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 52K 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 Teacher. Common discussion themes are Pain & Anger and Advice Requests. Product recommendations often mention para, ed eval test, and districts to teach sped.

On Reddit
Established 2012
52K Members

Community Topics

Community Features

Forum

This community has a forum

Subreddit Analysis

via GummySearch
Yearly: +11K members
Growth: +28.3% / 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: 566 members

Themes

  • Pain & Anger
    26 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
    26
  • Advice Requests
    18 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)
    18
  • Money Talk
    1 post in the past month
    1. Yes, money does solve problems
    #3
    Money Talk
    Yes, money does solve problems
    1
  • Solution Requests
    1 post in the past month
    1. PDA in elementary school: Methods/Ideas needed
    #4
    Solution Requests
    PDA in elementary school: Methods/Ideas needed
    1

Topics

  • Iep
    50 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)
    50
  • Special Ed
    48 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. Special Ed has destroyed my social life after High School | Advice Needed! Wyoming, USA
    #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? · Special Ed has destroyed my social life after High School | Advice Needed! Wyoming, USA
    48
  • Teacher
    36 posts in the past month
    1. Teacher’s Lament
    2. Happy Teacher’s Appreciation Week to the forgotten!!
    #3
    Teacher
    Teacher’s Lament · Happy Teacher’s Appreciation Week to the forgotten!!
    36
  • Special Education
    26 posts in the past month
    1. Brain Dump from a Middle School Special Education Case Manager
    2. As a student, how do I deal with special education students that are high support needs?
    #4
    Special Education
    Brain Dump from a Middle School Special Education Case Manager · As a student, how do I deal with special education students that are high support needs?
    26
  • Advice
    25 posts in the past month
    1. Need advice
    2. Advice Needed: (White) Student using N-Word when escalated
    #5
    Advice
    Need advice · Advice Needed: (White) Student using N-Word when escalated
    25

Flair

  • Chat (Educator Post)
    25 posts in the past month
    1. how would you react to this email
    2. Writing IEPs in April be like…
    3. Placing Gen Ed Students in a Special Ed Room all day as a “lesson”
    #1
    Chat (Educator Post)
    how would you react to this email · Writing IEPs in April be like… · Placing Gen Ed Students in a Special Ed Room all day as a “lesson”
    25
  • 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. Serious injuries
    #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? · Serious injuries
    17
  • Chat
    10 posts in the past month
    1. Autism moms: Munchausen by proxy?
    2. "*The power is going back to the States.*" **No. Not at all.** This is a fundamental misunderstanding.
    3. People don't understand what multiple disabilities means
    #3
    Chat
    Autism moms: Munchausen by proxy? · "*The power is going back to the States.*" **No. Not at all.** This is a fundamental misunderstanding. · People don't understand what multiple disabilities means
    10
  • General Question (Parent Post)
    8 posts in the past month
    1. An Honest Question
    2. Daughter doesn't want specific aid to change her anymore. How do I approach with school?
    3. Bus aide has been recording special needs daughter on personal phone
    #4
    General Question (Parent Post)
    An Honest Question · Daughter doesn't want specific aid to change her anymore. How do I approach with school? · Bus aide has been recording special needs daughter on personal phone
    8
  • 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

  • para
    4 posts in the past month
    1. Another Update: I’m going to be the best para in the world!!!!
    2. Update to Being The Best Para In The World
    3. Teachers, tell me how I can be the best para in the world.
    #1
    para
    Another Update: I’m going to be the best para in the world!!!! · Update to Being The Best Para In The World · Teachers, tell me how I can be the best para in the world.
    4
  • 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
    #2
    ed eval test
    Best ed eval test to give to preschool student · Best ed eval test to give to preschool student
    2
  • 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?
    #3
    districts to teach sped
    Best districts to teach SPED in Tucson? · Best districts to teach SPED in Tucson?
    2
  • best practices
    2 posts in the past month
    1. HELP - Best practices in inclusive education - student with visual impairment
    2. Classroom management best practices
    #4
    best practices
    HELP - Best practices in inclusive education - student with visual impairment · Classroom management best practices
    2
  • books
    2 posts in the past month
    1. Best book for supporting teachers with modifying work?
    2. Best SPED books you’ve read?
    #5
    books
    Best book for supporting teachers with modifying work? · Best SPED books you’ve read?
    2
View full analysis on GummySearchSynced 6/20/2026

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 52K 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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