Lesson 1 Summary
- The primary Federal laws that provide the legal foundation for the education of children with disabilities are the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), Title II, and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).
- IDEA provides a process for the screening and evaluation of children’s social, emotional, cognitive, and physical needs as early as birth through age 21.
- Evaluations of young children may lead to recommended Early Intervention that can be remedial or preventive in nature.
- School-age children are usually evaluated to determine the presence of special needs when a parent or teacher believes that a child is having difficulty in school.
- When school-age children are determined to have special needs, schools are mandated under state and Federal regulations to create an Individualized Education Program (IEP) that contains services such as counseling or therapy.
- Parents have many rights under IDEA, including the right to choose whether or not to have their child evaluated and to repeal decisions about their child, among others.
- While FERPA, which affords parents certain rights to access, amend, and prevent disclosure of their child’s education records, does not apply to DoDEA schools because they do not receive funding from the U.S. Department of Education, DoD follows similar guidelines to safeguard students’ rights.
Looking Forward: Next, learn about the School Liaison’s ability to help families by facilitating the academic success of children with special needs.