Individuals With Disabilities Education Act Analysis

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The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a federal law enacted in 1990 and reauthorized in 1997 and 2004. It is designed to protect the rights of students with disabilities by ensuring that everyone receives a free appropriate public education (FAPE), regardless of ability. Furthermore, IDEA strives not only to grant equal access to students with disabilities, but also to provide additional special education services and procedural safeguards. Special education services are individualized to meet the unique needs of students with disabilities and are provided in the least restrictive environment. Special education may include individual or small group instruction, curriculum or teaching modifications, assistive technology, …show more content…

The categories of disabilities are; autism, deaf/blind, deafness, hearing impaired, mental retardation, multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairment, serious emotional disturbance, specific learning disabilities, speech or language impairment, traumatic brain injury, visual impairment including blindness, and other health impairment. To be eligible, a student must have a disability that adversely affects her or his educational performance and must need special education in order to receive an appropriate education. Found at: IDEA (The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act). (n.d.). Retrieved November 14, 2015, from http://www.help4adhd.org/en/education/rights/idea
Helpful Organization Websites/Contact Information
The government has a great website that offers great help when it comes to IDEA. This website will walk you through what it includes, the different regulations and even offers training videos. This is a great resource for teachers and parents alike. You can contact them by going to http://idea.ed.gov/explore/home and writing a question and then submitting …show more content…

As a parent you are in the best position to advocate for your child, and in order to do that you must be aware of what you can do to ensure that your child receives the services and accommodations she or he needs.
Stay informed. Understand your child 's diagnosis, how it impacts her or his education and what can be done at home to help.
Understand your child 's IEP. If you have questions, do not be afraid to ask. If you still have questions, continue to ask until you completely understand the process, the IEP, and how this will help your child 's education. Do not sign an IEP unless you understand and agree with the contents.
Speak with your child 's teacher. Teachers often have similar concerns as parents and welcome the opportunity to discuss them.
Get it in writing. When possible obtain written documentation from teachers, administrators, or other professionals working with your child describing any behavioral or academic concerns they may have.
Know your rights.
Play an active role in preparing your child 's IEP or Section 504 plan. Make suggestions, and speak up if you feel a goal, objective, or accommodation is not