Education of Students with Disabilities

More training and technical assistance materials for P&As/CAPs available in password-protected TASC section. If you do not have a username and password, please contact your Executive Director or webmaster@ndrn.org.

Page last updated: 01/04/07

The Individuals with Disabilities Improvement Act (IDEA 2004) ensures that students with disabilities are provided a free appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment possible. The National Disability Rights Network provides technical assistance and training to our members, Protection & Advocacy Systems, on issues related to ensuring their clients receive the education they are entitled to under the Act.

Federal Law and Regulations

The 2006 Regulations to IDEA 2004: An Overview By Elizabeth A. Greczek, National Disability Rights Network The IDEA 2004 was passed on December 3, 2004. The U.S. Department of Education published draft regulations to the law on June 21, 2005. Written public comments are due to the Department by September 6, 2005. To access the draft regulations, go to: www.ed.gov/policy/ speced/guid/idea/ idea2004.html Disability Discrimination Regulations Section 504 of the Rehab Act (education) Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) For Technology Specific Laws and Regulations, see Assistive Technology Section Department of Education: Federal Register (August 14, 2006) Assistance to States for the Education of Children With Disabilities and Preschool Grants for Children With Disabilities; Final Rule

Back To School: P&A's Advocate Across the Board for Students With Disabilities.

General Education Links:

• Parent Training Centers/PTIs
  Located in each state, these agencies are publicly funded to provide information to parents of students with disabilities. Their national support center is at www.pacer.org.
• Assistive Technology
• Disability Related Non-Profits
• State and Federal Government Agencies
• Statistical and Academic Resources
• Supreme Court Decision in Schaffer v. Weast
• On August 3, 2006, the U.S. Department of Education released an unofficial copy of the IDEIA Part B regulations to IDEA 2004.  The official regulations are to be published on August 14, 2006 in the Federal Register.  Below is a link to the US DOE website with the regulations: http://www.ed.gov/policy/speced/guid/idea/idea-partb-regs-full.doc

P&A Position Papers re: IDEA Reauthorization

• IDEA Reauthorization - Side-by-Side Comparing House and Senate bills with Current law. Final version, June 23, 2004 - PDF
• IDEA Myths and Realities April 2002
• Children with Disabilities Under NCLB: Myths & Realities
• Position Paper on Reauthorization April 2002
• Comments on President’s Commission Report August 2002

NAPAS comments on "No child left behind" proposed regulations Sept 5, 2002

Findings in Angel G.: Texas Special Ed monitoring decision

• Part 1 (PDF)
• Part 2 (PDF)

"The Public School's Special Education System as an Assistive Technology  Funding Source: The Cutting Edge" - By Ron Hager of the National Assistive Technology Advocacy Project and Diane Smith, NAPAS, Co-authors. In addition to addressing funding for assistive technology, this booklet is also a comprehensive treatise on the rights of students with disabilities under the IDEA and section 504.  All of the core special education issues are addressed in great detail, referencing the federal law and regulations, case law, and federal policy letters as relevant. In each section, the implications of the sp.ed concepts for AT advocacy are analyzed in detail, referencing nearly every policy letter issued by the U.S. Department of Education that specifically relates to AT. This 468 footnoted booklet replaces the booklet published in 1999.