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An Overview of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

IDEA stands for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which is a special education law designed to protect and help those who suffer from LD (learning disabilities) and other types of disabilities. Originally put in place in 1975, it has been modified and improved as late as 2004. This law was passed to make sure that children with disabilities got a free and adequate public education like all other children. This guides states that public schools must provide special education and its related services to all children who qualify. This will ensure that children with disabilities will have access to the general curriculum to the maximum extent they can.

The State and Federal governments must improve all schools to ensure that the children who qualify will get the proper education they need. Children will be able to participate in special education with out having to be sent away to special schools. Regular classroom adaptations must be provided when possible. This includes special education, services, aids, supports, and assertive technology.

The goal of IDEA is to make schools capable of meeting the needs and developmental goals of children with disabilities to the maximum extent possible. It is designed to help prepare children for productive, independent adult lives with a good educational foundation to the best of each individual’s ability. This law also protects children and parents of children with disabilities’ rights. It also ensures that parents and educators will have the necessary tools to support and help children with LD get the most out of their education. This includes assistive technological devices, which include any item, piece of equipment, or product that will increase or maintain a child with a disability. Assistive technological services are also included as well. This includes any service that directly assists a child in their learning process.

This law also defines the guidelines for what a child with a disability is. This definition includes mental retardation, hearing and visual impairments, speech and/or language impairments, serious mental or emotional disorders, autism, orthopedic issues, health impairments, traumatic brain injury, or specific learning disabilities.

For children with LD, there are two classes to choose from. There is the class of specific learning disorders that are the primary diagnosis and otherwise the child is of normal intelligence. This includes those disorders that cause difficulty for a child to listen, think, speak, write, spell, or do math. This type includes children who have perceptual disabilities, brain injury either through trauma or congenital, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia, and developmental aphasia. The LD being secondary characteristics of a more serious or debilitating disorder classifies the second class of children with disabilities. These children would be considered disabled but not qualify as LD due to the fact that there is another cause for the impairment. This would include children with mental retardation, vision and hearing disabilities, motor disabilities, or emotional and mental disturbances.

This would make sure that all children who are disabled no matter how severe would get free appropriate public education. This will be at the expense of the government even if there has to be adaptations and services provided. This is called for all schools from elementary up to high school. The law also provides each disabled child to an individualized education program or IEP. It is a written statement that is developed, reviewed as necessary, and revised when needed. It is the contract that tells what services and programs the child is eligible for and how and when they will be implemented.

The IEP will include all related services needed for the child. These include any transportation, corrective and other supportive devices to help the child be at their best. Other services that will be included if needed at no cost to the family are speech-language pathology and audiology services, psychological services, physical and occupational therapy, recreation, including therapeutic recreation, social work services, counseling services, including rehabilitation counseling, orientation and mobility services, and medical services that may help a child learn better and have an early diagnosis.

IDEA also defines what is considered special education and what it entails. This is termed as specially designed instruction at no parental cost that meets the needs of a disabled child. The instruction includes any education in the classroom, at home, in a hospital or institution, and in physical education. The education is designed to fit the child’s needs. This law was passed to make sure that no child for any reason was left without an education. It also provides transitional services for going to work and living as independently as possible. This was designed to protect our children and their families.