In this constantly changing educational environment, teachers are always looking for new strategies, innovative ideas, and instructional methodologies to enhance teaching and learning in the classroom. Fortunately, teachers can attend some of the best conferences for special education, which focus on special needs for teachers, professionals, and parents.
In a special education teachers conference, the attitude of the educators, learning experiences, professional development, and equality issues are points of discussion. Through this experience, you can develop teaching methodologies and strategies to serve your students best and promote education in your classroom.
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Enhance Your Career Development and Attend a Special Education Conference
Issues commonly encountered when dealing with students with disabilities range from physical to mental to emotional problems. Equipping yourself with the knowledge, techniques, and suitable approaches to handle these challenges is critical in this line of work.
Although professional development sessions can be an option, they don’t always focus on the needs of special education teachers. Special education teachers often have specialized issues that do not receive attention in broader settings. Fortunately, there are many conferences held annually geared towards the unique needs of special education development.
Virtual or Live?
As you peruse this list, keep in mind that many of the gatherings may now occur as live virtual events rather than in-person gatherings. When making plans to attend one of these conferences, check these details carefully before making travel arrangements.
While the COVID pandemic shut down many in-person conferences over the past year or so, one unexpected benefit has emerged. Those who want to attend conferences in other parts of the world can now do so, thanks to technology that makes virtual events seamless and exciting.
In the first part of this post, we list five special education conferences coming up in the US. However, since so many fabulous conferences exist worldwide, we’ve also listed some of the best international conferences for special education.
Upcoming US Conferences for Special Education
Council for Exceptional Children Special Education Convention and Expo
Date: January 16-19, 2022
Location: Orlando, Florida
Format: Hybrid
The CEC 2022 Convention and Expo also coincide with CEC’s 100th Anniversary, which will be a celebration of sorts. This is a hybrid event that will combine virtual and in-person activities so that everyone can get the chance to participate.
Held at the gorgeous Orlando World Center, events include an open expo, division social hours, a birthday bash, and plenty of informative open sessions. Also featured will be an improved and expanded Technology Playground and fabulous interactive programming.
Penn State Outreach National Autism Conference
Date: August 2-5, 2021
Location: University Park, Pennsylvania
Format: Virtual
In years past, the National Autism Conference has been an in-person event. However, to maintain the safety of all attendees, the 2021 conference will be a virtual meetup. The conference is for medical and education professionals, family members, intervention staff, behavioral health analysts, and others interested in helping those with autism and autism spectrum disorders.
The conference is a chance to learn about the many ways to develop effective educational programming for students on the autism spectrum, and participants can watch a variety of workshops and lectures to help them advance their skills. The conference also hosts the Art of Expression exhibit and a popular poster session, where authors record a 10 to 15-minute presentation to go along with the poster they have created.
University of Washington Pacific Northwest Institute on Special Education and the Law
Date: October 18-20, 2021
Location: Seattle, Washington
Format: Virtual
Each year, the University of Washington hosts a conference that addresses legal issues affecting special education and general education. Like the 2020 conference, this year’s event will be virtual and include an impressive lineup of presenters who will discuss relevant current issues surrounding the law and special education.
Participants can expect live and on-demand mini-courses and presentations, with CLEs and clock hours earned for attendees who take part in the live events. Educators, parents, attorneys, special education advocacy professionals, school psychologists, and others will benefit greatly from this conference.
Closing the Gap 39th Annual Conference
Date: October 11-13, 2021
Location: Henderson, Minnesota
Format: Virtual
Closing the Gap is an organization founded in 1982 by Dolores and Budd Hagen, parents of a child with disabilities. They recognized the role technology would play in special education in the coming years and embraced it early on. The Closing the Gap yearly conference covers a wide range of adaptive technology as it applies to all age groups and disabilities in educational, vocational, rehabilitative, and independent living settings.
The 2021 conference will be virtual again this year, with live presentations, workshops, and an expo of some of the most innovative adaptive technology available. Participants will be able to access over 150 sessions on demand for two months after the conference. Registrants can also opt to attend six hours of pre-conference workshops conducted by leaders in assistive technology for those with disabilities.
40th Annual Midwest Symposium for Leadership in Behavior Disorders
Date: February 17-19, 2022
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Format: Live
The Midwest Symposium for Leadership in Behavior Disorders is an organization committed to improving education and outcomes for children with behavioral needs by supporting the educators, families, and providers they are connected with. The group’s 2022 symposium will take place in person at the Kansas City Crown Center Sheraton.
The conference is packed full of activities, including keynote sessions, break-out sessions, poster presentations, an evening party with dancing, entertainment, a cash bar, and more. There will be plenty of opportunities to connect and grow your professional network as you learn about cutting-edge developments and ideas in the field.
Upcoming International Conferences for Special Education
Educators, parents, and other professionals who wish to gain a wider perspective on issues in special education might want to attend a conference in a different country. All of the
World Congress on Special Needs Education (WCSNE-2021)
The World Congress on Special Needs Education (WCSNE-2021)
will be held virtually from November 22-24th, 2021 in London, UK. There will be workshops, panel discussions, presentations, and more. Speakers from all over the world are invited to share their knowledge of special needs education through case studies, concepts, design implementation, and more.
Format: Virtual
Precision Teaching Applications, Current Efforts, and Future Trends (ICPTACE 2021)
The International Conference on Precision Teaching Applications, Current Efforts, and Future Trends (ICPTACE 2021) will run from June 10-11, 2021, in Barcelona, Spain. Conference topics include precision teaching, behavior analysis, and education, precision teaching applications in education, precision teaching applications geared toward those with various disabilities.
Format: Virtual
New Approaches for Educational Research (ICNAER 2021)
The International Conference on New Approaches for Educational Research (ICNAER 2021) will run from June 14-15, 2021, in Montreal, Canada. Conference topics include educational innovation, educational strategies, classroom techniques and methods, curriculum design, blended learning, learner engagement techniques, student experiences, teacher training, learning environments, special education, and ICT-based education.
Format: Virtual
Special Needs Education, Specialized Teaching Techniques and Regulations (ICSNESTTR 2021)
The International Conference on Special Needs Education, Specialized Teaching Techniques and Regulations (ICSNESTTR 2021) will run from June 28-29, 2021, in Istanbul, Turkey. Conference topics include special education, special needs education, vocational education, limb care authority education, different approaches to teaching, educational technology, specialized teaching techniques, various educational programs, special education policies, methods of provision, special schools, effective instruction techniques for students with disabilities, communication disorders, behavioral and emotional disorders, and developmental disabilities.
Format: Virtual
Individual Needs and Specialized Teaching Techniques (ICINSTT 2021)
The International Conference on Individual Needs and Specialized Teaching Techniques (ICINSTT 2021) will run from July 12-13, 2021, in Ottawa, Canada. Conference topics include effective teaching students with disabilities, special schools, individual needs and differences, special needs education, education regulations, different educational programs, learning disabilities, communication disorders, behavioral and emotional disorders, physical disabilities, developmental disabilities, teaching area that is specifically adapted, and intellectual giftedness.
Format: Virtual
Common Practices in Inclusive Classrooms (ICCPIC 2021)
The International Conference on Common Practices in Inclusive Classrooms (ICCPIC 2021) will run from July 15-16, 2021, in Bali, Indonesia. Conference topics include inclusive education, special education policies, integration and mainstreaming, classification of students and educational practices, school procedures, community development, alternatives to inclusion programs, education law and disability laws, children with extensive support needs, common practices in inclusive classrooms, collaboration among professionals, social and cultural inclusion.
Format: Virtual
Precision Teaching, Behavior Analysis, and Education (ICPTBAE 2021)
The International Conference on Precision Teaching, Behavior Analysis and Education (ICPTBAE 2021) will run from July 26-27, 2021, in London, United Kingdom. Topics in this special education conference include precision teaching applications geared toward those with various disabilities, online learning decisions, direct instruction, and precision teaching, research and development of precision teaching, combining precision and explicit instruction, the effectiveness of precision teaching, and future trends.
Format: Virtual
Special Education Policies and Regulations (ICSEPR 2021)
The International Conference on Special Education Policies and Regulations (ICSEPR 2021) will run from August 16-17, 2021, in Istanbul, Turkey. Conference topics include special needs education, aided education, limb care authority education, education regulations, educational technology, specialized teaching techniques, special education policies, methods of provision, practical instruction for students with disabilities, different approaches to teaching, child development, communication disorders, behavioral and emotional disorders, physical disabilities, developmental disabilities, and intellectual giftedness.
Format: Virtual
Community Psychology and Homelessness (ICCPH 2021)
The International Conference on Community Psychology and Homelessness (ICCPH 2021) will run from September 23-24, 2021, in Vancouver, Canada. Topics included in this special education conference are community psychology, homelessness, society for community research and action, history of community psychology in the US, ecological levels of analysis, prevention, and health promotion, empowerment, social justice, diversity, individual wellness, citizen participation, psychological sense of community, empirical grounding and education connection.
Format: Virtual
Special Needs Education, Models, Standards and Practices (ICSNEMSP 2021)
The International Conference on Special Needs Education, Models, Standards and Practices (ICSNEMSP 2021) will run from October 06-07, 2021, in Beijing, China. Topics included in this special education conference will be educational programs, special education policy, methods of provision, practical instruction for students, special schools, child development, special educational needs, individual needs and differences, learning disabilities, communication disorders, physical disabilities, and developmental disabilities.
Format: Virtual
Management and Funding of Education (ICMFE 2021)
The International Conference on Management and Funding of Education (ICMFE 2021) will run from November 11-12, 2021, in Rome, Italy. Topics included in this special education conference are education management and funding, effective teaching pedagogies, learning styles and learning outcomes, educational management, emerging technologies, educational research funding, continuing education, competitive skills, transferring disciplines, innovative and geographical education, health and science education, secondary education, teaching methods and assessment, research and globalization, barriers to learning, teacher education and educational psychology.
Format: Virtual
Advances in Teaching, Education, and Learning (ICATEL 2021)
The International Conference on Advances in Teaching, Education, and Learning (ICATEL 2021) will run from November 15-16, 2021, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Conference topics include arts and humanities, business education, contemporary issues, educational leadership, digital learning, educational psychology, elementary and adult education, engineering education, English as a second language, professional development, special education, and science education.
Format: Virtual
Education and Management Funding (ICEMF 2023)
Another special education conference coming up will be the International Conference on Education, Management, and Funding (ICEMF 2023). It will run from December 02-03, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. Conference topics include education management and funding, higher education, learning styles, learning outcomes, competitive skills, transferring disciplines, imaginative education, health, teacher education, educational psychology, and more. This special education teachers conference considers the most critical issues faced by educators today.
Format: Virtual
Other Resources for Finding Special Education Conferences
This list is by no means complete when it comes to the best special education conferences. To find even more events, consider the following resources:
- Conference2Go
- World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology
- Resilient Educator
- We Are Teachers
- National Association of Special Education Teachers
- 10Times
- Bureau of Education and Research
When searching for special education workshops, retreats, or conferences to attend, don’t forget that some of the best resources might be found close to home. Check with your local universities or colleges or visit your state’s department of education website.
Career Opportunities Abound
Attending a special education conference can bring so many benefits to you as an educator. It can re-energize and bring new passion to your teaching career. Special education teachers can receive opportunities to collaborate with other educators, learn from their research, and share ideas. The work of a special education teacher is challenging yet rewarding.
One way of staying on top of the best practices related to special education is through attending the best conferences for special education. So, further your teaching abilities and skills by participating in a special education teachers conference today.
Additional Reading: 30 Best Schools for a Master’s in Special Education Online
