Catlyn Falconer

T. Mullaney
SPED 100
24 March 2018

Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA)

Individuals with Disabilities Act, or better known as IDEA, was first passed in 1975,

which at the time IDEA was called, The Education for all Handicap Children Act. The main

purpose of IDEA was to provide a free appropriate public education to children with disabilities,

and to give parents a voice in their children’s education. IDEA gives children a voice, and

parents have a say in what decision the school makes about their child. IDEA covers children

birth through age 21. During each point of the process of IDEA, the law gives specific rights and

protections, which is referred to procedural safeguards, which is one of the six principles of

IDEA.

IDEA has specific qualifications that need to be met. One of the qualifications is that a

child must have a disability that falls under one of 13 categories, and need special education

because of that disability. For example, Hearing impairments is one of the 13 disabilities.

Hearing Impairments refers to a hearing loss that is not covered by the definition of deafness.

Hard of hearing and auditory processing disorder ( also known as hearing impairment) are not

the same thing.

The first of six principles of IDEA is, Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). This

means that under the IDEA act, that every child is entitled to a free appropriate public education.

IDEA was developed for students with disabilities. It is specialized for children who have

disabilities that prevent them from being able to complete daily tasks and any educational

milestones, IDEA is there to help them get the best education that they deserve. IDEA helps to

meet a child’s “unique needs and prepare them for further education, employment, and
Catlyn Falconer
T. Mullaney
SPED 100
24 March 2018

independent living.” Which means schools are required to prepare all students for life in the “real

world.”

All schools are required to conduct appropriate evaluations for all students who may have

a disability. All evaluations need to be performed by a team of educated and trained evaluators,

and be administrated on a non-discriminatory basis. Children should not be put through

unnecessary testing or evaluations, unless it is to better the child’s education.

Individualized Education Plan, or IEP, was established by the Individuals with

Disabilities Act (IDEA) to help ensure that every student receives a free and appropriate public

education. An IEP is a written document to evaluate a student’s progress, and student’s education

needs. IEP’s are the base of every student who has a disability. They state the students

educational goals, any behavior management, and anything else the student needs to succeed.

Under the IDEA, and IEP must include information regarding a student’s level of

education, goals, and benchmark objectives, services and support aids, and a detailed explanation

of instances where the student is not participating in the general classroom, and why. IEP’s are

also required to contain information regarding the consistent reporting of student progress, as

well as the transition to adult life. IEP’s are also required to account for the planning concerns of

the parents and child strengths of a particular child, and the specific “academic, developmental,

and functional needs” of the child.

IDEA pushes the importance of placement in a general classroom setting. Under IDEA, a

student is guaranteed placement in the most least restrictive environment (LRE) as possible. An
Catlyn Falconer
T. Mullaney
SPED 100
24 March 2018

IEP team, or most likely general education teachers, special education teachers and parents, must

explore a number of options for allowing students to partake in the general education classroom.

Things like that could include classroom modifications, supplemental aids and support services,

and other instructional methods. If the IEP team doesn’t believe that the student can succeed in

the general classroom, then other plans will need to be made for the student to get the same

education, in an alternative classroom setting.

Parent Participation in IDEA and IEP’s and mostly every aspect in school is one of the

most important aspects of a student’s education. The IDEA has a special provision for parent

participation in placement decision, “Under this provision, state educational agencies and local

school boards must ensure that the parents of a child with a disability are members of any group

that makes decisions regarding the placement and LRE of that child.” Parents have the right to

participate in the process of their child’s education, and are entitled to the notification of an

evaluation, with access to planning and evaluation materials. Also parents are obviously allowed

the right to be involved 100% with each meeting regarding their child. Both parent and student

must be invited to the IEP meetings. Along with the right of being involved, parents also have

the right to refuse any evaluations for their child.

Procedural Safeguards are in place to help parents and students enforce their rights under

federal law. The primary reason for procedural safeguards, is to protect parental access to

information regarding their child and the education they are receiving. These procedures are put

in place to avoid and solve disagreements between parents and schools, regarding the placement

of their child. Under IDEA safeguards, parents have the access to review all educational records
Catlyn Falconer
T. Mullaney
SPED 100
24 March 2018

pertaining to their child, and to receive notice for any scheduled meetings about their child’s

evaluations.

IDEA was put in place so students with disabilities still have a voice. IDEA is there for

students to get the education they deserve. Every student learns different, so IDEA is there to

form an education based on their strengths and weaknesses.

 Catlyn Falconer
T. Mullaney
SPED 100
24 March 2018

Citations

“Your Child's Rights: 6 Principles of IDEA.” Smart Kids, www.smartkidswithld.org/getting-

help/know-your-childs-rights/your-childs-rights-6-principles-of-idea/.

Lee, Andrew M.I. “Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA): What You Need to
Know.” Understood.org, www.understood.org/en/school-learning/your-childs-rights/basics-
about-childs-rights/individuals-with-disabilities-education-act-idea-what-you-need-to-know.

Gargiulo, Richard M., and Emily C. Bouck. Special Education in Contemporary Society: an
Introduction to Exceptionality. SAGE Publications, 2017.