> Contact melerhelp@mcls.org<mailto:melerhelp@mcls.org> for help. Brought to you by Ann Kaskinen from the MeL Team. Supporting Michigan Libraries by Putting You First. Hey, front line staff: The MeL Maven Badge is a 6-part Information Literacy and eResource adventure designed for you. Start earning your Badge today at MeL.org<https://mel.org/welcome>! Want more information on MeL? Stay tuned for the next MeL Minute available on many Michigan library listservs, visit http://mel.org<http://mel.org/>, or sign up for the MeL Minute and other Library of Michigan e-mail lists via GovDelivery<https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/MILOM/subscriber/new>. We encourage you to share MeL Minutes with your colleagues and networks. MeL eResources are available to Michigan residents or for Michigan library or school access only. #IMLSGrant Ann Kaskinen MeL Engagement Specialist, K-12 Midwest Collaborative for Library Services (MCLS) 1-517-325-5333
