The Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a federal law that was ratified in 1990 and reauthorized in 1997, and again in 2004. It was created to protect the rights of students with varying degrees of disabilities to ensure that they receive a fair opportunity and access to public education (ndss.org, 2012). This law regulates early intervention and requires school districts to provide free public education to preschool-age children (age three and up) with disabilities unless doing so is inconsistent with state law (ndss.org, 2012).

Down syndrome is a chromosomal condition that leads to birth abnormalities resulting in physical and mental traits. This condition is usually caused by an extra or copy of chromosome 21(trisomy21),

Professor Sue Buckley states, “children with Down syndrome aged between 7-14 years typically attain reading ages of between 5 years, 5 months and 10 years,” (Buckley, S. in Roberts, Chapman, Warren). This shows that children with Down syndrome develop at their own rate, but their abilities plateau. Despite this plateau, there is a wide differential in the level of reading skills that they can achieve; some may achieve at a slower rate, some may achieve at an advanced rate, and some may achieve on pace with their mainstream peers. The ability to read has many potential benefits for the development of speech, language, and memory skills of children with Down syndrome (__bUCKLEY_________). In order for children to become good readers, they must develop skills needed in word recognition and language comprehension and these skills are just as important for children with Down syndrome. To increase reading comprehension, the following steps should be used: begin by teaching basic vocabulary using picture support, use this vocabulary in sentences that can be read and understood, teach text comprehension strategies by reading sentences aloud, then develop phonic skills. Most importantly reading activities should be fun and engaging. By increasing reading abilities and comprehension in children with Down

This plan is designed “based on developmentally valid, nondiscriminatory assessment information,” (Allen, K.E and Cowdery, G., 2012, pg 267) and describes the services, programs, and the least restrictive environment in which the child should be taught and receiving interventions (Allen…….). These same students might also be provided with a “504 plan” which requires schools to ensure that a child with a disability receives accommodations that will aid in their academic success and have fair access to the learning environment. In order to qualify for a “504 plan” a student must have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits major life activities, have a record of an impairment, or be regarded as having an impairment, (Allen…. Pg