Infants and toddlers with disabilities (birth-2) and their families receive early intervention services under IDEA Part C. Children and youth (ages 3-21) receive special education and related services under IDEA Part B.”

IDEA is not a new concept. It previously existed under the name Education for All Handicapped Children Act but has grown considerably since.

More than 6 million children in the U.S. receive special education services through IDEA.Despite receiving large amounts of funding from the federal government, many states continue to doubt the importance of special needs education and do not believe it is necessary.

The U.S. Dept. Education, 2005a regulations implementing IDEA states: “…to the maximum extent appropriate, children with disabilities including children in public or private institutions or care facilities, are educated with children who are nondisabled; and special classes, separate schooling or other removal of children with disabilities from regular educational environment occurs only if the nature or severity of the disability is such that education in regular classes with the use of supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved satisfactorily.”

The IDEA is a civil rights law however, states are not required to participate if they do not wish to. However, in order to encourage and assist states in complying with IDEA requirements, the Act has made funds available to all states that adopt at least the minimum policies and procedures specified in the IDEA. These policies concern the education of children with disabilities. Since the inception of IDEA, all American states have participated. However if a state does not provide appropriate education facilities, the federal government currently does not impose any strict fines or penalties.

The definition of related services in the IDEA includes, but is not limited to: transportation and such developmental, corrective, and other supportive services as are required to assist a child with a disability to benefit from special education, and includes speech-language pathology and audiology services, psychological services, physical and occupational therapy, recreation, including therapeutic recreation, early identification and assessment of disabilities in children, counseling services, including rehabilitation counseling, orientation and *mobility services, and medical services for diagnostic or evaluation purposes. The term also includes school health services, social work services in schools, and parent counseling and training.

According to the United States Department of Education, for children with disabilities who have been suspended for 10 days total for each school year, including partial days, the local education agency (LEA) must hold a manifestation determination hearing within 10 school days of any decision to change the placement of a child with a disability because of a violation of a code of student conduct following either the Stay Put law which states that the child shall not be moved from his or her current placement or interim services in an alternative placement if the infraction was deemed to cause danger to other students.

References:

IDEA – U.S. Department of Education

What is Special Education?

IDEA defines Special Education as “Specially designed instruction, at no cost to parents, to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability.” A special education school is an environment where disabled children are provided with special education resources that would make it easier for them to learn and receive a proper education. While teaching special education, such schools look into a child’s specific needs and provide them with support. Providing appropriate technologies for children with disabilities can become expensive for parents. Thus, government programs like Individuals with Disabilities Act and No Child Left Behind Special Education Act, have been implemented to provide free and suitable special education schools for such children through the numerous special education funding opportunities.

Special Education Act: IDEA

The Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) is a federal program which provides special education funding to state and local governments and assists in expanding special education resources for the betterment of children with disabilities. States are given this federal aid to set up special education schools to provide “free, appropriate public education” (FAPE) in the “least restrictive environment” to special ed children. IDEA was implemented to provide guidelines and regulations and help local governments set up special education schools so as to provide equal opportunities to children with disabilities. Besides teaching special education, IDEA also provides special education funding for assistive technologies, early intervention and other special education resources. This special education Act is a direct attempt to put special ed children at par with non-disabled people.

Basic Facts about IDEA: Special Education Act

• 13 Eligible Categories: Autism, Visual Impairment, Hearing Impairment, Deaf or Blindness, Mental retardation, Learning  Disability, Health Impairment, Emotional Disturbance, Orthopedic Impairment, Traumatic Brain Injury, Developmental Delay, Speech Impairment or Multiple Disabilities.
• Evaluation: The child has the pass eligibility requirements through an evaluation process conducted by trained professionals.
• IEP requirement: Once a disability is identified, an Individual Education Plan (IEP) has to be developed for each special ed child.
• Implementation: The IEP plan is then implemented and the child receives special education resources.
• Free of cost: IDEA sets up special education schools at the State’s expense by the finances provided by the special education funding provision.
• Least restrictive environment: Special education schools are set up as similar to regular schooling environment as possible to avoid disability discrimination. It must include appropriate preschools, elementary schools and secondary special education schools.
• Assistive technologies: Any form of assistive technology required by individuals diagnosed with a disability must be provided through the special education resources so as to help a child succeed in special education schools.

For decades now, the Special Education Act, IDEA, and even the No Child Left Behind Act have provided useful special education resources to improve the lives of many disabled children. Over 6 million special ed children receive special education funding through this federal program and benefit from the numerous nationwide special education schools that have been set up for their betterment. The main aim of implementing IDEA was to provide disabled children with an equal learning opportunity and it shall continue to provide such support by continuously improving its special education resources and teaching special education to interested individuals.
References:

1. American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 -  U.S. Department of Education
2. Building the Legacy of IDEA – U.S. Department of Education
3. Individuals with Disabilities Education Act – Council for Exceptional Children