Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act & American Education

Hailey Harms
SPED 100
5 April 2015
Dakota State University

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

Abstract
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the impacts it has had on
education are described in this essay. It discusses how IDEA has affected education and the roles
that general educators take on. The main focus is on the six IDEA principles and the various
roles played in helping students with disabilities receive the help they need in order to be
successful. Each and every student deserves to receive an education and the IDEA has helped
tremendously in obtaining that.

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

What causes disabilities? Are they preventable? Unfortunately, many disabilities do not
have a known cause. It is thought some may be caused by hereditary, pregnancy factors, medical
factors, or environmental factors. There is a lot that is still unknown about disabilities, but
hopefully in the future more knowledge will be known about each one (Grodzinsky, Horowitz,
Urion, & Weinstein, n.d.).
In todays time, everyone has the opportunity to receive an education, which is one of
the major benefits of living in America. Years ago, students with disabilities or those that
differed from the norm did not have the opportunity to receive an education. The Individuals
with Disabilities Act (IDEA) has transformed the lives of children with disabilities. The main
goal of IDEA is still to make sure each child receives a free appropriate public education
(FAPE), to protect each and every right of children with disabilities, and to also allow parents or
guardians to have a say in their childs education. Infants to people of age 21 are eligible for
IDEA.
There are thirteen disabilities for which a child can be eligible for IDEA: Autism, deafblindness, deafness, emotional disturbance, hearing impairment, intellectual disability, multiple
disabilities, orthopedic impairment, other health impairment (including ADHD), specific
learning disability (including dyslexia, dyscalculia and dysgraphia, among others), speech or
language impairment, traumatic brain injury or visual impairment, including blindness. If
children do not qualify for IDEA, they may be eligible for another law called the Section 504 of
the Rehabilitation Act. This act can also help students get the help needed in order to succeed in
school (Lee, 2014).

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

In order to decide if a child needs an IDEA, an evaluation must first take place through
the school. This evaluation can help determine if the student qualifies, what disability he/she may
have, and possibly what may help the student in his/her educational path. After the evaluation
and if found eligible, an Individualized Educational Program (IEP) will be put into place that
discusses the students disability, educational goals, and the support that will be provided
(Heward, 2013).

IDEA Principles and Impact

There are various guidelines for the IDEA, but all fall under the six major principles of
Zero Reject, Nondiscriminatory Identification and Evaluation, Free Appropriate Education
(FAPE), Least Restrictive Environment (LRE), Due Process Safeguards, and Parent Participation
and Shared Decision Making. Each principle affects the education system in its own way and
helps benefit children with disabilities.
Zero reject discusses how schools must give students with a disability an education. No
matter how severe the disability is, an education must be provided. The Nondiscriminatory
Identification and Evaluation principle states that all schools must use multifactored and nonbiased ways to decide if a student has a disability. Ways to decide if a student needs specialized
education must not be decided solely because of race, culture or original language. FAPE
declares that all students with a disability, severe or minor, will receive a free, appropriate
education. It will not be at the cost of the parents, but instead at the publics expense (Heward,
2013).
Another principle of the IDEA is the LRE, which means students with disabilities should
be involved and educated with other students without disabilities as much as possible. It is very

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

important for students to be involved with others as much as possible. Sometimes students may
be removed from the classroom for a short period of time to work on a specific subject, while
others may spend half of the day in their own classroom. Due Process Safeguards protects the
rights of not only children with disabilities, but also the parents. It allows all the information
about the students disability to be protected and not shared with the public. Finally, Parent
Participation and Shared Decision Making states that schools must work with the parents and
students to design a special education program for the student. It is important for parents to be
involved in the process and kept up to date with what is happening. Parents like to know exactly
what is happening so they can feel comfortable and secure knowing their child is getting the
appropriate education (Heward, 2013).
Each principle of the IDEA discussed above has impacted the American education
system in a positive way, and makes sure each child receives the most appropriate education.
Without acts such as the IDEA, students with disabilities would not have the same rights or
receive the same education as children without disabilities. Although the process may seem long
and complicated, an eligible student can benefit greatly and succeed in his/her educational path.

Roles of Educators
Although special education teachers work with students with disabilities, general
education teachers also work with them almost more than a special education teacher. All
teachers should have a good understanding of the process and the steps required to identify a
student with a disability. The role of teachers is important in this process because they are with
the child and see the interaction that takes place on a daily basis. Teachers are able to see and
observe how students interact with peers, what they may struggle with, how the student performs

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

regularly, and their communication skills. Teachers also know the general education context
taught in their classroom more than any other teacher. It is important for general education
teachers to realize how needed and important they are in the process. General education teachers
are with that student for most of the school day, and know them better than someone who is just
coming in to observe and decide what educational path may be most appropriate for them.
Teachers may also be responsible for tracking the progress a student makes after an educational
plan is put into place, which can decide how efficient it is. That being said, teachers deserve
more credit than received.

Conclusion
IDEA has already made a tremendous difference in American education and will
continue to in the future. It not only helps students, but also their parents, schools and teachers. It
allows so many more children to attend school and receive the most appropriate education for
them. Although it may cost the government more money to support students with disabilities, it
allows those students to get the services necessary for them and to succeed in their educational
path and hopefully obtain a career in the future.

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

Works Cited
Grodzinsky, G., Horowitz, S., Urion, D., & Weinstein, C. (n.d.). PBS Parents . Retrieved from
Causes of Learning Disabilities : http://www.pbs.org/parents/education/learningdisabilities/basics/causes/
Heward, W. (2013, July 19). Education.com. Retrieved from Six Major Principles of IDEA:
http://www.education.com/reference/article/six-major-principles-idea/
Lee, A. M. (2014, April 11). Understood. Retrieved from How IDEA Protects You and Your
Child: https://www.understood.org/en/school-learning/your-childs-rights/basics-aboutchilds-rights/how-idea-protects-you-and-your-child