r/specialed

Community Overview
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About r/specialed

This is a professional subreddit for people interested in special education, particularly: special education teachers, general education teachers, therapists, advocates, parents, and students. We are here to share professional advice, bounce ideas off each other, share concerns, and advocate for our students.

The community at a glance

r/specialed is a Subreddit for Teachers with roughly 51K members. It has been around since 2012. It uses a forum format for communication.

Roughly 11K members have joined in the past year. Popular discussion topics include Iep, Special Ed, and Advice. Common discussion themes are Pain & Anger and Advice Requests. Product recommendations often mention best ed eval test, best districts to teach sped, and special education course.

On Reddit
Established 2012
51K Members

Community Topics

Community Features

Forum

This community has a forum

Subreddit Analysis

via GummySearch
Yearly: +11K members
Growth: +28.1% / year

Member growth over time

All time (yearly)

  • 2013: 679 members
  • 2014: 621 members
  • 2015: 600 members
  • 2016: 776 members
  • 2017: 1K members
  • 2018: 1K members
  • 2020: 4K members
  • 2021: 2K members
  • 2023: 11K members
  • 2024: 13K members
  • 2025: 11K members
  • 2026: 5K members

Past year (monthly)

  • Jul: 504 members
  • Aug: 864 members
  • Sep: 1K members
  • Oct: 671 members
  • Nov: 757 members
  • Dec: 2K members
  • Jan: 1K members
  • Feb: 752 members
  • Mar: 880 members
  • Apr: 854 members
  • May: 1K members
  • Jun: 95 members

Themes

  • Pain & Anger
    25 posts in the past month
    1. Love this
    2. This keeps happening, and nothing is done!
    3. Co-teaching kind of sucks
    #1
    Pain & Anger
    Love this · This keeps happening, and nothing is done! · Co-teaching kind of sucks
    25
  • Advice Requests
    19 posts in the past month
    1. Teachers, how often do you meet a student’s parent and realize the disability is likely genetic? Can you quickly and successfully amend your approach to connecting/communicating with them?
    2. School Resource Officer wants to press charges, school does not, help!
    3. Would you fight to continue the IEP here, or push for a strong 504 instead? (Kindergarten transition advice needed)
    #2
    Advice Requests
    Teachers, how often do you meet a student’s parent and realize the disability is likely genetic? Can you quickly and successfully amend your approach to connecting/communicating with them? · School Resource Officer wants to press charges, school does not, help! · Would you fight to continue the IEP here, or push for a strong 504 instead? (Kindergarten transition advice needed)
    19
  • Money Talk
    1 post in the past month
    1. Yes, money does solve problems
    #3
    Money Talk
    Yes, money does solve problems
    1

Topics

  • Iep
    55 posts in the past month
    1. I hate scheduling IEP meetings
    2. Writing IEPs in April be like…
    3. Would you fight to continue the IEP here, or push for a strong 504 instead? (Kindergarten transition advice needed)
    #1
    Iep
    I hate scheduling IEP meetings · Writing IEPs in April be like… · Would you fight to continue the IEP here, or push for a strong 504 instead? (Kindergarten transition advice needed)
    55
  • Special Ed
    46 posts in the past month
    1. The politics around being a director of special education may have burnt me out.
    2. What are some roles in Special Edu / working with disabled populations aside from being a special education teacher?
    3. They are slashing special Ed funding
    #2
    Special Ed
    The politics around being a director of special education may have burnt me out. · What are some roles in Special Edu / working with disabled populations aside from being a special education teacher? · They are slashing special Ed funding
    46
  • Advice
    33 posts in the past month
    1. Need advice
    2. Advice Needed: (White) Student using N-Word when escalated
    3. Advice
    #3
    Advice
    Need advice · Advice Needed: (White) Student using N-Word when escalated · Advice
    33
  • Teacher
    26 posts in the past month
    1. Teacher’s Lament
    2. Happy Teacher’s Appreciation Week to the forgotten!!
    3. First Year Teacher Struggling
    #4
    Teacher
    Teacher’s Lament · Happy Teacher’s Appreciation Week to the forgotten!! · First Year Teacher Struggling
    26
  • Students
    18 posts in the past month
    1. As a student, how do I deal with special education students that are high support needs?
    #5
    Students
    As a student, how do I deal with special education students that are high support needs?
    18

Flair

  • Chat (Educator Post)
    26 posts in the past month
    1. how would you react to this email
    2. What will special education look like in 10 years if paraprofessionals continue leaving in large numbers due to low pay and heavy workloads, and fewer teachers enter or remain in the field because of the increasing demands of the job?
    3. Writing IEPs in April be like…
    #1
    Chat (Educator Post)
    how would you react to this email · What will special education look like in 10 years if paraprofessionals continue leaving in large numbers due to low pay and heavy workloads, and fewer teachers enter or remain in the field because of the increasing demands of the job? · Writing IEPs in April be like…
    26
  • General Question
    17 posts in the past month
    1. Teachers, how often do you meet a student’s parent and realize the disability is likely genetic? Can you quickly and successfully amend your approach to connecting/communicating with them?
    2. Anyone else feel like we lie to parents?
    3. "Grade completed work only" but chronically absent?
    #2
    General Question
    Teachers, how often do you meet a student’s parent and realize the disability is likely genetic? Can you quickly and successfully amend your approach to connecting/communicating with them? · Anyone else feel like we lie to parents? · "Grade completed work only" but chronically absent?
    17
  • Chat
    13 posts in the past month
    1. Autism moms: Munchausen by proxy?
    2. People don't understand what multiple disabilities means
    3. 13 yo Abel Hernandez sentenced 13 years after causing bodily harm to assistant principal.
    #3
    Chat
    Autism moms: Munchausen by proxy? · People don't understand what multiple disabilities means · 13 yo Abel Hernandez sentenced 13 years after causing bodily harm to assistant principal.
    13
  • General Question (Parent Post)
    9 posts in the past month
    1. An Honest Question
    2. Bus aide has been recording special needs daughter on personal phone
    3. Gen ed teachers refuse to allow special ed teachers to teach students
    #4
    General Question (Parent Post)
    An Honest Question · Bus aide has been recording special needs daughter on personal phone · Gen ed teachers refuse to allow special ed teachers to teach students
    9
  • Chat (Student Post)
    7 posts in the past month
    1. Love this
    2. Love this
    3. Rather laugh than cry: this happens …
    #5
    Chat (Student Post)
    Love this · Love this · Rather laugh than cry: this happens …
    7

Product recommendations

  • best ed eval test
    2 posts in the past month
    1. Best ed eval test to give to preschool student
    2. Best ed eval test to give to preschool student
    #1
    best ed eval test
    Best ed eval test to give to preschool student · Best ed eval test to give to preschool student
    2
  • best districts to teach sped
    2 posts in the past month
    1. Best districts to teach SPED in Tucson?
    2. Best districts to teach SPED in Tucson?
    #2
    best districts to teach sped
    Best districts to teach SPED in Tucson? · Best districts to teach SPED in Tucson?
    2
  • special education course
    2 posts in the past month
    1. What good internationally recognized special education course/courses would you recommend for an Indian National that has a degree in medicine(M.B.B.S.) from China (in English), who is looking into transitioning into teaching in the field of special education?
    2. What good internationally recognized special education course/courses would you recommend for an Indian National that has a degree in medicine(M.B.B.S.) from China (in English), who is looking into transitioning into teaching in the field of special education?
    #3
    special education course
    What good internationally recognized special education course/courses would you recommend for an Indian National that has a degree in medicine(M.B.B.S.) from China (in English), who is looking into transitioning into teaching in the field of special education? · What good internationally recognized special education course/courses would you recommend for an Indian National that has a degree in medicine(M.B.B.S.) from China (in English), who is looking into transitioning into teaching in the field of special education?
    2
  • best sped books
    1 post in the past month
    1. Best SPED books you’ve read?
    #4
    best sped books
    Best SPED books you’ve read?
    1
  • best online certification programs
    1 post in the past month
    1. Best online certification programs
    #5
    best online certification programs
    Best online certification programs
    1
View full analysis on GummySearchSynced 6/2/2026

Frequently asked questions

Who is r/specialed for?
Best for Teachers enthusiasts looking for a Reddit-based community with forum discussion.
Is r/specialed free to join?
This listing is not marked as paid-only. Access rules and any fees are decided by the community.
How many members does r/specialed have?
Roughly 51K members, based on figures reported by the community or its host. Member counts are approximate and change over time.
What platform is r/specialed on?
r/specialed runs on Reddit. Reddit communities (or "subreddits") are forum-based groups on the popular social news aggregation, web content rating, and discussion website Reddit. Reddit is commonly known as "the front page of the internet". Users submit content to the site such as links, text posts, and images, which are then voted up or down and discussed by other members. From investing Reddit communities, to professional ones, to ones just for laughs, you're likely to find a community for you on Reddit.
What topics does r/specialed cover?
On the Hive Index, r/specialed is organized under Teachers.
How do I join r/specialed?
You can join r/specialed by clicking this link, or pressing the "Go to community" button above.
What are the Teaching communities like?
Communities for teachers and educators at all levels, from K-12 classrooms to university faculty. Facebook groups and Reddit have the most active spaces for curriculum sharing, classroom management tips, and support around the emotional realities of teaching. You will also find communities for online educators and course creators building educational content.
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Added 9/30/2021

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