I.D.E.A and A.D.A Federal Legislation Directing Special Education for Children with Special Needs

1
I.D.E.A and A.D.AFederal Legislation Directing
Special Education for Children with Special Needs

• Courtney Lapham-Simpson

2
Objectives

• Discuss the specific federal laws of I.D.E.A and
  A.D.A.
• Review the purpose and applications of I.D.E.A.
  and A.D.A.
• Identify for whom I.D.E.A. and A.D.A were
  designed and why.
• Obtain a clear understanding of how I.D.E.A and
  A.D.A assist disabled and special education
  children.

3
Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act
(I.D.E.A)

• Created in 1974 insuring all children receive
  free and appropriate education.
• Prior to 1974 children with special needs didnt
  have rights to education or special services.
• Reauthorized in June 1997 by the Clinton
  Administration
• -Emphasized the importance of parents and
  educators working as team members.
• -Meshed special and general education teachers.

4
Referral

• Districts have the responsibility to ensure that
  every child that might need special ed. be
  evaluated.
• Districts also have the responsibility to create
  relationships between schools and medical
  professionals.
• Referral in the form of a letter for special ed.
  can be made by a pediatrician, parent, or
  educator.
• After referral a meeting is arranged with parents
  to discuss the need for an evaluation.

5
Evaluation

• Parental consent for evaluation and placement
  mandatory.
• Multidisciplinary and comprehensive evaluation.
• Assessment of the impact of the disability on
  childs learning.

6
Individualized Education Program (I.E.P)

• A method for specifying, monitoring, revising
  an individual education plan for children with
  special needs.
• Details the impact of the disability on the
  child.
• Lists annual and short term objects tailored to
  fit each child.
• Lists specific ways to over come obstacles.

7
Implementation of Services

• 1997-Inclusion made it a priority to place
  special education students with general education
  students.
• If a child requires special education they are
  physically moved or services will be brought to
  them.
• Congress strengthened the requirements for
  special education to be a set of services.

8
Services for Special Education

• Speech, language, and audiology services
• Physical, psychological, or occupational
  therapies
• Support or learning consultant or aid in
  classroom
• Non-academic i.e.-transportation
• Recreational opportunities
• Parent counseling and training
• Sensitivity training for non-disabled

9
Duration of Services

• Students with disabilities have academic
  requirements.
• Re-evaluation must be conducted.
• Termination of services can occur for 2 reasons
• -Graduation with a regular high school diploma.
• -Aging out- 21 years or the age determined by
  the state.

10
Americans with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.)

• Passed on July 26, 1990.
• Guarantees
• -employment opportunities
• -services provided by state or local
  governments
• -access to public accommodations
• -private and public transportation
• -opportunity to use telecommunications
• Disabled defined as a major impairment of
  major life activities including
• -Caring for oneself -Preparing manual tasks
  -Learning
• -Walking -Seeing
  -Working
• -Hearing -Speaking
  

11
Who Must Comply? What are the requirements?

• Early childhood facilities are part of the
  definition of public accommodations.
• -nurserys
• -daycares
• The law requires centers to have/do
• -physical access to establishment
• -a continuing obligation for compliance
• -new construction (when needed)
• -modifications in polices, practices, and
  procedures
• -accommodations shall be free of charge
• -transportation

12
Summary

• I.D.E.A is a standardized way to refer, evaluate,
  implement specialized learning techniques, and
  monitor children who qualify for special
  education.
• I.D.E.A emphasizes a close relationship between
  parent and educator for the best possible outcome
  for the child.
• A.D.A sets standards that need to be met for
  peoples with disabilities.
• A.D.A details the specific requirements for
  childcare facilities to adhere to for children
  with disabilities.

13
Sources

• A New IDEA for Special Education. Dir. Grace M.
  Hanion. Edvantage Media, Inc. 1998.
• Complying with the 2006 IDEA Part B Regulations.
  Dir. Melinda Baird. LRP Publications, 2007.
• Making the ADA Work for You. Dir. Mill Wright.
  Barr Films.
• Rab, Y. Victoria, and Karren I. Wood. Child Care
  and the ADA A Handbook for Inclusive Programs.
  Maryland Brookes Publishing Co, 1995.
• Available in the library in the Center for
  Development and Disability http//cdd.unm.edu/linc
  / [phone]