AI in Special Education
NEA (National Education Association)
Last updated September 15, 2026
AI in Special Education is a free, self-paced course from the National Education Association on using Microsoft AI tools thoughtfully in special education settings — reducing administrative demands, strengthening accessibility, and supporting clear communication with families. It runs about 2 hours and finishes with NEA's Teacher Quality Certificate and 2 continuing-education hours. It assumes basic familiarity with Microsoft tools such as Word and Teams, and with special-education principles.
What you'll learn
- Using AI to support inclusive, accessible learning experiences while keeping educator judgment central
- Streamlining administrative and documentation tasks to reclaim time for instruction
- Using AI features to communicate clearly with families, including multilingual learners
- Applying Microsoft AI tools with attention to privacy, compliance and responsible use
Frequently asked questions about AI in Special Education
Who is AI in Special Education for?
Special education teachers and staff with basic familiarity with Microsoft 365 tools who want to apply AI to reduce administrative workload and improve accessibility.
Is AI in Special Education free?
Yes — AI in Special Education is free to take. Requires creating a free NEA Professional Excellence Portal account.
What are the prerequisites for AI in Special Education?
Basic familiarity with Microsoft tools such as Word and Teams, familiarity with special-education principles, and a basic understanding of educational-technology tools.
Does AI in Special Education offer a certificate?
Yes. Free "Teacher Quality Certificate" and 2.0 continuing-education/PDU hours on completion.
Why we suggest this course
It is narrower than a general AI-in-teaching course by design: every objective ties back to special-education practice specifically — inclusive accessibility, family communication including multilingual families, and keeping educator judgment central rather than deferring to the tool. One thing to know: it is built around Microsoft's AI tools specifically, not AI in special education generally.