Illinois State University in Normal (Yes, that’s the town’s name!) is considered the best teacher school in the state by many. They offer a lot of things for the special education teacher candidate that other schools don’t have. They have a Special Education Assistive Technology (SEAT) Center where you actually get to learn what devices and other forms of assistive technology is available and you get to work with some of them in class. I can’t remember the name of the program, but they actually have a special Autism division run out of the Special Education department that assists those with Autism.

It is a fabulous school and you get a lot of in-class experience with students and teachers. The Special Education department does five, eight-week student teacher placements that begin with practicum (you’re in classes two full days at a host school with a co-op teacher and two full days at ISU), then field base (used to be called junior practioner. You are in ahost school three full days and two half days. You take seminar on the half days) and then the actual student teaching phase. These placements will run the gamut of teaching students with disabilities and you can request the type of placements you want, but you will experience working with students with all ranges of disabilities. I worked with students with mild to moderate MR, LD/BD and autism in different schools.

Here is their web address: www.ilstu.edu

Good luck to you!!

I think you are looking for a special education degree. Downstate is Illinois State University and I consider it the best in the state. You could also look a UIC, Lewis University in Romeoville, Benedictine in Lisle. Good Luck.