What are the purposes of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)?
What are some of the pros and cons of inclusive school programs?
What is the history of the special education movement in the United States?
I received special education (IDEA) or 504 services in high school. How are these services different in college?
If I am a student with a disability in college, will the Office of Student Affairs seek me out to provide services like my counselors did in high school?

What are the purposes of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)?

The major purposes of IDEA are to:
 

• Ensure that special education is available to eligible children and youth with disabilities.
• Make sure that decisions made regarding the education of students with disabilities are fair and appropriate.
• Provide financial assistance to state and local governments for the education of children with special needs.

To learn more about the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act refer to the Guide to Civil Rights: Education Rights.

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What are some of the pros and cons of inclusive school programs?

LD Online has a Frequently Asked Questions section that provides some of the pros and cons of inclusive school programs. Inclusive school programs have been controversial from the very beginning. Many people have different ideas regarding inclusion and what is best for all students. Below is a quote from a handbook on inclusion that discusses some of these controversial points:

"Age- and grade-appropriate placement is the most controversial component of inclusion because it is based on ideals, values, and goals that are not congruent with the realities of today's classrooms. Proponents of full inclusion assume that the general education classroom can and will be able to accommodate all students with disabilities, even those with severe and multiple disabilities. They assume that such students can obtain educational and social benefits from that placement. Those who oppose full inclusion argue that, although methods of collaborative learning and group instruction are the preferred methods, traditional classroom size and resources are often inadequate for the management and accommodation of many students with disabilities without producing adverse effects on the classroom as a whole. Some special education experts, however, believe that some students are unlikely to receive appropriate education without placement into alternative instructional groups or alternative learning environments, such as part-time or full-time special classes or alternative day schools." (From Handbook for Successful Inclusion. Kochhar and West. Aspen Publishers, Inc., 200 Orchard Ridge Drive, Suite 200, Gaithersburg, MD 20878)

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What is the history of the special education movement in the United States?

In the 1960's, the Federal government took the lead in providing a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) for children with disabilities. What followed were a series of federally funded initiatives and state laws requiring local agencies to provide special education services for students with disabilities. Today, IDEA mandates the provision of services for all children with disabilities. For a detailed account of the history of special education in the United States, go to: www.ed.gov/policy/speced/leg/idea/history.html.

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I received special education (IDEA) or 504 services in high school. How are these services different in college?

Colleges are required to provide any reasonable accommodation that may be necessary for equal access to education. They are not required to design special programs for students with disabilities or provide Individualized Educational Plans (IEP's).

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If I am a student with a disability in college, will the Office of Student Affairs seek me out to provide services like my counselors did in high school?

In college, students with disabilities are covered under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and under the Americans with Disabilities Act. IDEA no longer applies. Since this is the case, the legal obligations change. You have the responsibility to identify yourself as having a disability and seek out services. You should speak directly with admissions counselors and disability support services providers at the college. Colleges must make reasonable accommodations and academic adjustments that enable you to participate, however they do not legally have to provide accommodations just because they were listed in your IEP during high school.

For more information about getting services during post-secondary education refer to the Guide to Education: Life after High School.

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